Pocatello airport gears up for future growth

POCATELLO --David Allen believes that with the completion of renovations to its passenger terminal and the addition of Peterson Inc. to a nearby industrial park, the Pocatello Regional Airport is poised for future growth.

But, he's also of the mindset that growth in either of Eastern Idaho's two largest regional airports is good for everyone in the area.

"A lot of people do compare us to Idaho Falls, but I say no, look at us and Idaho Falls combined," said Allen , airport manager of the Pocatello Regional Airport. "We have options here at Pocatello. We can get you anywhere in the world, but if for some reason we can't , we have this airport just 50 minutes away. That's how I sell it to potential businesses."

The Pocatello Regional Airport currently has four flights daily to Salt Lake City through Delta Airlines' regional carrier SkyWest Airlines. Although Allen didn't have annual passenger figures at his fingertips Wednesday afternoon, he said the flights are operating on about a 50-percent load factor, meaning they are about half full on average.

But that's not a cause for concern. Allen explains that it isn't how many passengers are on the flight but how much revenue the flight is generating that concerns airlines.

"The airline is more concerned with the total revenue of the flight rather than how full it is," he said.

And the routes SkyWest flies from both Pocatello and Idaho Falls, Allen says, are revenue generators.

"They are when they connect to a flight to Atlanta, or Paris, or Japan, or Chicago," Allen said. "That's what Delta likes, taking the flights to Salt Lake City and connecting with one from there to another destination on Delta."

Although he is confident in what the Pocatello Regional Airport currently offers, that doesn't mean Allen is standing pat. He said the addition of Peterson Inc. to the 450-acre Airport Business Park has the potential to prove that industrial park's viability, eventually attracting others.

He said the completion of renovations to the passenger terminal last fall show other airlines that the Pocatello Regional Airport is serious about handling more significant passenger numbers.

So, even though he won't share any specifics, he is working on trying to make that happen.

"We are pursuing air service improvements," he said.

Allen said the airport also has a consultant who is helping with that effort. Allen is also trying to determine if there is a suitable long-term project to warrant applying for a substantial grant that was recently announced.

Adding to all that is the recent Airport Appreciation Day on June 25, during which nearly 3,000 people made their way to the airport. Nearly 700 airplane rides were given that day.

"I think we were the 38th busiest airport in the country that day," Allen said.