Bangor International Airport

Convenience, experience and history like no other

We reached out to Aimee Thibodeau, Marketing and Business Development Manager at the Bangor International Airport, to share a bit of information about our region's most valuable resource.

Having transformed from Dow Air Force Base to a commercial international airport more than 50 years ago, BGR is municipally owned and operates as an enterprise fund within the City. As an enterprise fund, the expense of running the airport is generated from airport revenue – not taxpayer dollars.

Served by Allegiant, American, Delta and United airlines, more than 500,000 passengers – 600,000-plus pre-COVID 19 pandemic – enter our terminal annually. Of that, approximately 40 percent of BGR’s traffic comes from our Canadian neighbors to the north.

These hundreds of thousands of travelers know that BGR is the convenient and local airport they turn to when wanting to visit relatives, head to warmer climates in cold winter months, or take a quick business trip. But the airport is much more.

BGR’s proud military heritage started just prior to World War II when Godfrey Field was taken over by the U.S. Army Air Corps and became the Bangor Army Air Field. Its mission was to serve as an embarkation point for military aircraft flying to Europe on the Great Circle Route. The name was changed to Dow Army Airfield in 1942, and in 1947, when the newly formed U.S. Air Force took control, it became Dow Air Force Base.

Dow was closed in 1968, but the base was purchased by the City of Bangor and reopened the following year as Bangor International Airport.

“Over the years, the airport has evolved into a diverse facility that handles 40,000-plus domestic, private, military, and cargo operations per year from all over the world,” BGR Director Tony Caruso said. “The airport is not only a valuable resource to the City, but to the region.”

As home to both the 101st Air Refueling Wing and the Army National Guard, BGR’s military connection continues today as one of the main transportation portals for the US and international military. More than 1.5 million members of the US Armed forces have passed through its doors bound for, or returning from, war zones and other overseas missions.

Although COVID-19 changed the way these troops were greeted during the pandemic by the all-volunteer, world famous Maine Troop Greeters, the organization is now welcoming troops in person once again. For more than two years, soldiers were welcomed via a virtual message as they entered the airport – this was the only time in the organization’s history that members weren’t here in person to greet troop flights.

Perhaps one of the lesser known but vitally important parts of the airport is its private flight facility – BGR Aviation.

Open 24/7, BGR Aviation is comprised of one of the most dedicated full-service handling organizations worldwide with more than 40 years of experience. The facility handles all private air traffic, from hobby pilots to medical flights and private charters of some of the world’s biggest celebrities and Fortune 500 companies.

One of the most attractive aspects of BGR for those arriving from international locations is that the regional US Customs and Border Protection headquarters is on site and easily accessible for aircraft passengers and crews to quickly clear customs without fees or long waits.

Numerous other businesses housed on airport property help to feed the local economy, including General Electric, C&L Aviation Group, Maine Aero, LifeFlight of Maine, and the Maine State Police.

“In addition to the many people the airport itself employs, BGR tenants provide highskilled, well-paying jobs to hundreds of people in the Bangor region. These people in turn stimulate the local economy as customers to local businesses,” said Bangor City Manager Debbie Laurie. “The airport also plays an important role in supporting the state’s tourism and hospitality industry, welcoming

Numbers:

PASSENGERS

516,410

Average number of airline passengers flying through BGR annually over the last 5 YEARS OPERATIONS people to Vacationland year-round.”

In 2016, the airport completed a $1.3 million renovation of the domestic terminal, and improvements continue. BGR also recently has committed to $50 million of growth and investments over the next five years as part of its Master Plan. These include airfield, facility and equipment upgrades.

“BGR’s history and track record of providing the best customer service in the industry is unprecedented, and our commitment to the future of the airport and the region is sure to bring exciting new opportunities,” said Caruso. “Our dedicated staff is determined to continue BGR’s legacy of success and we look forward to building new community and business partnerships along the way.”

42,886 aircraft operations handled at BGR in 2021

FOOTPRINT

2,079 number of acres of land make up BGR and its tenant properties

RUNWAY

At 11,440

FEET LONG

BGR’s runway can handle any plane in the world