John Wayne Airport: Size And Significance Explored

how big is john wayne airport

John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA) is a large international airport located in Santa Ana, California, serving Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. Originally named Orange County Airport, it was renamed in 1979 in honour of actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach. The airport is one of the busiest single-runway commercial airports in the US, with over 500 flights and 9 million passengers annually. It has two runways, with the main runway at 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length, making it the shortest in the US that handles regularly scheduled international flights.

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John Wayne Airport's ranking

John Wayne Airport (JWA) is ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. This ranking reflects the airport's commitment to providing an exceptional guest experience. The study is based on 26,058 completed surveys and JWA has consistently ranked among the top airports in the J.D. Power study, securing the #2 position in 2020, 2022, and 2023, and previously earning the #1 spot in 2017 and 2018.

In terms of size, John Wayne Airport is considered a primary commercial service airport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings per year. The airport is the sole commercial airport in Orange County and serves the Greater Los Angeles area. In 2014, it was the second busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area by passenger count, with over 9 million total passengers.

The airport has two runways. The main runway, 2L/20R, is 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length, making it the shortest runway in the United States that handles regularly scheduled international flights. The airport offers international flights to Mexico and Canada, with scheduled flights to Toronto, Ontario, operated by Air Canada.

John Wayne Airport is an international commercial and general aviation airport. General aviation operations outnumber commercial operations, and the airport serves the general aviation and corporate aviation community. The only other general aviation airport in Orange County is the Fullerton Municipal Airport.

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Passenger capacity

John Wayne Airport is a large airport that serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area in California. It is the only commercial airport in Orange County and is one of the busiest single-runway commercial airports in the United States.

The airport is a hub of activity, serving over 500 flights and about 9.2 million passengers annually. In 2014, it recorded 4,584,147 enplanements, an increase from the previous year's figure of 4,450,628. That year, it was the second busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area by passenger count, with over 9 million total passengers.

The Thomas F. Riley Terminal, which opened in 1990, is a modern 337,900-square-foot facility. It includes 14 loading bridges, four baggage carousels, spacious areas, and distinct roadside arrival and departure levels. The terminal replaced the aging 29,000-square-foot Eddie Martin Terminal, which was demolished in 1994.

John Wayne Airport has been recognised for its excellence, ranking highly in the J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study. It was ranked #2 among large airports in North America in 2020 and held the #1 spot in 2017 and 2018. The study evaluates overall satisfaction based on terminal facilities, airport arrival and departure processes, baggage claim, security, check-in, and food, beverage, and retail options.

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Location and ownership

John Wayne Airport is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, California, and is owned and operated by the county. The airport is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa, and its IATA airport code, SNA, is registered to Santa Ana, the county seat. The airport is located next to the interchange between I-405 (San Diego Freeway) and MacArthur Boulevard, and is also near I-405's interchange with SR 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). Heading south on MacArthur Boulevard from the airport provides access to SR 73 (Corona del Mar Freeway), which becomes the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (toll road) southeast of MacArthur Boulevard. The airport is served by Orange County Transportation Authority ("OCTA") route 76, which runs only on weekdays from 6 am to 6 pm. The City of Irvine's iShuttle route A also serves the airport and Tustin station, but only during weekday rush hours.

The airport was originally named Orange County Airport, but was renamed in 1979 in honour of actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and died that year. A 9-foot bronze statue of "the Duke" was installed at the airline terminal in 1982. In June 2020, a name change was requested due to comments John Wayne made in a 1971 interview, which were believed to be in support of white supremacy. However, the airport continues to operate under the name John Wayne Airport.

John Wayne Airport is the sole commercial airport in Orange County. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings per year. In 2014, the airport was the second busiest in the Greater Los Angeles area by passenger count, with over 9 million total passengers. As of 2023, the largest airlines operating at the airport were Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Alaska Airlines. The airport has two runways, with the main runway being the shortest in the United States that handles regularly scheduled international flights.

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Terminal facilities

John Wayne Airport has a range of terminal facilities to accommodate its high volume of passengers. The airport has two runways, with the main runway being 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length. This is the shortest runway in the United States that handles regularly scheduled international flights. The airport's terminal facilities include the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, which opened in 1990 and offers a range of services for departing and arriving passengers. The terminal has 14 loading bridges, four baggage carousels, and distinct roadside arrival and departure levels. The Arrivals level is on the lower level of the airport and provides seven baggage claim belts, two in Terminal A, two in Terminal B, and three in Terminal C, with an additional belt for international arrivals.

Outside the baggage claim area, passengers can find a curbside arrivals pickup area, as well as rental car offices located between Terminal A and B baggage claim areas. Across the roadway from the arrivals pickup area, there is an island for public transportation, including taxis and buses. The terminal facilities also include a range of dining and shopping options for passengers. The airport offers a variety of restaurants, cafes, and retail stores, providing travellers with convenient options for dining and last-minute purchases.

In addition to the terminal facilities, John Wayne Airport also has facilities that cater to the general aviation community. General aviation operations outnumber commercial operations at the airport, making it a popular choice for fliers from California and beyond. The airport's facilities for general aviation include hangars, maintenance services, and fuel services. The airport also has a dedicated area for corporate aviation, providing services for business travellers and private aircraft.

The terminal facilities at John Wayne Airport have been recognised for their quality and functionality. In the J.D. Power 2020 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, the airport ranked #2 among large airports in North America, with a particular focus on factors such as terminal facilities, airport arrival/departure, baggage claim, and security. The study is based on thousands of completed surveys, providing a comprehensive assessment of the airport's terminal facilities and overall satisfaction. John Wayne Airport has consistently ranked among the top large airports in subsequent years, reflecting its commitment to elevating the guest experience.

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Runway length

John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA) is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, California, and is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. The airport is named after the actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and died in 1979.

The airport has two runways. The main runway, 2L/20R, is 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length, making it the shortest runway in the United States that handles regularly scheduled international flights. The runway can accommodate small airplanes like jets or turboprops, but it does not have enough space for most large passenger plane models, which typically require at least 2 miles (3.2 km) for their wingspan during landing. There is also an alternate, shorter runway dedicated solely to propeller-driven planes.

Despite its small size, John Wayne Airport is one of the busiest single-runway commercial airports in the United States, with over 500 flights and 9 million passengers per year. The airport offers international flights to Mexico and Canada and serves as an important hub for general aviation and corporate aviation. In 2020, it was ranked the second-best large airport in North America by J.D. Power's North America Airport Satisfaction Study.

In recent years, there have been proposals to change the airport's name due to comments made by John Wayne that were perceived to be supportive of white supremacy. Despite this controversy, John Wayne Airport remains a significant and highly-regarded aviation hub in Southern California.

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Frequently asked questions

John Wayne Airport (JWA) is a large airport, serving around 9.2 million people annually. It has two runways, with the main runway being 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length.

John Wayne Airport is one of the busiest single-runway commercial airports in the US, with over 500 flights and 4.5 million enplanements in 2014. It is also one of the busiest airports in the Pacific region.

John Wayne Airport is one of three large international airports in the San Francisco-Los Angeles area. It is the second busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area by passenger count.

The Thomas F. Riley Terminal, which opened in 1990, has a size of 337,900 square feet (31,390 m2). The previous terminal, the Eddie Martin Terminal, was much smaller at 29,000 square feet (2,700 m2).

John Wayne Airport has been consistently ranked among the best large airports in North America by J.D. Power's Airport Satisfaction Study. It offers international flights to Mexico and Canada and has a range of facilities, including rental car offices and public transportation options.

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