Only two miles northwest of beautiful and bustling Billings, the Billings Logan International Airport is the obvious and convenient aviation choice for south central Montanans.
Offering six commercial airlines and multiple cargo options, this airport opened in 1928 as a municipal airport center, with numerous name changes and expansions throughout the years.
With approximately 450,000 passenger boardings per year, the city-owned Billings Logan sees a lot of traffic, but since it’s Montana, the environment is surely a bit more relaxed than other airport hubs. You can expect a souvenir gift shop, coffee and liquor bar, quick restaurant, lounge, deli, and plenty of friendly faces.
For a quick airport history lesson, the local dentist Frank Bell took the first successful Billings flight in 1913, which created an immediate buzz in the area (In contrast, the Wright Brothers had only completed their first flight in 1903!).
By 1927, more planes took flight in the area and locals recognized the need for a designated landing and storing space. As Montanans are so likely to do, they banded together for a common cause and a municipal airport was opened in May of 1928.
As the first airport manager, Dick Logan helped create good economic standing and awareness, one of the folks to level the runway with a horse-drawn plow. He served the city until his death in 1957 when the airport was renamed in his honor.
As the airport gained its international wings in 1971, it was again renamed to its current name, Billings Logan International Airport. Major terminal expansions have occurred over the years to size up with the public’s growing flight needs, and they will likely continue to occur as Billings makes its mark on the national playing field.
If you have some time before your flight, we recommend checking out the Yellowstone County Museum for a reconstructed bar scene, prehistory education, and information on the 1890 Ghost Dance.
This museum is free of charge, a no-brainer for killing time and learning about the local community, past, and present.
