An enhanced and expanded Montrose Regional Airport was dedicated on June 25, 1988, with Chuck Yeager cutting the ribbon.

The airport terminal was designed by local architect Patrik Davis "to greet visitors with small-town hospitality.

A two-sided fireplace is the centerpiece of the passenger seating area, which has a tile floor patterned with the Ute pictogram for travel and a high, skylighted ceiling of knotty pine.

Montrose Regional is the nearest airport with regularly scheduled mainline passenger jets to ski areas around Telluride.

At the time, there were 93 aircraft based at MTJ, 70 single-engine, 13 multi-engine, 3 jets, 3 helicopters, 3 gliders and 1 ultra-light.