Boise Airport has reached a major new milestone in its rapid growth story. The city owned gateway has confirmed that more than five million passengers traveled through its terminal in 2025, setting a record for the fourth consecutive year and underscoring Boise’s emergence as one of the fastest growing air travel markets in the American West. For travelers, airlines and local residents alike, the achievement signals both new opportunities and significant changes on the horizon at Idaho’s busiest airport.
Record Breaking Passenger Growth
In 2025, Boise Airport handled 5,229,399 passengers, up from 4,990,885 in 2024. That nearly five percent year over year increase builds on several years of strong recovery and expansion, placing Boise firmly among the country’s dynamic mid sized airports. The 2025 total is also more than double the airport’s traffic a decade earlier and represents the highest annual passenger volume in the airport’s history.
Airport officials note that this is the fourth straight year of record breaking traffic. After crossing 4.1 million passengers in 2019, Boise, like most airports, saw a sharp decline in 2020 before demand came roaring back. By 2022, traffic had already surpassed pre pandemic levels, and each subsequent year has pushed the bar higher. The new 2025 record reflects both pent up leisure demand and the Treasure Valley’s rapid population and business growth.
To put the milestone into perspective, the number of travelers moving through Boise Airport last year exceeded the entire population of Idaho by a wide margin. The 5.2 million passengers served in 2025 compare with an estimated state population of around two million residents. For a region that still markets itself on easy access and quality of life, the airport’s numbers are a clear indicator of how quickly its footprint and influence are expanding.
What Is Driving Boise’s Air Travel Boom
Several forces are converging to push Boise’s air travel demand to new heights. The Treasure Valley has been one of the nation’s faster growing metropolitan areas, attracting new residents from across the West and beyond. That influx of people brings more visiting friends and relatives traffic, more business travel and more demand for vacation options that start and end at Boise Airport.
Economic growth is another key driver. Technology, outdoor recreation, health care, food processing and professional services all have a growing presence in the region, drawing corporate visitors and helping justify additional airline capacity. Companies looking for lower costs and quality of life advantages have expanded in and around Boise, and the airport has become a critical tool for recruiting talent and maintaining connections to major hubs.
The leisure market is equally important. Southwest Idaho has carved out a reputation as an outdoor playground, with skiing, hiking, fishing and river recreation within easy reach. The ability to fly nonstop to and from major Western and Midwestern cities makes it simpler for tourists to visit and for locals to embark on their own getaways. Airlines have recognized that appeal and added routes to match.
Boise Airport Today: Airlines and Destinations
Boise Airport has steadily broadened its route map as passenger demand has grown. The airport is currently served by eight commercial airlines offering 27 nonstop destinations, a network that blends large national hubs, key Western cities and select leisure markets. That mix gives travelers from Boise access to one stop connections across the United States and internationally, while also providing convenient point to point options for popular domestic trips.
Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and low cost carriers all play a role at the airport, alongside regional operators that connect Boise to their mainline partners’ hubs. Over the past two years, carriers have launched new nonstop services and seasonal routes, with Alaska in particular continuing to grow its Boise portfolio. In early 2026, Alaska added a new daily nonstop link to Ontario, California, and plans to launch seasonal nonstop service to Anchorage this summer, further expanding the airport’s reach to the Pacific coast and Alaska markets.
For a city of Boise’s size, the breadth of destinations is significant. Nonstop flights connect the Treasure Valley to Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Dallas and major coastal gateways such as San Francisco and Portland. These routes account for some of the airport’s busiest corridors and are essential for business travelers and connecting passengers who use larger hubs for onward travel around the country and abroad.
Capacity Crunch and the Need for Expansion
The surge in passenger numbers is straining facilities originally designed for a much smaller market. On peak days, about 9,500 passengers pass through the security checkpoint, putting pressure on ticketing halls, screening lanes, gate areas, restrooms and concessions. Airport leaders have been explicit that the existing terminal was not built to handle today’s traffic comfortably during the busiest periods.
Over the past decade, passenger traffic has increased by more than 70 percent, yet key pieces of infrastructure have remained largely unchanged. Concourse B, the primary passenger concourse, has a limited number of gates, and its holdrooms and amenities can become crowded during morning and evening rushes. The checked baggage system, approaching 25 years old, is no longer suited to the volume of luggage moving through the building and is increasingly difficult to maintain.
The parking and ground transportation areas have also felt the effects of growth. Even though the airport has already invested in an expanded economy lot and a new parking garage in recent years, demand during holidays and school breaks can fill close in spaces quickly. Rental car operations, rideshare activity and personal vehicle traffic all converge in the same compact footprint, heightening congestion during peak periods.
The 700 Million Dollar BOI Upgrade Program
In response to record traffic, Boise has launched an ambitious capital improvement effort known as the BOI Upgrade. The city has approved a framework that allows for up to 700 million dollars in contracts through 2029 to expand and modernize the airport. The program is being delivered through a construction manager and general contractor model, with Colorado based firm Hensel Phelps selected to lead the multi year work.
The BOI Upgrade is structured so that projects can move forward as funding becomes available, using airport revenues, passenger facility related charges and bonds. Local property tax dollars are not being used. This approach lets the airport phase construction to keep the terminal operating while major systems are rebuilt and new facilities are added.
At the heart of the program are several interlocking projects. A completely new baggage handling system will be constructed in a different location to free up space and replace aging equipment. Once baggage operations move, the airport plans to build a central utility plant on the former baggage footprint to provide modern heating, cooling and electrical capacity for the expanded terminal. Only after those foundational pieces are in place can full work on the new concourse proceed.
New Concourse A and Terminal Improvements
The signature element of Boise’s expansion is a new Concourse A that will rise on the west side of the existing Concourse B. The project envisions up to 10 additional gates, with a phased opening that could start with seven gates and add more in a future stage. When complete, the new concourse will significantly boost the airport’s ability to accommodate more flights and larger aircraft, while also easing crowding at today’s gates.
Concourse A will be accompanied by two phases of terminal improvements designed to improve passenger circulation and create more comfortable spaces. Plans call for reconfigured security screening areas, updated ticketing and check in zones, and better wayfinding to help travelers move through the building more intuitively. A redesigned reunion area in the rotunda will give arriving passengers and their greeters a more spacious and welcoming point to meet.
The expanded terminal will also provide room for additional shops, restaurants and services. Airport officials have already begun refreshing concessions, with new grab and go offerings and local concepts arriving in the existing concourse. As the footprint grows, travelers can expect a wider range of dining and retail choices that reflect both national brands and regional flavors.
Parking, Rental Cars and Ground Access Changes
While new gates and concourses attract most of the attention, significant changes are happening on the ground as well. To support current and future demand, Boise Airport is investing in parking and rental car facilities that will reshape how travelers arrive and depart. A new rental car center with a seven level parking garage is under construction within walking distance of the terminal. Once completed, it will consolidate rental operations and free up valuable space near the terminal for other uses.
The airport has already opened an East Garage that added more than 1,000 public parking spaces, effectively doubling the close in long term parking capacity. Additional spaces have been created in the economy lot and in employee parking areas to better separate different user groups and manage daily demand. A new cell phone waiting lot gives drivers a safer and more convenient place to park while waiting for arriving passengers to call.
These ground access projects are closely tied to the broader BOI Upgrade timeline. As rental car operations move into their new home and surface lots are reconfigured, the airport will gain the flexibility it needs to stage construction for Concourse A and terminal improvements. For travelers, the transitions will unfold in phases, and the airport is advising passengers to leave extra time, especially during peak travel periods, as wayfinding and traffic patterns evolve.
Traveler Experience and Accessibility Initiatives
Even as major construction plans take shape, Boise Airport has been rolling out near term improvements aimed at making travel smoother and more inclusive. Ahead of busy holiday and summer seasons, the airport has expanded its security checkpoint from six to seven lanes, a change that can help reduce wait times during travel surges. Officials continue to urge passengers to arrive early, use airline apps and prepare for screening, but the added capacity gives the Transportation Security Administration more flexibility to open lanes as needed.
The airport has also invested in accessibility upgrades. One of the most visible recent additions is a visual paging system that displays announcements and alerts on screens throughout the terminal, ensuring that passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing receive timely information. These changes are part of a broader effort to make the facility more user friendly for travelers with disabilities, older passengers and families navigating the terminal with children.
Concession updates are similarly focused on convenience. New retail outlets with grab and go food and beverage options have opened to serve passengers who have limited time before boarding. Local and regional brands feature prominently, giving travelers a taste of Idaho even on short connections. As future phases of the BOI Upgrade roll out, the airport expects to layer in more amenities, including expanded seating, power outlets and workspaces.
Economic Impact and the Road Ahead
Boise Airport’s record breaking passenger numbers are more than a symbolic milestone. The facility is a major economic engine for the Treasure Valley and the state of Idaho. Recent studies estimate that the airport generates billions of dollars in annual economic impact, supports tens of thousands of jobs in aviation, tourism and related sectors, and contributes significant tax revenue to local and state governments. Every new route and added frequency brings additional visitors, business opportunities and investment into the region.
The airport’s leadership is framing the 5.2 million passenger mark as both a celebration and a call to action. Entering its 100th year of operation, Boise Airport is preparing a series of centennial events throughout 2026 that will highlight its evolution from a gravel airstrip along the Boise River to a modern joint civil military airfield. At the same time, officials are clear that sustaining growth will require careful planning, robust community engagement and continued investment in infrastructure.
For travelers, the message is straightforward. Those using Boise Airport in the coming years can expect a busier, more connected gateway with expanding flight options and increasingly modern facilities. They should also be prepared for construction related changes, from shifting walkways to temporary boarding areas, as the BOI Upgrade advances. The record of more than five million passengers is a milestone that marks how far Boise has come, and it sets the stage for an even more ambitious chapter in the airport’s next century of service.