New Pullman-Moscow airport terminal opens today

PULLMAN — The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport is transitioning services to its new terminal early this morning.

Cherri Gentry, airport administration, said the last flight out of the old terminal departed Tuesday afternoon. Transportation Security Administration equipment will be moved into the new terminal before its first flight arrives from Seattle at midnight.

She added the terminal will become fully operational today, but the airport is still working to find a restaurant for it.

A Pullman City Transit bus will be available to take passengers to their cars at the old terminal’s parking lot, Gentry said. The bus will leave 30 minutes after each flight arrives, she added. Patrons are instructed to park their vehicles at the new terminal’s parking lot.

Construction of the $92 million terminal at Schweitzer Field began in 2022. The 47,000-square-foot facility is about six times the size of the old terminal, Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin said.

He added it includes two bridges, with air conditioning and heat, that allow passengers to board without stepping outside. It features a baggage carousel spanning two floors that wasn’t available in the former facility.

The new terminal provides 426 parking spaces and 90 rental car spaces compared to 320 total at the other building. It offers additional amenities like a separate space for charter aircrafts, two-lane TSA screening, an adult beverage space, a service animal relief area, courtyard area with seating, a conference room, more restrooms and heated sidewalks, Benjamin added.

The old terminal opened in 1990, Gentry said. She added the airport board hasn’t decided what to do with the old building, but hopes it will serve as an aeronautical space for cargo or charter flights.

Gentry said in the summer two Seattle flights will land at the terminal every day. After Aug. 15, Seattle flights will grow to five or six a day, and Boise flights will begin once a day.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.