Travelers flying through Billings will no longer be forced to pay for wireless internet access at the airport, under a proposal expected to get final approval from the city next month.
Travelers stopping in Billings Logan International Airport must pay the airport’s internet service provider, Boingo Wireless, about $5 to get online. But under a proposed amendment to the two-year contract extension the city approved in December, the airport would begin offering limited-speed wireless internet for free soon, according to airport director of transit and aviation services Kevin Ploehn.
“We’re trying to do this because I know we’ve got the terminal expansion coming up,” Ploehn said Wednesday, referring to a $40 million project slated for completion in 2022. “It’s kind of a short-term fix, because we’re going to be forcing all the folks to sit very tightly, packed like sardines for a couple years, so we hope the free Wi-Fi might mitigate that a bit.”
Complementary Wi-Fi is expected to become available sometime in late February, Ploehn said, once Boingo finishes installing a new internet access circuit that will triple the airport’s bandwidth to 30 Mbps. To start, only 5 Mbps will be available to airport visitors using the free service, with the remainder reserved for paying customers.
Blaine Rogers uses his phone while waiting at Billings Logan Airport on Wednesday.
The city council will also have to approve new provision in the updated contract that will cement the Wi-Fi deal through December 2020, Ploehn said. That language was discussed during Tuesday night’s work session, and will likely get final approval in late January or early next month.
The prospect of free Wi-Fi comes after a record-setting year for airport attendance. The airport logged nearly 1 million combined arrivals and departures in 2018, a 6 percent increase from the previous year.
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Providing that free access is estimated to cost about $15,000 per year, Ploehn said, including an estimated $3,000 in annual revenue lost from customers no longer paying for wireless access. Under the previous contract, the city got 20 percent of that revenue.
Blaine Rogers uses his phone while waiting at Billings Logan Airport on Wednesday.
But the expense is worth it, said City Councilman Brent Cromley, who believes it will align the Billings airport with other major commercial airports in the state. Cromley has been pushing for free internet at the airport since 2013, when he was the lone dissenting vote on the council’s approval of the initial, five-year contract with Boingo.
“We’ve got to make our city more welcoming,” Cromley said. “We spend money on nice posters and decorations and whatnot, and I think that’s just the thing; your entry into Billings could be more negative if the first thing you see is we’re going to charge you $4.99 for Wi-Fi.”
Retrospective: Billings Logan International Airport
Dr. Frank J. Bell
The first recorded airplane flight in Billings occurred when noted aviator Eugene Ely attempted to take off from a lot east of what is now North Park (then the fairgrounds) in 1910. Ely couldn't manage to get the plane in the air for more than a short distance due to strong crosswinds. Bob St. Henry is credited with the first true flight over town in 1911. Local dentist Dr. Frank J. Bell, pictured, learned to fly at the Curtiss Flying School in 1912. His first recorded flight was months later, on Decoration Day (Memorial Day) in 1913, in a Curtiss biplane he built himself. Bell took off from South Park, and flew west before turning around and circling the baseball field at North Park in front of a full grandstand. Bell's flight was memorialized in the J.K. Ralston painting entitled "First Flight," which hangs in the airport lobby. Bell was instrumental in choosing the location of the airport.
Dick Logan, 1915
Dick Logan was in his mid-20s when he and his wife, Marjorie, began ranching atop the Rims in 1915. Logan's father, A.C. Logan, was a former Montana schools superintendent. Logan became involved in the operations at the airport from the beginning, as the 500 acres bought by the city for the airport west directly west of his 320 acre homestead. Logan was hired as the airport manager in 1929 with a $150 monthly salary.
Towing an airplane, 1928
After a plane was forced to make an emergency landing on his ranch during an air race at the airport in 1928, airport manager Dick Logan, on the horse at right, towed the plane back to the airport with Tony Loftus, on the left horse.
Billings Municipal Airport, ca. 1932
The Billings Municipal Airport opened in 1928. At the time, it was little more than a runway and a small administrative office, dwarfed in this photo by the first hangar, which was built between 1929 and 1932. Chartered air service, from West-Over-Air Transport, began in 1930. Regular airline services began the following year, provided by Inland Airlines.
Old Hangar No. 1, date unknown
The original hangar at the Billings Municipal Airport, ca. 1930. The hangar was completed in 1932.
Billings Municipal Airport terminal, 1930s
The first passenger depot at the airport was built in 1935 by Northwest Airlines. Northwest began airline service to Billings in 1933. The depot is shown here from the runway side. Marjorie Logan served lunches inside the airport.
Billings Municipal Airport, ca. 1940s
Billings Municipal Airport in the late 1940s. The large hangar to the left, used by Lynch Flying Service for decades, was torn down and replaced in 1992 with a new hangar east of the terminal.
Hangar No. 1, 1948
Fire destroyed Hangar No. 1 at what was then the Billings Municipal Airport in February 1948.
The Billings Gazette reported flames leaping 150 feet in the air with smoke billowing more than 400 feet high. Damages were estimated at $100,000, mostly borne by two private businesses, Gillis Flying Service and Lynch Flying Service.
Billings Logan Field, ca. 1958
A new airport terminal began construction in 1957 and was completed the following year. Dick Logan, who had served as airport manager for 33 years, died in during its construction. The airport was renamed in his honor, and his son-in-law, Ken Rolle, took over as airport manager.
Billings Logan International Airport, 1972
A major expansion to the airport was completed in 1972, which included two concourses and accommodated larger jet aircraft. In the midst of the expansion, the airport was renamed to Billings Logan International Airport in 1971.
Billings Logan International Airport, 1972
The 1970s expansion to the airport was expected to support one million passengers annually.
Billings Logan International Airport, 1972
The 1970s expansion allowed enclosed jet ways to be installed for different airlines. A larger restaurant was added, and bright red carpet lined the walkways of the new concourses.
Passenger at Billings Logan International Airport, 1978
A passenger waits during a delay at Billings Logan International Airport in November, 1978.
Ticket counter at Billings Logan International Airport, 1978
Passengers make holiday travel arrangements during delays at Billings Logan International Airport in November, 1978. Airlines with ticket counters at that time included Northwest Orient (Northwest Airlines), Frontier Airlines and Western Airlines.
Passengers at Billings Logan International Airport, 1978
Passengers play Cribbage during a delay at Billings Logan International Airport in November, 1978.
Passengers at Billings Logan International Airport, 1978
Passengers wait during a delay at Billings Logan International Airport in November, 1978.
Air traffic control tower, 1979
Shades are drawn in the old air traffic control tower at Billings Logan International Airport in January, 1979.
Air traffic controller, 1979
An air traffic controller works at Billings Logan International Airport in 1979. Two years later, 13,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization went on strike, violating the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act banning strikes by federal government unions. 1,300 air traffic controllers returned to their jobs after being ordered to do so by President Ronald Reagan. Those who refused to return were fired and barred from being rehired until the ban was lifted years later.
Airport goodbye, 1980
An airport visitor waves goodbye to a departing plane from one of the gates at Billings Logan International Airport in 1980. Security changes in the 1990s stopped family and friends who weren't passengers from approaching the airline gates.
Billings Logan International Airport baggage claim, 1980
The baggage claim area at Billings Logan International Airport in January, 1980.
Billings Logan International Airport, 1987
The sun sets behind Billings Logan International Airport in 1987.
Concourse security checkpoint, 1991
A security checkpoint X-ray machine is used near one of the airport gates on January 17, 1991, the first day of Operation Desert Storm.
Gulf War airport security, 1991
An airport police officer speaks with a passenger outside of Billings Logan International Airport in January, 1991. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed greater security regulations at the beginning of Operation Desert Storm to lessen the possibility of retaliatory terrorist attacks. Construction on the airport parking lots can be seen in the background.
Billings Logan International Airport, 1991
A woman fills out paperwork in the baggage claim area of Billings Logan International Airport in April, 1991.
Construction on airport terminal, 1992
The Billings Logan International Airport terminal received a face lift in 1992, with stonework and more windows added to the facade. Airport parking was also reconfigured.
Air traffic control, 1993
An air traffic controller looks through binoculars while directing traffic from the old tower at Billings Logan International Airport in 1993. President Bill Clinton lifted a 12-year ban on hiring air traffic control workers who had refused to return to work during the 1981 air traffic controllers strike.
Billings Logan International Airport, 1995
Security measures at Billings Logan International Airport was made even heavier in October of 1995 following new federal regulations. The law prohibited cars from parking or remaining unattended within 75 feet of an airport terminal.
Billings Logan International Airport, 1998
The moon rises behind the tower at Billings Logan International Airport in February, 1998.
Airport security screening checkpoint, September 11, 2001
Billings Logan International Airport baggage claim, September 11, 2001
The baggage claim area at Billings Logan International Airport is seen on September 11, 2001.
Airport sunset, 2006
The sun sets behind Billings Logan International Airport in 2006. A new air traffic control tower, at left, was constructed that year. Operations continued in the old tower until the new tower's completion.
Old tower dismantled, 2007
The old air traffic control tower at Billings Logan International Airport is torn down in 2007.
Billings Logan International Airport,
Logan International Airport in Billings is expanding, with several projects that will begin this summer and fall.
