Missoula Airport watching summer schedule as carriers upgrade aircraft, adjust flights
Just as Missoula Montana Airport was set to return to 2019 passenger levels, the airline industry is now facing a shortage of pilots and higher fuel prices, both of which could impact travel across the nation.
As summer nears, the airport is facing a slight decrease in the number of available seats compared to 2019, which was a record year in passenger travel to and from Missoula. With fewer seats in the market, flights will be leaving full.
“I would expect July to well exceed 90% load factors, which typically means the pendulum will swing to additional service the following year,” said airport director Brian Ellestad. “During spring break, we went into overflow parking.”
Airlines that provide service from Missoula are responding to fuel prices and the shortage of pilots, but it's not all bad for local travelers.
Earlier this year, American Airlines stopped nonstop service from Missoula to Chicago, but United Airlines will back-fill the route by adding Saturday service on a mainline aircraft. American also cut one daily nonstop flight to Dallas-Fort Worth but has upgraded its remaining aircraft to 176 seats.
“We've seen some bright spots in our summer schedule. American Airlines, which had reduced frequency, has actually increased seats,” Ellestad said. “When you have two daily round trips on (a smaller plane) and you put a 737 in there, you have an increase, even though it's only once a day.”
Allegiant Airline also has added a Saturday flight from Missoula to Phoenix/Mesa, which is something it has never offered locally. Ellestad said American has improved its schedule to Los Angeles.
“It's a little better than last year timing wise. It's more of a late-morning out of LA and an early-afternoon turn here,” he said. “But you have great connections to Hawaii in both directions now. We've got Delta to Hawaii and Alaska to Hawaii. You can leave here at 3 p.m. and get to any of the four islands by 9 p.m.”
Nationally over spring break, national travelers returned to the sky. The Transportation Security Administration screened more than 2.3 million passengers on Sunday, March 20, which marked a 53% increase of the same day the prior year.
While the airport has revamped its parking alongside construction of the new passenger terminal, it may not be enough to accommodate travelers during busy travel days.
“As we start our Master Plan, we will need to focus on additional parking options looking forward,” Ellestad said.