The Missoula Montana Airport announced that it just set an all-time record for most passengers in a month this past July.
The airport saw 142,399 total passengers that month, surpassing the previous record set in July of 2025 by 1,795.
“We are thrilled to celebrate yet another all-time passenger record here at MSO,” said airport director Brian Ellestad. “These numbers highlight the incredible support of our community, the dedication of our airline partners and the MSO team. We are grateful to the traveling public for continuing to choose MSO and our community partners for supporting strong air service in our region."
The airport also set a record for percentage of available seats filled by passengers, called load factor, at 93.2% in July. That exceeds the prior all-time high of 91.7% set in October of 2022.
Those numbers are the kind that get Missoulians more direct flights, possibly to new cities.
The first inbound flight in the Missoula Montana Airport's nonstop service to and from Chicago landed on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
SHANNA MADISON, Missoulian
"High load factors like those we saw in July are key indicators we use when advocating for additional flights, new routes and expanded service," Ellestad said. "These results help us demonstrate to airlines that Missoula is a strong, resilient, and growing market.”
In 2025, the airport completed a $50 million, 85,000-square-foot new terminal building called the East Concourse, a facility that included an expanded baggage claim, a rental car area, two new boarding bridges, a bar, food options and more restrooms. Another $8 million, 10,000-square-foot extension with more boarding gates was added earlier this year.
The airport has added new non-stop flights in the past year, and also recently completed a major upgrade of its main runway.
David Erickson is a reporter for the Missoulian, often writing about business, housing, agriculture and other topics.
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