Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH): Southeast Idaho's Commercial and General Aviation Hub
Pocatello Regional Airport (IATA: PIH) serves southeastern Idaho from its location at 4,452 feet MSL on a bench above the Portneuf Valley. The airport is owned by the City of Pocatello and provides scheduled commercial service to Salt Lake City (SLC), offering connections to the SkyWest and Delta network. PIH also hosts substantial general aviation traffic and serves as the primary instrument-approach-equipped airport for a large swath of southeastern Idaho, including Bannock, Power, and Caribou Counties.
The airport's mesa position above the Portneuf Valley creates distinct approach and departure procedures requiring pilots to follow published procedures carefully. The FAA Northwest Mountain Region designates PIH as a reliever airport within the regional network, supported by ILS approaches. Idaho State University, Portneuf Medical Center, and the Idaho Veterans Administration Medical Center drive significant business aviation demand at PIH. The Idaho Transportation Department Aeronautics Division coordinates with PIH's operations to support southeastern Idaho's regional aviation needs from Burley to the Wyoming border.
Which airlines serve Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH)?
SkyWest Airlines operating as Delta Connection and United Express provides daily service to Salt Lake City (SLC), connecting PIH to the global airline network via SLC hub. Service frequency and carriers can vary seasonally; check current airline schedules.
What instrument approaches are available at PIH?
PIH has ILS approaches providing precision guidance for instrument operations, as well as RNAV (GPS) approaches. Tower control operates during published hours; CTAF and ASOS are available outside tower hours.
What general aviation services are at PIH?
PIH has an FBO providing 100LL and Jet-A fuel, aircraft maintenance, tie-down and hangar rental, and pilot lounge facilities. The airport accommodates aircraft from light singles to business jets.
How close is PIH to Bear Lake?
Bear Lake, the Caribbean of the Rockies on the Idaho-Utah border, is approximately 80 miles southeast of Pocatello via US-30. Many Bear Lake visitors fly into PIH and drive the scenic route through Soda Springs.
What is Pocatello's relationship to Idaho State University?
Idaho State University headquarters in Pocatello drives significant educational and healthcare activity in the city. The university's medical programs connect to Portneuf Medical Center, creating business aviation demand related to healthcare and academic travel.
Pocatello Regional Airport - PIH Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Pocatello, Idaho.
Pocatello, Idaho: Southeast Idaho's University City and Mountain Gateway
Pocatello is southeastern Idaho's largest city and the home of Idaho State University, giving it a distinctive combination of college-town energy and working-class railroad heritage. The city sits in the Portneuf Valley between the Pocatello Mountains and the Caribou Range, with Pebble Creek Ski Area 15 miles north providing winter recreation. The Idaho Museum of Natural History at ISU is one of the region's premier natural history institutions.
Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH) serves as the practical air gateway to southeastern Idaho's abundant recreation destinations: Bear Lake 80 miles southeast, the Caribou-Targhee National Forest to the east and north, Soda Springs' natural carbonated geysers 60 miles east, and the Snake River country to the west. For pilots and travelers, PIH's combination of commercial service and capable general aviation facilities makes it the most versatile airport in southeastern Idaho's transportation network.