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

Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) will restrict its runway operations starting July 6 to complete a critical pavement rehabilitation project. Under a rolling four-week schedule, the airport's main runway will close from Monday evenings through Friday mornings, consolidating commercial traffic into busy weekend-only windows.

The rolling closures will occur weekly from Mondays at 6:00 p.m. through Fridays at 10:00 a.m. until July 31. Airport officials chose this window after analyzing 20 years of local weather data to find the driest conditions required by federal paving specifications. During this period, the airport will operate at approximately 60% of its normal passenger capacity.

The main runway was last rehabilitated in 2009 and has reached the end of its useful lifespan. Delaying the work would risk worsening pavement distress and jeopardize critical federal funding. The Federal Aviation Administration is covering 95% of the project costs, which requires the airport to adhere strictly to federal construction specifications for airfield pavement.

Glacier Park International Airport Director Rob Ratkowski explained that scheduling the work during the peak summer tourist season was unavoidable due to temperature and moisture requirements. Ratkowski said, "The last thing we want to do is open it up, start a phase and get terrible weather and shut it down for another week, that would be total chaos." He noted that the team chose July because it offered the highest probability of dry weather above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The airfield shutdown coincides with the airport's ongoing terminal expansion project. The multi-phase program, designed by architecture firm Mead & Hunt, is more than doubling the facility's footprint from 75,000 to 200,000 square feet. Phase 1A finished in 2024, bringing new jet bridges, expanded concessions, and a larger security checkpoint, while Phase 1B continues to remodel ticketing and baggage handling areas.

Commercial airlines serving the Kalispell airport, including Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, have adjusted their reservation platforms to reflect the temporary weekday closures. Travelers seeking weekday options are being redirected to Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), which lies 120 miles south of the Flathead Valley. Weekend flights at Glacier Park International are expected to be highly consolidated, prompting airport officials to warn of heavy terminal traffic on Fridays and Mondays.

While the primary runway undergoes paving, smaller aircraft can still utilize Runway 12-30, except during the final week of July. The overall project also includes a second phase in September, consisting of 15 nightly closures between 12:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. to groove the new pavement. This grooving is required to ensure adequate friction for winter flight operations and is not expected to disrupt commercial schedules.