Billings Logan International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Billings Logan International Airport
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =


image-width =
caption =
IATA = BIL
ICAO = KBIL
type = Public
owner =
operator = City of Billings
city-served = Billings, Montana
location =
elevation-f = 3,652
elevation-m = 1,113
coordinates = Coord|45|48|28|N|108|32|34|W|type:airport|display=inline
website = [http://www.flybillings.com/ www.flybillings.com]
r1-number = 7/25
r1-length-f = 5,501
r1-length-m = 1,677
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 10L/28R
r2-length-f = 10,518
r2-length-m = 3,206
r2-surface = Asphalt
r3-number = 10R/28L
r3-length-f = 3,801
r3-length-m = 1,159
r3-surface = Asphalt
stat-year =
stat1-header =
stat1-data =
stat2-header =
stat2-data =
footnotes =

:"This article refers to an airport in Billings, Montana. For the Logan airport in Massachusetts (Boston area), see Logan International Airport"

Billings Logan International Airport (Class C Airspace)airport codes|BIL|KBIL is a commercial airport in the city of Billings, Montana USA. The airport serves residents of the greater Billings Metro area as well as residents throughout South Central Montana, eastern Montana and northern Wyoming. The airport is located two miles (3.2 km) north of downtown Billings.

No regularly-scheduled, non-stop flights from Billings travel farther east than Chicago, farther south than Las Vegas, or farther west than Seattle. However, the airport is relatively convenient for onward travel in that it offers non-stop flights to major airline hubs such as Denver International Airport (United Airlines and Frontier Airlines), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (United Airlines), San Francisco International Airport (United Airlines), Salt Lake City International Airport (Delta Connection), Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Northwest Airlines), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Horizon Air).

History

The first recorded flight in Billings was in 1912 by a local dentist named Dr. Frank Bell. The flight was flown in his home-made airplane Curtiss 0-X-5.

The "First" flight was made on Memorial Day 1913, with much publicity, Dr. Bell took off from Billings flying to Park City and back, a round trip distance of convert|40|mi|km. This historic flight was captured by a local artist named J.K. Ralston in his painting entitled "First Flight," which is displayed in the lobby of the Billings Logan International Airport.

By 1927, the people of Billings realized that the community was in need of an airport. The City of Billings approved $5,000 and convert|400|acre|ha|0|lk=on on top of the Rims to construct a runway. The convert|1820|ft|m|sing=on runway and small administrative building was constructed by using a horse-drawn equipment. The runway and building was completed in 1928. The Billings Municipal Airport was opened on May 29, 1928.

After the airport was established, Northwest Airlines was the first major airline to begin air services to Billings in 1933.

Major improvements over the years include the first runway lights installed in 1935 to the new convert|120|ft|m|sing=on air traffic control tower completed in 2005.Major terminal expansions were made in 1958, 1972 and 1992. In early 2006, the airport added electronic monitors that provide real-time updates on flight arrivals and departures.

The airport changed from the Billings Municipal Airport to Billings Logan Field in 1957, after Dick Logan, the airport manager, died. Then in 1971 the airport was renamed Billings Logan International Airport.

The airport is called "International" because it provided flights to Canada.

In January, 2006, DHL (Operated by ABX Air) made the decision to end overnight shipping to Montana, and with it, eliminated their flight to Billings. Subsequently, they returned express delivery to Billings, but did not return the daily DC-9 flight, instead opting to funnel freight through Salt Lake City and onto several daily Ameriflight flights.

Great Lakes Airlines has been given USDOT approval to take over Essential Air Service (EAS) service between Billings Logan International and the seven eastern Montana EAS communities including Glendive, Glasgow, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point. [cite news |url= http://www.sidneyherald.com/articles/2007/12/30/news/news01.txt |title= Great Lakes prepares for Montana routes |publisher= Sidney Herald |date= 2007-12-30 |accessdate= 2008-02-03]

Airlines and destinations

Concourse A

* United Airlines Gate A1 (Denver)
** United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines (Chicago-O'Hare [seasonal] , Denver)
* Northwest Airlines Gate A3 (Minneapolis/St. Paul)

Concourse B

* Alaska Airlines Gate B3, B4
** Horizon Air (Helena, Seattle/Tacoma)
* Allegiant Air Gate B3 (Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa)
* Delta Air Lines Gates B1 (Atlanta) [seasonal; begins 2009]
** Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines (Salt Lake City)
* Frontier Airlines Gate B3
**Frontier Airlines operated by Lynx Aviation (Denver)

Cargo carriers

*FedEx Express
*UPS Airlines

References

External links

* [http://www.flybillings.com/ Billings Logan International Airport] (official site)
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