Bismarck Municipal Airport

Bismarck Municipal Airport^[2][3] (IATA: BIS^[4], ICAO: KBIS, FAA LID: BIS) is in Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States,^[2] three miles southeast of the City of Bismarck, North Dakota, which owns it. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.^[5]

Bismarck Municipal Airport
Bismarck Municipal Airport
IATA: BIS ICAO: KBIS FAA LID: BIS
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	City of Bismarck
Serves	Bismarck, North Dakota
Elevation AMSL	1,661 ft / 506 m
Coordinates	46°46′22″N 100°44′45″W
Website	BismarckAirport.com
Map
BIS Location in North Dakota Show map of North Dakota BIS BIS (the United States) Show map of the United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 13/31 8,794 2,680 Asphalt 3/21 6,600 2,012 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Aircraft operations 27,791 Based aircraft 93 Passengers 586,000
Sources: Bureau of Transportation Statistics,[1] FAA[2]

History

An exhibit on prehistoric life in North Dakota in the upper level of the terminal building, as seen in 2021; behind it on the lower level can be seen a baggage claim carousel and rental car company counters

The original terminal, a single-story Modernist building, was designed in 1963 by Ritterbush Brothers, a local architectural firm.^[6] A two-story addition was constructed in 1982. The original building was demolished in 2003 to make way for the present building, and the addition was demolished in summer of 2005, after the completion of the new $15 million terminal. It was designed by Tvenge Associates, another Bismarck firm, and opened in May 2005.^[7] A parking lot is just south of the new terminal.

Bismarck Airport had its 7th consecutive year of record passenger boardings in 2016, with 271,020 passengers boarding commercial airline flights at the airport.^[8] Airport Director Greg Haug "...was pleased to see the year-end numbers come in and attributes these record boardings to Bismarck’s strong economy."^[9]

Facilities

Bismarck Municipal Airport covers 2,425 acres (981 ha) at an elevation of 1,661 feet (506 m). It has two runways, both asphalt: 13/31 is 8,794 by 150 feet (2,680 x 46 m) and 3/21 is 6,600 by 100 feet (2,012 x 30 m).^[2][10]

In the year ending December 31, 2020, the airport had 28,004 aircraft operations, average 77 per day. 93 aircraft were then based at the airport: 49 single-engine aircraft, 16 multi-engine aircraft, 15 military aircraft, 11 jet aircraft, and 2 helicopters.^[2]

Airlines and destinations

Scene at the parking lot at the airport, 2013

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations	Refs
Allegiant Air	Las Vegas, Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa[11]	[12]
American Eagle	Chicago–O'Hare,[13] Dallas/Fort Worth	[14]
Delta Air Lines	Minneapolis/St. Paul	[15]
Delta Connection	Minneapolis/St. Paul	[15]
United Express	Denver	[16]

Destinations map
Bismarck Phoenix-Mesa Dallas/Fort Worth Minneapolis/St. Paul Denver Las Vegas Chicago–O'Hare Destinations from Bismarck Municipal Airport Red = Year-round destination Green = Seasonal destination Blue = Future destination

Cargo

Airlines	Destinations
Alpine Air Express	Fargo
Encore Air Cargo	Fargo, Sioux Falls
FedEx Feeder	Fargo

Statistics

Top destinations from BIS

Busiest domestic routes from BIS (February 2024 – January 2025)^[1]

Rank	Airport	Passengers	Airline
1	Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP)	125,360	Delta
2	Denver International (DEN)	60,020	United
3	Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)	41,620	American
4	Phoenix–Mesa Gateway (AZA)	39,310	Allegiant
5	Las Vegas McCarran (LAS)	16,220	Allegiant
6	Orlando–Sanford (SFB)	8,210	Allegiant
7	St. Petersburg-Clearwater (PIE)	6,600	Allegiant

Carrier shares

Carrier shares
(February 2024 – January 2025)^[17]

Rank	Carrier	Passengers	% of market
1	SkyWest	247,000	41.57%
2	Allegiant	140,000	23.67%
3	Delta	123,000	20.67%
4	Envoy	82,160	13.85%
5	Endeavor	1,450	0.24%

Annual traffic

Traffic by calendar year^[1]

	Passengers	Change from previous year
2014	492,000	-
2015	523,000	6.30%
2016	544,000	4.02%
2017	545,000	0.18%
2018	563,000	3.30%
2019	618,000	9.77%
2020	303,000	50.97%
2021	427,000	40.92%
2022	481,000	12.64%
2023	513,000	6.65%
2024	586,000	14.23%

Accidents at or near BIS

On April 7, 1998, a Corporate Air Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster impacted terrain 1.6 miles SE of Bismarck Municipal Airport due to the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the approach, icing conditions and low level experience with the aircraft type. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed.^[18]

Ground transportation

Bis-Man Transit buses provide service directly to the terminal. The 3 Green Route travels from downtown Bismarck to the airport and the University of Mary.^[19]

See also

• List of airports in North Dakota
• North Dakota World War II Army Airfields