A New Gateway to the Treasure Valley

As the Treasure Valley continues to grow, Boise Airport's ambitious transformation is creating a gateway designed to more accurately reflect the region it serves.

The airport isn't really the thing you'd think of when imagining your city's identity. But we'd argue they're really the opening argument. After all, it's the literal gateway to a city's architecture, pace of life, food scene and landscape.

For travelers arriving in Boise, the airport is an introduction to the Treasure Valley. For residents, it's the connection between home and everything beyond it. And as the region grows, that gateway has needed to grow with it.

That transformation is now well underway.

The multiyear BOI Upgrade is bringing major improvements to the airport’s terminal, airfield and passenger experience. At the center of the project is a brand new Concourse A, which will add much-needed space and capacity as Boise prepares for continued growth.

Built for a Growing Boise 

The numbers tell the story: Passenger traffic at Boise Airport increased 81% between 2014 and 2024, when nearly five million travelers passed through the terminal. In 2025, annual passenger traffic surpassed five million.

This rapid growth places new demands on an airport that wasn't designed for that percent increase. But the final goal isn't just a bigger airport. The city hopes to create a more comfortable and efficient experience in the process.

The new Concourse A is currently planned with an approximately 100,000-square-foot footprint and up to 10 gates. It will also include passenger areas, concessions, restrooms, airline operations space and a corridor connecting it to the existing terminal.

Construction begins in 2026, with the larger transformation expected to continue through the end of the decade.

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More Than an Expansion 

What makes the BOI Upgrade interesting is its scale.

The project encompasses much more than a new concourse. Improvements include an expanded baggage handling system, new infrastructure for heating, cooling and electrical capacity, additional passenger circulation improvements and ongoing airfield work.

The airport has also continued updating its concessions, retail offerings and accessibility features as construction progresses, gradually changing the experience of moving through the terminal even before the larger expansion is complete.

In other words, the airport's next chapter is already visible.

For travelers passing through today, some changes may appear subtle. For those looking at the larger picture, they tell a different story.

Boise is preparing for a future in which the Treasure Valley is more connected, more populated and increasingly visible on the national stage.

A Gateway That Reflects the Region 

The expansion is also an opportunity to make the airport feel more connected to the city it serves.

Through Boise’s Percent for Art ordinance, 1.2 percent of eligible capital funding will be dedicated to public art. The city expects to invest between $3 million and $5 million in airport art projects over the next five years, with up to eight locations identified throughout the new concourse.

Early plans include glass mosaics and large suspended installations created specifically for Concourse A. The goal is to bring a stronger sense of place into the terminal and give arriving travelers an immediate introduction to Boise’s creative community.

That local connection matters. The Treasure Valley has long offered a distinctive balance: easy access to nature, the warmth of a close-knit community and the restaurants, arts and business opportunities of a growing city. As the airport changes, it has the chance to reflect those same qualities.

What Growth Looks Like in Idaho 

For the luxury real estate market, infrastructure is an important part of the larger picture.

A home’s appeal is shaped by more than its architecture or setting. It's also influenced by the community around it and how easily residents can reach the places that matter to them. Parks, trails, restaurants, cultural spaces and transportation all contribute to a region’s quality of life.

Boise airport is an essential part of that network. It connects Treasure Valley residents to business opportunities, family, recreation and destinations across the country. It also makes the region more accessible to visitors, prospective residents and companies considering a future in Idaho.

Boise Airport currently supports more than $2.9 billion in regional economic activity each year, along with more than 21,000 jobs. Its capital projects and operations are funded without local taxpayer dollars.

The Next Arrival 

The timing of the expansion is especially fitting as Boise celebrates 100 years of aviation in 2026.

The city’s first airport opened beside the Boise River in 1926, connecting Boise to the country’s new airmail system. A century later, Boise Airport welcomes more than five million passengers a year and serves as a key gateway to southwest Idaho.

The BOI Upgrade is the next step in that story.

The work will happen gradually, but its impact is already becoming visible. There will be more room, better passenger flow, updated amenities and more opportunities to connect with destinations across the country.

Most importantly, Boise will have an airport better prepared for the community it serves.

Because an airport is more than a place where a trip begins or ends. It's part of the experience of a city, and Boise is building one that reflects where the Treasure Valley is headed next.