At the northwestern corner of the city of Missoula, Missoula International is served by five airlines; Alaska, Allegiant, Delta, Frontier and United, as well as six Rental Car Companies. Originally opened in 1941 with four runways, today it has only two, the longest, 11/29, being 9,501 feet long x 150 feet wide (2,896 x 46 meters), paved with asphalt.
In 1938 $928,324.00 of WPA funds were authorized to be used toward development of what is now known as Missoula International Airport. Opened in 1941, the airport was developed with the cooperation of the US Forest Service who needed access to an airport.
The Missoula Airport was originally constructed with four runways: 11/29, 07/25, 02/20, and 16/34. Today, Runway 11/29 is the airport’s primary commercial service runway, while Runway 07/25 is used as a crosswind general aviation runway. The remaining two runways were closed in the 1980s to make room for a new Public Safety Building.
In 1938, President Roosevelt authorized WPA funds for the construction of the Missoula County Airport to be located on 1300 acres west of Missoula. When the airport opened in 1941, it boasted the longest runways in the region with plenty of room for future growth.
In honor of two of Missoula’s most well known aviation pioneers, Bob Johnson, and Harry Bell, the Missoula County Airport was officially named Johnson-Bell Field on a warm Memorial Day afternoon in 1968. Today, a bronze plaque honoring their service and contributions is located in the main terminal at the Missoula International Airport.
From Missoula International
Missoula International Airport (IATA: MSO, ICAO: KMSO, FAA LID: MSO) is a public use airport located four nautical miles (5 mi, 7 km) northwest of the central business district of Missoula, a city in Missoula County, Montana, United States. It is owned by the Missoula County Airport Authority.
From Virtual Globetrotting