Glacier Park International Airport to Close Runway on Weekdays for July Repaving

Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) will implement a series of weekday runway closures throughout July 2026 to complete a critical pavement rehabilitation project. The main runway will shut down from Monday at 6:00 p.m. to Friday at 10:00 a.m. for four consecutive weeks, starting July 6.

During these periods, construction crews will work 24 hours a day to repave, groove, and stripe the runway. The runway will reopen every weekend from Friday morning through Monday afternoon to accommodate peak summer travel. The airport expects to operate at about 60% of its normal capacity during this period.

July is the busiest month of the year for the Kalispell, Montana, gateway, which recorded 77,864 boardings during the same month last year, according to the Montana Department of Transportation. However, airport officials state that July is the only window that offers the consistent dry weather and overnight temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit required by Federal Aviation Administration specifications.

Postponing the project to late summer or autumn is not viable, as nighttime freezing temperatures would ruin the runway grooving process. Runway grooving is crucial for providing adequate friction during winter operations. The main runway was last rehabilitated in 2009 and is reaching the end of its useful lifespan.

Airport Director Rob Ratkowski explained that waiting until August or September would introduce unacceptable operational hazards. "We cannot accept that level of risk," Ratkowski told the Flathead Beacon. He noted that the FAA is funding 95% of the project, which requires strict adherence to federal paving standards.

While the main runway is closed, the airport's smaller runway, Runway 12/30, will remain open for charter flights and cargo carriers like FedEx. However, even this secondary strip will close from July 27 through July 31 for the final phase of the work. The project will conclude with approximately 15 short nightly closures in September for final grooving work, with all construction expected to wrap up by October 1.

With flights consolidated into long weekends, terminal congestion will increase. Ratkowski urged travelers to arrive at least two hours before departure. "Every day is going to be very busy," Ratkowski said. Regional alternatives, such as Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), located about two and a half hours south by car, are preparing to handle diverted regional demand.