BOISE AIR TERMINAL
Two United 727s and a hybrid Air West/Bonanza DC9 parked at the new BOI in the late 1960s.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel
The Boise Air Terminal - a multimillion-dollar facility for Idaho's premier airport - was completed in 1967. The building was technically not an all-new
terminal, but a retrofit of the existing building. The new terminal was built around the shell of the old 1930s facility, which was gutted and completely
integrated into the new design.
The original BOI terminal in the early 1960s. The 1967 terminal would be constructed around this facility - only the original roofline and control tower would
remain visible.
The new BOI had amenities that (by 1967 standards) were unheard of for airports of its size: two automated baggage claim carousels, dual escalators connecting
the lower-level landside area to the second-floor restaurant and passenger concourse, and three fixed-position loading bridges. At the time the terminal opened,
Boise was served by United, West Coast and Bonanza, although the latter two would merge to form Air West by the end of the year.
The curbfront of the Boise Air Terminal shortly after its completion in 1967. United's ticket counter is on the left, Air West's on the right, and baggage claim is
at the far end of the building. The red-roofed structure atop the terminal is the roofline of the old 1930s terminal.
Another landside view of the Boise terminal in the late 1960s.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel
Two more views of BOI after its opening, showing a view across the general aviation ramp towards the terminal, and a view of the second-level passenger pier and
restaurant area from the main apron.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel
The original arrangement was more than sufficient throughout the 1970s, but increased service after Deregulation called for an expansion of the facility. Accordingly,
a new three-gate concourse was opened in 1981, supplementing the original three jet gates.
A diagram of BOI from 1981, just before the new concourse was opened. United, Frontier and Republic (which acquired Hughes Airwest in 1980) are the only two carriers, although
Western and PSA would begin service shortly.
A map of BOI from 1987, showing the 1981-built concourse.
Other improvements during the 1980s included expansion of the parking lots and renovation of the original ticket lobby. Rampant mergers in the late 1980s saw Delta, Northwest and
Continental replace Western, Republic and Frontier at the airport. Additionally, commuter carrier Horizon Air began service to several Pacific Northwest cities.
Low-fare carrier Morris Air began Boise service in the early 1990s. In 1994, Morris was acquired by Southwest, which began additional service to several cities. To
handle the rise in service, a six-gate extension of the 1981 concourse was opened in 1994.
An aerial view of BOI in the mid-1990s, showing the final terminal configuration and the newly extended concourse.
Despite the expansion, it was clear by the late 1990s that the 1967 terminal had outlived its useful life. Officials drew up plans for a new landside terminal that would
connect to the newer concourse, allowing the 1967 structure to be demolished. Ground was broken for the "new" BOI in July 2001.
An overview of BOI from spring 2003, just before the new terminal was opened. The 1967 terminal is at left center, with the new terminal just beyond it. Temporary corridors are being
built to link the new terminal to the 1981 concourse. Photo by Aaron Hall
On June 25, 2003, the new landside terminal was opened. It had been built in the former infield parking lot, and was linked to the gate areas by temporary walkways. The old terminal
closed the following day and was demolished shortly thereafter. In its place, a permanent connector between the new terminal and the gates was opened in late 2004.
A diagram of the reconfigured BOI after the new terminal was opened in 2003.
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