Ruth Haines
There are two airports named Orange County Airport: one in California and one in New York. The former was renamed John Wayne Airport in 1979 and is the sole commercial airport in Orange County, California. It has two runways, with the main runway being 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length. New York's Orange County Airport, on the other hand, is an untowered airport located one nautical mile (2 km) southwest of the village of Montgomery. It covers an area of 596 acres (241 ha) and also has two runways, the longest of which is 5,007 by 100 feet (1,526 by 30 m).
There are two airports named Orange County Airport:
Orange County Airport, New York
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 nautical mile (2 km) southwest of the village of Montgomery, in the Town of Montgomery, United States |
| Junction | State highways 211 and 416 |
| Elevation | 364 feet (111 m) above mean sea level |
| Area | 596 acres (241 ha) |
| Number of runways | 2 |
| Length of runways | 5,006 by 100 feet (1,526 by 30 m) and 3,664 by 100 feet (1,117 by 30 m) |
| Number of corporate facilities | 3 |
| Annual aircraft operations | 120,000 (average of 328 per day) |
| Annual takeoffs and landings | 125,000 |
| Year opened | 1941 |
John Wayne Airport, California
Formerly known as Orange County Airport, John Wayne Airport serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area in California. | Characteristics | Values | | --- | --- | | Location | Unincorporated area of Orange County, surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa | | Number of runways | 2 | | Length of main runway | 5,700 feet (1,700 m) | | Length of second runway | 2,887 feet (880 m) | | Year opened | 1941 |
What You'll Learn
John Wayne Airport's history and renaming
John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA) is an international commercial and general aviation airport that serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area in California. The airport is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa.
The airport was originally named Orange County Airport. On June 20, 1979, the Orange County Board of Supervisors renamed the airport in honour of actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and passed away that year. A 9-foot bronze statue of "the Duke", created by sculptor Robert Summers, was installed at the airline terminal in 1982 and remains there today.
In 1990, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal opened, replacing the aging Eddie Martin Terminal with a modern and significantly larger facility. The new terminal included 14 loading bridges, four baggage carousels, wide-open spaces, and distinct roadside arrival and departure levels. The original Eddie Martin Terminal was demolished in 1994.
In recent years, there have been calls to rename the airport due to comments John Wayne made in a 1971 interview with Playboy, which have been interpreted as supporting white supremacy. In June 2020, an official request was made to change the airport's name, sparking a debate among county supervisors and the public. Some argue that Wayne's views on race are no longer aligned with the values of the diverse community the airport serves. Others, including the OC Republican Party and former President Donald Trump, oppose the renaming, believing that Wayne's positive contributions and iconic status should be remembered instead.
John Wayne 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 nonstop flights to various destinations across the United States and Canada, including Vancouver, Calgary, Salt Lake City, and New York. It is the sole commercial airport in Orange County and has been ranked highly in customer satisfaction.
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Location and surroundings
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, California. It 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 named after the actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and died in 1979. A 9-foot bronze statue of him was installed at the Thomas F. Riley Terminal in 1982.
The airport is the sole commercial airport in Orange County and is categorised as a primary commercial service airport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings per year. It has two runways: the main runway, 2L/20R, is 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length, and runway 2R/20L is 2,887 feet (880 m) long and serves general aviation aircraft. The airport also includes several facilities that serve the general aviation and corporate aviation community.
New York's Orange County Airport (IATA: MGJ, ICAO: KMGJ, FAA LID: MGJ) is located one nautical mile (2 km) southwest of the village of Montgomery, in the Town of Montgomery, United States, at the junction of state highways 211 and 416. It is owned and operated by Orange County and is categorised as a general aviation facility. The airport covers an area of 596 acres (241 ha) at an elevation of 364 feet (111 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt-paved runways: 4/22, which is 5,006 by 100 feet (1,526 by 30 m), and 8/26, which is 3,664 by 100 feet (1,117 by 30 m).
The New York airport is nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley, just south of the Catskill Mountains, and is about an hour north of New York City. It is a popular place for aspiring local pilots to learn to fly or practice their skills, and it also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including 5ks, charity events, and fly-ins.
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Size and elevation
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, is located in California and serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. The airport is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County and is owned and operated by the county. It is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa, although its IATA airport code is registered to Santa Ana, the county seat.
The airport covers an area of 596 acres (241 hectares) at an elevation of 364 feet (111 meters) above mean sea level. It has two runways: the main runway, 2L/20R, is 5,700 feet (1,700 meters) in length, and the second runway, 2R/20L, is 2,887 feet (880 meters) long. The airport also has a terminal building, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, which is a modern 337,900-square-foot (31,390 square-meter) facility with 14 loading bridges, four baggage carousels, spacious open areas, and distinct roadside arrival and departure levels.
In comparison, New York's Orange County Airport, located in the town of Montgomery, covers a smaller area of 596 acres (241 hectares) and has two asphalt-paved runways: 4/22, which is 5,006 by 100 feet (1,526 by 30 meters), and 8/26, which is 3,664 by 100 feet (1,117 by 30 meters). This airport is also owned and operated by Orange County and is known as a general aviation facility, serving as a popular place for local pilots to learn to fly or practice their skills.
Both airports have a significant history, with the California airport being renamed in 1979 to honour actor John Wayne, and the New York airport being established in 1941, with a notable racing history in the 1950s.
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Number of runways
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, is located in California and serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. The airport has two runways. The main runway, 2L/20R, is 5,700 feet (1,700 m) in length, and is the shortest runway in the United States that handles regularly scheduled international flights. Runway 2R/20L is 2,887 feet (880 m) long and serves general aviation aircraft.
In 1941, the airport had two runways: one paved and one shorter dirt runway. The main runway was likely finished with oil over levelled dirt or some other form of early runway surfacing. In 1942, the runway was lengthened and paved with asphalt to accommodate P-38 fighters. In 1950, an auxiliary runway was used for drag racing, known as the "Santa Ana Drags". In the late 1950s, the airport was also used for SCCA National Sports Car Championship races, and in 1960, it hosted a NASCAR event.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were plans to build a new, larger airport at the nearby El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. However, these plans do not appear to have come to fruition, as the most recent updates regarding the airport refer to a name change request in 2020.
There is also an Orange County Airport in New York, located in the Hudson Valley, which is an untowered airport with two runways.
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International flight status
John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA), originally named Orange County Airport, is an international airport that serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area in California, USA. The airport is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, and it is owned and operated by the county.
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. Runway 2R/20L is 2,887 feet (880 m) long and serves general aviation aircraft.
John Wayne Airport offers direct flights to various international destinations, including Calgary and Vancouver. Air Canada provides daily non-stop flights to Vancouver, British Columbia, and previously served Toronto, Ontario, in 2010, becoming the first international airline to serve Orange County. Alaska Airlines also offers international service to Vancouver, although a stop in Seattle or a change of planes is required.
In addition to scheduled international flights, the airport also handles cargo operations by widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A300 operated by FedEx.
The airport has a variety of facilities, including the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, which replaced the aging Eddie Martin Terminal in 1990. The new terminal offers modern amenities, including loading bridges, baggage carousels, spacious areas, and separate arrival and departure levels.
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Frequently asked questions
John Wayne Airport, formerly known as Orange County Airport, is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, California. The airport has two runways: the main runway, 2L/20R, is 5,700 feet (1,700 m) long, and runway 2R/20L is 2,887 feet (880 m) long.
Orange County Airport in New York covers an area of 596 acres (241 ha) and is located at an elevation of 364 feet (111 m) above sea level. It has two asphalt-paved runways: 4/22, which is 5,006 by 100 feet (1,526 by 30 m), and 8/26, which is 3,664 by 100 feet (1,117 by 30 m).
The airport was originally named Orange County Airport but was renamed in 1979 to honour actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and died that year. A 9-foot (2.7 m) statue of John Wayne was installed at the airport in 1982.
Orange County Airport in New York opened in 1941 and was used by the Army during World War II. The airport has been reconstructed multiple times, with changes made to the runways and surrounding roads. It has been the site of various events, including SCCA National Sports Car Championship races in the late 1950s and a NASCAR race in 1960.
