Terminal Study
The terminal is the link between the community and the airport
The Thief River Falls Regional Airport provides access to rural areas of Northwestern Minnesota and is served by regional air service from Denver Air Connection.
The airport is in the beginning phases of a Terminal Planning Study to evaluate the existing terminal building. The terminal was constructed in the early 1970s and has had no substantial renovation work since its original construction. The airport is seeing increased enplanements, and its existing terminal facility is aging and undersized. Given post 9-11 security requirements and increased enplanements, improved terminal facilities are needed to meet the current needs of the community and region. Additionally, the existing terminal does not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, causing accessibility challenges throughout the terminal facility, including restrooms, passenger screening, and boarding process.
The existing facility also includes the general aviation terminal space, which supports locally based pilots, transient users, chartered aircraft, and leisure air traffic. The space is co-mingled with the commercial terminal and does not meet the needs of general aviation users.
The Terminal Planning Study will provide analysis of the existing and forecasted passenger and airline activity, terminal space and facility needs, space layouts, and provide recommendations for either the renovation or replacement of the facility, cost estimates and eligibility determinations. The study is expected to be completed in 2024.