History

Eagle County Regional Airport is located south of Interstate 70 just off Highway 6 between the towns of Eagle and Gypsum, Colorado. The original runway was built in the 1930s under the direction of the Civil Aeronautics Authority as an emergency landing strip for a Denver to Los Angeles air route.

The Airport was dedicated on Sept. 14, 1947 and provided general aviation services for many years. In 1989, there were 277 commercial passengers.  In 2015, there were 320,111 commercial passengers.

In 1996, a $9 million, 36,000 sq. ft. passenger terminal was unveiled, accommodating a 73 percent increase in passengers during that season. The demands on the new terminal prompted an additional 30,000 sq. ft. expansion in 2001, to accommodate the growing popularity of commercial air service to EGE.

On November 19, 2003, a $2.2 million airport traffic control tower opened, giving controllers increased visibility. The new 115-foot-tall tower, which replaced a 43-foot temporary tower, can accommodate four controllers.

In 2006, an Instrument Landing System (ILS) was commissioned and in 2007, a BI-6 radar system was added. These improvements allow aircraft to land in lower visibility conditions and increase the rate at which EGE can accept arriving aircraft in low visibility.

The Airport completed a $40 million runway extension and rehabilitation project in 2009 which increased the length of the runway to 9,000 ft.  The extra runway length allows aircraft to take off at a heavier weight, thereby increasing their range.

In 2012, a security checkpoint expansion project was completed which increased the number of passenger screening lanes from 2 to 4, and Alpenglo Express opened giving passengers a pre-security option for food and retail.

Comparing peak day passenger traffic makes Eagle County Regional Airport the second busiest airport in Colorado. In 2013, a study commissioned by the Colorado Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division found that the total quantifiable impact on the local economy from the airport in that year totaled $635,900,000. In addition, the Eagle County Regional Airport created 6,294 jobs, paying $217,500,000 in wages.

In 2014, the Airport completed a master plan update. The Eagle County Regional Airport master plan process resulted in a 20-year plan outlining the needs of current and future users of the airport. 

In 2015,  a Snow Removal Equipment building was constructed. The new building will help ensure the proper storage, maintenance and therefore longevity of EGE’s snow removal equipment, while also providing additional training and office space.

In 2019, the Terminal Expansion project was completed. This project expanded the gate area and added amentites like a pet relief area, jet bridges, larger restaurant and bar, private nursing area, and a touchless experience in the restrooms. 

The Airport is currently served by three major airlines: American, Delta, and United with non-stop winter service to 13 major cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (JFK & LGA), Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco.  Year-round service includes non-stop flights to Denver and Dallas.