Friedman Memorial Airport

What Friedman Memorial Airport does

Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) is a publicly owned, FAA Part 139-certified commercial service airport jointly controlled by the City of Hailey and Blaine County, Idaho, and operated by the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority (FMAA). Established on land donated by the Friedman family in 1931 and operating as a commercial service airport since 1960, SUN serves as the only commercial air gateway to the Sun Valley and Wood River Valley resort region, with a single 7,550-ft runway on 219 acres at 5,318-ft elevation. The airport's primary function is providing scheduled passenger service to and from the Sun Valley resort market via three anchor carriers — Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines (operated by SkyWest), and United Airlines (operated by SkyWest) — supplemented by general aviation operations handled by Atlantic Aviation as FBO and, prospectively, by Clay Lacy Aviation under a newly negotiated GA development lease.

The airport's competitive position is anchored by advanced precision-approach technology developed in partnership with its airline partners: an LPV instrument approach system that came online in December 2020 on SkyWest's E175 aircraft, and Alaska Airlines' proprietary RNP approach system in use since December 2016. These systems, combined with award-winning snow and ice removal operations (2024 Balchen/Post Award) and a discrepancy-free FAA Part 139 inspection (April 2026), have yielded near-perfect winter reliability — over 180 United and Delta flights saved from diversion in two seasons, and nearly four years without a snow-related operational turnback. The airport also operates a Voluntary Noise Abatement Program with a dedicated community committee, an FAA-aligned Climate Action Strategy targeting Net Zero by 2050, and a recently initiated acquisition of approximately 386 acres of land south of the runway to protect approach corridors and enable future GA development.

Revenue is generated from five streams: airline landing and ticket counter fees, commercial aeronautical leases (FBO, charter providers, concessionaires), property and facility leases, self-parking operations ($3–$15/day), and ground transportation concessions (car rentals, taxis, shuttles). The airport is governed by a seven-member FMAA Board (three city-appointed, three county-appointed, one independent member) and is structured to be self-sustaining, with a 11–50-person staff. It delivers approximately $300 million in annual regional economic impact — second only to Boise Airport among Idaho commercial service airports — and is not a candidate for traditional PE/VC investment given its public-authority ownership structure; any investor thesis must therefore focus on adjacent operating concessions, real estate, or capital project participation rather than equity acquisition.

Name

Friedman Memorial Airport

Legal name

Friedman Memorial Airport Authority

Website

https://iflysun.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) is a publicly owned commercial service airport jointly run by the City of Hailey and Blaine County, Idaho, providing scheduled airline service (Alaska, Delta, United), general aviation, and charter operations to the Sun Valley resort market via a single 7,550-ft runway and advanced LPV/RNP approach technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hailey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airline Fees and Landing Charges: The airport generates revenue from landing fees charged to commercial and general aviation operators, airline ticket counter fees, and other aeronautical charges. Rates and charges are established annually during the budget process, with the goal of making the airport self-sustaining.
2. Commercial Aeronautical Activity Leases: Revenue from businesses providing commercial aeronautical services at the airport, including fixed-base operators, charter providers, and other concessionaires operating under minimum standards agreements.
3. Property and Facility Leases: Revenue from airport-owned commercial and industrial properties, hangar land leases, and aviation-related facility rentals managed by the Deputy Director of Finance & Administration.
4. Parking Operations: Self-parking operations generating revenue from hourly and daily parking at airport parking lots, with the first 30 minutes free and rates ranging from free to $15 per 24 hours.
5. Ground Transportation and Concession Revenue: Revenue from car rental concessions (Avis, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise, National), taxi and shuttle services, and other ground transportation providers operating at the airport.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) is a commercial service and general aviation airport serving the Sun Valley resort region in Idaho. It provides scheduled passenger airline service via Alaska, Delta, and United carriers, a single 7,550-foot runway (Runway 13/31), passenger terminal operations, parking, ground transportation, FBO and charter services, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 24-hour security, and award-winning snow removal. The airport also operates advanced LPV and RNP instrument approach systems developed with airline partners to maintain reliable winter operations in mountainous terrain.

Product overview

Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) operates as a commercial service and general aviation airport serving the Sun Valley resort region in Idaho. The airport offers a unified portfolio of services centered on passenger airline operations (Delta, Alaska, United), general aviation facilities managed with Clay Lacy Aviation, and comprehensive ground support including parking, rental cars, and ground transportation. Core operational infrastructure includes a single runway (Runway 13/31, 7,550 ft), passenger terminal with concessions, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting services, and 24-hour security operations. The airport maintains a strong focus on community relations through its Voluntary Noise Abatement Program and environmental sustainability via its Climate Action Strategy. Special capabilities include advanced LPV/RNP instrument approach systems that have significantly improved winter flight reliability, and award-winning snow removal operations (Balchen/Post Award). Pilot services include self-service fueling through Atlantic Aviation FBO, tiedowns, hangar facilities, and comprehensive airfield information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Airline Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $300 million in annual regional economic impact
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SkyWest AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020SkyWest Airlines, operating as a regional carrier for Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, partnered with FMAA to develop and implement the LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance) instrument approach system at SUN, which came online in December 2020 on SkyWest's E175 aircraft. This partnership dramatically improved winter flight reliability and eliminated the need for diversion busing programs.
• Alaska AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlaska Airlines operates non-stop service to Los Angeles and Seattle using E175 regional jets. Alaska Airlines has been utilizing its proprietary RNP (Required Navigation Performance) approach system at SUN since December 2016, significantly improving winter flight reliability and reducing weather-related disruptions.
• Delta Air LinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta Air Lines operates non-stop service to Salt Lake City via SkyWest Airlines. Delta participated in the LPV approach development partnership and benefited from improved winter reliability, which enabled the discontinuation of the diversion busing program.
• United AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Airlines operates non-stop service to San Francisco (seasonal Denver and Chicago) via SkyWest Airlines. United participated in the LPV approach development partnership and benefited from saved flights during winter operations.
• Atlantic AviationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAtlantic Aviation serves as the Fixed-Based Operator (FBO) at Friedman Memorial Airport, providing self-service fuel, aircraft parking apron, and general aviation support services.
• Clay Lacy AviationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerClay Lacy Aviation was selected through a competitive RFP process (four proposals submitted, three finalists) to lease, develop, and operate general aviation aeronautical facilities at SUN. Lease negotiations commenced July 2, 2024 following FMAA board acceptance of the selection committee's recommendation.
• FAA (Salt Lake City Air Traffic Control)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FAA coordinates air traffic control services at SUN (Serco Inc. provides contract tower services 7am-11pm), and works with the airport on approach procedure development, runway safety, Part 139 inspections, environmental assessments, and capital improvement projects including the ATCT replacement.
• TSA (Transportation Security Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSA administers security screening at SUN (TSA Checkpoint open approximately 90 minutes before flight time), conducts security audits, and the airport's Security Manager maintains ongoing compliance with TSA 49 CFR Part 1542 requirements.
• AirSVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirSV is a charter provider based at Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) offering regional charter services from Hailey, Idaho.
• Allen & CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllen & Company hosts its annual high-profile conference in Sun Valley, generating an annual influx of up to 175 private jets at SUN. The airport coordinates months in advance with the FAA and ATC to manage this significant event.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boise Airport: Largest commercial-service airport in Idaho and SUN's reference benchmark for state-level economic impact (BOI is #1, SUN is #2). Overlaps in airline partnerships and serves as the primary hub for many of SUN's connecting passengers.
• Reno-Tahoe International Airport: Larger commercial-service airport serving the Lake Tahoe/Reno resort region. Comparable in serving a major mountain-resort economy and acting as a gateway for ski/leisure travelers, but at a significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Mammoth Yosemite Airport: Small commercial-service airport serving Mammoth Lakes ski resort in California, with mountain approach challenges, seasonal demand, and similar reliance on regional jet service.
• Glacier Park International Airport: Commercial-service airport serving Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley in Montana, a resort/park gateway with strong seasonal demand and general aviation activity. Comparable in regional scale and customer base.
• Jackson Hole Airport: Sole commercial-service airport for Jackson Hole, Wyoming, another premium ski/wilderness resort gateway. Comparable in mountain operating environment, seasonal passenger mix, general aviation demand, and reliance on small-jet service.
• Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport: Primary commercial-service airport serving Bozeman and Yellowstone region, a major mountain resort gateway with strong seasonal swings and similar commercial/general aviation mix, though larger in scale than SUN.
• Yellowstone Airport: Small commercial-service airport in West Yellowstone, Montana serving Yellowstone National Park visitors. Comparable in scale, resort/park-driven demand, and seasonal operating profile.
• Aspen/Pitkin County Airport: Commercial-service airport serving Aspen, a high-end mountain resort with similar terrain constraints, seasonal demand, premium private jet activity, and noise abatement requirements. Closely comparable in operating model and customer base to SUN.
• Eagle County Regional Airport: Serves Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado as the sole commercial-service airport for a premium mountain resort. Directly comparable in scale (single runway, mountainous terrain), customer profile (luxury ski/leisure), and reliance on EAS-type subsidies and diversion-prone winter operations.
• Telluride Regional Airport: Small commercial-service airport serving Telluride ski resort in Colorado, with one of the most challenging mountain approaches in the U.S. Closely comparable in size, customer profile, and mountain-operations complexity to SUN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iflysun
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunairport
• Instagraminstagram.com/iflysun
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friedman-memorial-airport

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Friedman Memorial Airport