Richey, director of marketing for the Nature Conservancy, was waiting to catch a flight home to New Mexico when he plopped into a sunny seat in the quiet, two-week-old departure terminal.
“I came here for the light,” he said, pointing to one of two large skylights. “If I'm going to sit here for two hours, I want to have some light. It's sort of dark down at that other end.”
“It's well-designed,” she said. “Kind of a calm, relaxing kind of atmosphere.”
That's not a term often bandied around an airport. Anyone who stood in line at the check-in gate in Missoula in recent years would probably find other words to describe the experience.
Take Denny Rehberg of Billings.
“I do 4,000 miles a week. I am a part of the same irritation as everyone else,” said Montana's lone member of the House of Representative. “And I'm not a good traveler that way because when I see something that doesn't make sense or seems unfair, I have a forum to say something.”
Rehberg wasn't flying anywhere Friday. He and his people drove in for a midafternoon tour with airport director Cris Jensen and Kurt Carlson, the airport's deputy federal security director.
They saw what's new, including the $4.3 million, 18,000-square-foot addition that opened on April 13. And they saw what is needed.
The two highest items on that list, Jensen said, are a second screening device at the new security checkpoint and the final $2 million for a $9 million control tower.
The new terminal separates boarding passengers from new arrivals and their meeters and greeters. It eliminates the congestion that often occurred near the former checkpoint.
One man on Friday strolled out the exit door, day bag in hand and cell phone to ear, through an almost empty corridor, in the same area that until two weeks ago would have been crowded with boarding passengers standing in line for a Northwest flight.
“Oh, that's great, so they won't have you crossing over like you did before,” said Niezgodski. “That'll make it much more user-friendly. I've stood there when people were so panicky because the line was so slow, they weren't going to catch their plane. It's very frightening.”
Unfortunately, the long line at the checkpoint isn't a thing of the past; thus the need for another X-ray machine, Jensen said.
“We have a single-lane checkpoint right now, in the fastest-growing airport in Montana,” Jensen said. “It just means we're getting busier and our lines are getting longer.”
As an alternate to an X-ray, the airport would gladly accept a second explosive detection system, such as the one now used to screen baggage. It's not a matter of buying one, Jensen said. It's a matter of getting the go-ahead from the Transportation Security Administration to install one.
“Our local representatives are certainly supportive of getting the additional equipment, but we just need some help in D.C.,” he said.
The airport has had $7 million earmarked for a new control tower since 2001.
“What we're asking for is completion of the funding stream,” Jensen said. “We need $2 million before we can start the project.”
The tower, he added, is easily a year away, just depending on our success in getting funds. It could be longer than that.”
Niezgodski's mother, Verda Rummel of Corvallis, gave her daughter a ride to the airport Friday. Rummel was born in Missoula and has lived all her life in western Montana. She's also a big Rehberg fan.
When told of his imminent arrival to look at the airport's progress and needs, she smiled.
“I guess I'd better send the boy some money,” she said.
The Corvallis women admired a central part of the carpeted floor that features a fanciful map of Glacial Lake Missoula in front of the main entrance to the new wing. The lake is tied into architect Terry Van Sant's concept that includes a high ceiling and the skylights.
Classy, they declared.
“It's important that we give a good impression to our visitors because we want them to come back and spend their money,” Niezgodzki said with a laugh.
Jensen told Rehberg the new terminal is a “roadway” to another wing of gates that would make it the airport's center.
Expansion is important to serve the public's needs, said Todd Franicevich, Missoula station manager for Skywest Airlines. He said he expects the seats of the airlines he deals with, Delta and United, will jump 3,000 over last summer.
“It's getting to the point where if we build it they will come,” he said.
More people require more space and, Carlson said, more equipment.
“This is fine for what we had, but it's growing,” said Carlson.
Rehberg agreed.
“We're going to be more security-oriented because of the war on terrorism,” he said. “So if we don't want the public to react extremely poorly, we have to make the process as convenient as possible.
“I'm real sensitive to wanting the ease, the convenience and the comfort as you go through the security process because we don't want people to throw up their hands and say, ‘Well, it doesn't matter. I don't want to be inconvenienced, so I'm not going to (fly).' ”
Missoula's getting there, said Jack Reed of Salmon, Idaho, who was traveling with his wife, Pamela, to visit their son in China.
“This is sure a hell of a lot better than in 1972 when I first flew out of here,” Reed said. “There was nothing around here. It was an airstrip and, I think, a small terminal and the smokejumpers. I think this is going to be very nice.”
Rummel agreed.
“All the big cities have this and Missoula's getting right up there,” she said. “We needed it.”
Reporter Kim Briggeman can be reached at 523-5266 or at kbriggeman@missoulian.com
Closures
A runway rehabilitation project will result in rolling closures at Missoula International Airport in late summer.
The total duration of the project is projected to be approximately 30 days, with much of the work being done at night.
The closure schedule:
Aug. 27 (8 p.m.)-Aug. 31 (6 a.m.)
Sept. 4 (8 p.m.)-Sept. 7 (6 a.m.)
Sept. 10 (8 p.m.)-Sept. 14 (6 a.m.)
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