Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

What Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport does

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is Montana's busiest commercial airport and the only year-round gateway for two Yellowstone National Park entrances. Operated by the Gallatin Airport Authority, a government entity established in November 1972 under Montana legislation, the airport serves Southwest Montana including Big Sky Resort, Bridger Bowl, and Montana State University. In 2024 the airport handled more than 2.6 million passengers with operations exceeding 120,000 takeoffs and landings, and is projected to handle approximately 2.9 million passengers in 2026; it has the fastest growing demand among the top 100 U.S. airports over the past 25 years. Nonstop service is provided to 29 destinations via eight airline partners (Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, jetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, United). The airport spans 2,481 acres in Belgrade, Montana (Gallatin County) and supports 2,000 direct and 11,000 indirect regional jobs, accounting for roughly one-third of Montana's statewide aviation economic impact (~$2.2 billion annually).

The airport's product portfolio centers on four functional lines: (1) commercial air service via the airline network; (2) general aviation services delivered through three FBOs (Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation/Yellowstone Jet Center, Million Air), flight schools, aircraft maintenance, charters, helicopter, and air ambulance operations (Billings Clinic MedFlight, Life Flight Network); (3) terminal and concourse facilities including a 12-gate main terminal (expanding to 15), a $23 million in-line baggage handling and explosive detection system with over 3,300 linear feet of conveyor belts, three high-capacity baggage carousels, and expanded TSA checkpoint capacity (60% larger); and (4) ground transportation, parking (multi-purpose garage with 90 pay and 1,000 rental car stalls), and concessions operated by SharBert Enterprises (Copper Horse Restaurant, Ross Peak Grill, BZN Market, Montana Gift Corral). Capital projects in flight include the multi-phase East Terminal Expansion Project (ETEP), budgeted at $140–$180 million through 2030; a $7 million ARFF/SRE facility expansion; and a 328-foot extension of main Runway 12/30 with MALSR installation on Runway 30.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams including passenger facility charges, security and landing fees from commercial airlines (transaction-fee revenue); recurring hangar, FBO, and commercial real estate leases including the Bridger Hangar Complex now owned by SR Aviation Infrastructure; parking, rental car, and ground transportation fees; and concessions/retail operated under master concessionaire agreements (SharBert Enterprises). TSA PreCheck enrollment is offered as a one-time $76.75 fee covering five years of participation. Capital expenditures are funded primarily through revenue bonds (a $2.4M bond issuance financed the 1976 terminal) and ongoing capital improvement programs. The airport is governed by a board (Chair Carl Lehrkind IV; Vice-Chair Kendall Switzer; Secretary Karen Stelmak; members Ted Barkley, Ted Mathis) and is led by President/CEO Brian Sprenger (A.A.E.) with EVP/CCO Aaron Collins, EVP/COO Chris Pomeroy, and CFO Troy Watling (CPA).

Name

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

Legal name

Gallatin Airport Authority

Website

https://bozemanairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is Montana's busiest airport, operated by the Gallatin Airport Authority, providing nonstop commercial and general aviation services to 29 destinations for travelers to Southwest Montana including Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky Resort, and Montana State University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH)

Keywords

• Commercial aviation services
• Airport terminal operations
• General aviation facilities
• Airfield infrastructure management
• Passenger air transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Belgrade

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Service Fees: Revenue generated from passenger facility charges, security fees, and landing fees from commercial airlines operating at the airport.
2. Commercial Real Estate and Hangar Leases: Revenue from hangar complexes, FBO facilities, and commercial operations leased to aviation businesses including aircraft maintenance, flight schools, and ground handling services.
3. Ground Transportation and Parking: Revenue from parking facilities, rental car operations, and ground transportation services operating on airport property.
4. Concessions and Retail: Revenue from food and beverage, retail, and shopping concessions including Copper Horse Restaurant, Ross Peak Grill, Montana Gift Corral, and BZN Market operated by SharBert Enterprises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) operates commercial passenger air service to 29 nonstop U.S. destinations via 8 airline partners, general aviation services through three FBOs and multiple aviation businesses, and supporting terminal, airfield, parking, ground transportation, and concession infrastructure. The airport also offers air cargo, air ambulance, TSA PreCheck enrollment, and lost-and-found services for travelers and aviation operators in Southwest Montana.

Product overview

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is Montana's busiest airport serving over 2 million travelers annually. The airport operates as a year-round gateway to Southwest Montana's recreation destinations including Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky Ski Resort, and Montana State University. The airport's product portfolio centers on commercial and general aviation services: commercial air service to 29 nonstop U.S. destinations via 8 airlines; general aviation facilities including three FBOs (Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation/Yellowstone Jet Center, Million Air), flight schools, aircraft maintenance, charters, and helicopter services; terminal infrastructure with 12 gates (expanding to 15), an automated in-line baggage handling system ($23M investment), and food/retail concessions including Copper Horse Restaurant, Ross Peak Grill, BZN Market, and Milk Creek Café. Supporting infrastructure includes a 2,481-acre airfield with Runway 12/30 and Runway 11/29, a $7M ARFF/SRE facility expansion, TSA security checkpoint with 60% expanded queuing area, ground transportation services, and parking facilities. The airport is undergoing a major East Terminal Expansion Project (ETEP) valued at $140-$180 million with projected completion in 2030. Additional services include air cargo (FedEx, UPS), air ambulance (Billings Clinic MedFlight, Life Flight Network), and a comprehensive lost and found system connecting to airline baggage services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Air Service Year-round and seasonal commercial passenger air service to 29 nonstop U.S. destinations served by 8 airlines (Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, United) for travelers visiting Southwest Montana.
• General Aviation Services Full general aviation support including three Fixed-Base Operators (Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation/Yellowstone Jet Center, Million Air), flight schools, aircraft maintenance, charters, helicopter services, air ambulance, pilot shelter, U.S. Customs, flying clubs, and aviation education for private pilots and aviation businesses.
• Terminal and Concourse Facilities Main passenger terminal with A and B concourses, 12 gates (expandable to 15), passenger boarding bridges, three high-capacity baggage claim carousels, and integrated retail and food concessions serving airline passengers.
• In-Line Baggage Handling System Automated in-line baggage screening and handling system with state-of-the-art explosive detection technology. Handles approximately 4,000 bags per day with peak capacity up to 10,000 departing bags, including oversized items such as skis and golf clubs.
• Airfield Infrastructure 2,481-acre airfield in Belgrade, Montana, featuring 9,000-foot Runway 12/30 (extended by 328 feet in 2025), Runway 11/29, taxiways, aprons, and MALSR navigational aids supporting commercial and general aviation operations.
• Ground Transportation Services Ground transportation hub offering on-site and off-site rental cars, rideshare (Uber, Lyft), taxi service, shuttle services to Big Sky and Yellowstone, and limousine services for arriving and departing travelers.
• Parking Facilities Multi-purpose parking garage with 90 public pay parking stalls and 1,000 rental car spaces, plus additional surface parking lots for travelers and rental car operators.
• TSA Security Services TSA security checkpoint with expanded queuing area accommodating approximately 3,500 passengers per day, plus periodic TSA PreCheck enrollment events in partnership with IDEMIA. A second security checkpoint is planned as part of the East Terminal Expansion.
• Food and Beverage Concessions Terminal food and beverage offerings operated by SharBert Enterprises, including Copper Horse Restaurant, Ross Peak Grill, Copper Horse Bistro, Taco Jet, BZN Market self-serve station, Grab & Go kiosks, and Milk Creek Café for travelers.
• Retail Shopping Airport retail outlets including Montana Gift Corral (three locations), N.S. Provisions, Copper Horse Market convenience store, and Yellowstone Forever park merchandise shop for travelers.
• Air Cargo Services Air cargo and express shipping services provided by FedEx (395 Airport Rd, Belgrade) and UPS (90 W Madison St) for regional package and freight operations.
• Air Ambulance Services Air ambulance services operated from BZN by Billings Clinic MedFlight (EC145e rotor-wing covering a 150-mile radius) and Life Flight Network (not-for-profit air ambulance) for critical medical transport.
• Lost and Found Services Lost and found services for items lost in the terminal, security checkpoint, concessions, parking lots, aircraft, or ticket counters, with connection to airline baggage services for items lost on planes.
• Hangar and Commercial Real Estate Leases Hangar complexes, FBO facilities, and commercial real estate leased to aviation businesses including aircraft maintenance, flight schools, and ground handling service providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fastest growing demand among top 100 US airports over 25 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SR Aviation Infrastructure (SRAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025SR Aviation Infrastructure, a subsidiary of SomeraRoad, acquired the Bridger Hangar Complex at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport from Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings. The complex includes three hangars and a development site for a new hangar, with existing hangars leased back to Bridger Aerospace under a 10-year lease. SRAI plans to expand its aviation real estate assets in the market.
• SharBert EnterprisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaster concessionaire operating multiple food, beverage, and retail establishments at the airport including Copper Horse Restaurant, Ross Peak Grill, Copper Horse Bistro, BZN Market, and Montana Gift Corral stores. Has been serving passengers at BZN for over 20 years.
• Billings Clinic MedFlightcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAir ambulance service operating EC145e rotor-wing aircraft from BZN, covering approximately 150-mile radius around the Bozeman area. Partnership with Metro Aviation provides critical medical transport services.
• Life Flight NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLargest not-for-profit air ambulance company in the U.S. with local base in Bozeman. In-network with Montana health insurance companies including Allegiance, Cigna, Pacific Source, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana.
• TransMedics Aviation Flight TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive flight training partner for the Gallatin College MSU Aviation Degree Program. Award-winning flight school offering both FAA Part 141 and Part 61 training programs.
• Montana Department of TransportationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted 2026 Economic Impact Study of Montana Airports in partnership with Zenoth Economics, LLC to underscore the critical role aviation plays in supporting Montana's economy.
• IDEMIAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner with BZN for TSA PreCheck enrollment events. IDEMIA processes enrollment appointments and manages the enrollment process for travelers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Reno-Tahoe International Airport: Destination/leisure airport serving Lake Tahoe and Sierra ski resorts with similar seasonality, ski/leisure mix, and FBO ecosystem.
• Boise Airport: Nearby (Idaho) small hub airport of similar passenger scale (~4-5M) and similar airline carrier mix serving outdoor-recreation and business demand.
• Pitkin County Airport (Aspen): High-end ski destination airport serving Aspen with strong private/general aviation mix and tourism seasonality. Comparable as a resort-leisure gateway with significant FBO activity like BZN.
• Glacier Park International Airport: Montana gateway to Glacier National Park with similar tourism/National Park-driven passenger profile and similar airline mix. Comparable in scale, leisure skew, and seasonal demand.
• Missoula Montana Airport: Montana's second-busiest commercial airport, also a small/non-hub regional facility serving outdoor recreation, university, and business traffic. Comparable geographic and operational profile to BZN.
• Spokane International Airport: Regional small hub Pacific Northwest airport serving a comparable mix of business, leisure, and outdoor recreation traffic, with similar hub-and-spoke connectivity to BZN.
• Jackson Hole Airport: Small hub gateway serving Grand Teton/Yellowstone and a major ski destination. Direct comparable to BZN as a mountain-region leisure and tourism-driven airport with seasonal demand spikes and a similar catchment profile.
• Eagle County Regional Airport (Vail): Ski/resort-destination regional airport (Vail/Beaver Creek) with strong winter leisure demand, comparable size and operational seasonality to BZN.

Regional players

• Yellowstone Airport (West Yellowstone): Primary seasonal gateway to Yellowstone's west entrance, but smaller and closed seasonally. Indirect peer reflecting shared tourism catchment and seasonality dynamics with BZN.

Emerging players

• Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley): Smaller ski/resort destination airport in Idaho's Wood River Valley, comparable mix of leisure traffic, private aviation, and seasonal demand surges—but materially smaller in scale than BZN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bozemanairport

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport