Fairbanks Alaska Airport: A Sprawling Northern Hub

Fairbanks International Airport is a mid-sized airport located in Fairbanks, Alaska, covering an area of 3,470 acres (1,404 hectares) with an elevation of 439 feet (134 meters) above sea level. The airport has a long history dating back to 1951 when it opened and took over existing scheduled airline traffic to Fairbanks, which had previously relied on the Ladd Army Airfield. With four runways, the airport has a good range of facilities and services, including several airlines offering domestic and international flights, and it serves as a gateway to Interior Alaska.

Fairbanks International Airport covers 3,470 acres at 439 ft elevation

Fairbanks International Airport is a large airport, covering 3,470 acres of land, which equates to 1,404 hectares. The airport is located 439 feet (134 meters) above mean sea level. It is a state-owned, public-use airport, situated three miles (five kilometers) southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks is a city in the Fairbanks North Star Borough of the United States.

The airport has four runways, with a variety of surfaces, including asphalt, gravel, and ski strips. The longest runway, Runway 2L/20R, measures 11,800 feet by 150 feet (3,597 meters by 46 meters), while the shortest, Runway 2/20, is 2,900 feet by 75 feet (884 meters by 23 meters). The airport is open 24 hours a day, and passenger screening checkpoints open two hours before the first flight of the day.

Fairbanks International Airport first opened in 1951, taking over airline traffic from Ladd Army Airfield. In the early years, Alaska Airlines used Fairbanks as its main hub, offering flights to Seattle, Portland, Anchorage, and other destinations. The airport has a history of serving international flights, with Pan American World Airways using it as a stopover for transpacific services.

Today, the airport continues to offer international connections, with Air North providing scheduled charters to Canada. The airport has also seen several incidents and crashes over the years, with notable accidents occurring in 1951, 1975, 1994, and 2024.

It has four runways, the longest being 11,800 ft

Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is a mid-sized airport with a total area of 3,470 acres (1,404 hectares) and an elevation of 439 feet (134 meters) above sea level. The airport is located in the South Van Horn census-designated place, about three miles (five kilometres) southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.

The airport boasts four runways, with the longest being Runway 2L/20R. This asphalt runway measures an impressive 11,800 by 150 feet (3,597 by 46 meters). To put that into perspective, it's long enough to accommodate even the largest commercial aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 or the Boeing 747. This runway's length not only allows for safe takeoffs and landings but also provides flexibility in terms of aircraft weight and weather conditions.

Runway 2R/20L, the second-longest runway, stretches to 4,510 feet (1,375 meters) and is also surfaced with asphalt. This runway is still substantial in length and can accommodate smaller commercial jets and private aircraft. The third runway, designated as Runway 2/20, is a more compact 2,900 feet (884 meters) in length and has a gravel and ski strip surface. This runway is likely used for smaller aircraft, such as propeller planes or light jets, and its gravel and ski strip surface suggests it may be utilised during winter or when the ground is covered in snow.

The fourth runway, known as Runway 2W/20W, is unique as it has a water surface. It measures 5,400 feet (1,646 meters) in length and is likely utilised during the winter months when the water is frozen, providing a smooth and solid surface for aircraft operations. This runway showcases the airport's adaptability to the challenging Alaskan climate.

Fairbanks International Airport has a rich history in aviation, with various airlines using it as a hub or stopover for their services. The airport opened in 1951, and Alaska Airlines utilised it as its main hub in the 1950s, offering intrastate and interstate flights. The airport has witnessed several incidents and accidents, with some unfortunate crashes occurring over the years, resulting in fatalities. Despite these incidents, the airport continues to operate as a vital gateway to Fairbanks and the surrounding region, providing essential transport links for passengers and cargo.

The airport is 3 miles from Fairbanks' central business district

Fairbanks International Airport is located just 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Fairbanks' central business district. The airport is situated in the South Van Horn census-designated place and is a state-owned public-use airport. Covering an area of 3,470 acres (1,404 ha) at an elevation of 439 feet (134 m) above sea level, it boasts a total of four runways. The airport first opened in 1951, taking over airline traffic from Ladd Army Airfield. Alaska Airlines used Fairbanks as its main hub in the 1950s, offering flights to various destinations within Alaska and to Seattle and Portland.

The airport has had a few notable incidents over the years. In 1951, a Transocean Air Lines Flight 501 cargo plane crashed during its approach to the airport, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants. In 1975, a Pacific Alaska Airlines DC-6 cargo flight crashed while attempting to return to the airport, and in 1994, a Lockheed L-1011-1 Tristar experienced a mechanical power loss and an internal fire, although fortunately, in this instance, all three occupants were uninjured.

Fairbanks International Airport has seen several airlines come and go over the years. Pan American World Airways served Fairbanks from 1932, initially using it for short-haul services. They intended to use the airport as a stop for service to Asia, but this was delayed until the 1960s due to difficulties with landing rights in the Soviet Union and World War II. In 1965, the Civil Aeronautics Board terminated Pan Am's rights to serve Alaska, and by 1967, Alaska Airlines had shifted its hub to Anchorage.

Today, the airport continues to operate 24 hours a day, with passenger screening checkpoints opening 2 hours before the first flight. With its clean and safe facilities, the airport takes pride in serving the community of Fairbanks and its surrounding areas.

It is the only Alaska airport with non-stop intl. flights

Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is located three miles (5 km) southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. Covering an area of 3,470 acres (1,404 ha), it is a mid-sized airport with four runways. The airport is at an elevation of 439 feet (134 m) above sea level.

Fairbanks International Airport is the only airport in Alaska with non-stop international flights. It is the smallest city in the United States with regularly scheduled non-stop international flights. Condor offers weekly flights to Frankfurt during the summer tourist season, and Air North is the only international airline providing scheduled charters to Canada.

The airport has a long history of serving international destinations. Pan American World Airways used Fairbanks as a stopover for transpacific service from New York and Seattle to Tokyo starting in 1969. In the 1970s, other carriers such as Japan Airlines and Korean Air began using Fairbanks as a technical stop for transpacific cargo flights. Additionally, Alaska Airlines and Braniff International offered "interchange services" between Fairbanks and Houston via Anchorage, Seattle, and Dallas in the mid-1970s.

Fairbanks International Airport has five airlines operating flights to 21 destinations worldwide. The airport is open 24 hours a day, and passenger screening checkpoints open two hours before the first flight of the day, including holidays. The airport has implemented COVID-19 safety measures, including increased cleaning and sanitizing, social distancing, and mask requirements.

The airport opened in 1951, with a new terminal in 2009

Fairbanks International Airport opened in 1951, taking over airline traffic that had previously used Ladd Army Airfield. The airport was initially operated by the federal government until 1959, when Alaska was granted statehood, and ownership was transferred to the State of Alaska's Department of Public Works. Alaska Airlines used Fairbanks as its primary hub in the 1950s, with flights to Seattle, Portland, Anchorage, and Nome, among other destinations.

The airport's early years saw it serve as a hub for aviation in Alaska, with a variety of airlines using it as a stopover for their services. Notably, Pan American World Airways had served Fairbanks since 1932, initially for short-haul services, and intended to use it as a stopover for service to Asia as early as 1931. However, negotiations with the Soviet Union and the outbreak of World War II delayed these plans.

In 1965, the Civil Aeronautics Board terminated Pan Am's rights to serve Alaska, and the airline shifted its hub to Anchorage in 1967. Despite this, Fairbanks remained an important airport, with Alaska Airlines and Braniff International offering "interchange services" between Fairbanks and Houston via Anchorage, Seattle, and Dallas in the mid-1970s.

In 2009, the airport completed construction on a new terminal, demolishing the old terminal that had been built in 1948. This new terminal was part of the ongoing development of the airport to accommodate increasing traffic and infrastructure demands.

Frequently asked questions