Idaho airport selects Hensel Phelps for US$700m terminal expansion

Schematic for the Boise Airport upgrade project. Image: Boise Airport

Approved by Boise City Council on 19 August, the agreement covers multiple phased developments through 2029 under the airport’s ongoing ‘BOI Upgrade’ capital programme.

The scope of the works includes a new baggage handling system to support rising passenger numbers, a central utility plant to serve the terminal and new concourse, construction of Concourse A, with up to ten new gates, and two phases of terminal upgrades focused on passenger flow and capacity.

Completed projects under the BOI Upgrade plan include a new security checkpoint, parking garages, and an under-construction rental car centre.

Hensel Phelps was chosen after a seven-month competitive process that began in January 2025, with four finalists interviewed by a panel of city and industry officials.

BOI said the CM/GC model will allow Hensel Phelps to work alongside designers early in the process and deliver multiple guaranteed maximum price task orders as funding and priorities evolve.

The upcoming works are aimed at maintaining the airport’s ability to meet regional demand while preserving passenger convenience. The expansion comes amid a sharp rise in passenger volumes at the airport; since 2014, traffic has increased by 81%, hitting nearly five million passengers in 2024. The airport said the first half of 2025 has already outpaced last year’s record totals.

The BOI Upgrade programme started in 2019 and is expected to finish in 2029.