Juneau Airport: A Small Hub With Big Impact

Juneau International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport and seaplane base located seven nautical miles (8 miles, 11km or 13km) northwest of the central business district of Juneau, Alaska. The airport is spread over an area of 653 acres or 662 acres and serves as a regional hub for Alaska Airlines and Bush Carriers. It has one land runway (8/26) and one water runway (8W/26W).

Juneau International Airport's land area

Juneau International Airport is located seven nautical miles (eight miles or 13 kilometres) northwest of the central business district of Juneau, Alaska. The airport is the only transport link for the city besides the Alaska Marine Highway, as there is no direct road access.

The airport covers an area of 662 acres (268 hectares) at an elevation of 25 feet (8 metres) above mean sea level. It has one land runway (8/26) with an asphalt surface measuring 8,857 by 150 feet (2,700 by 46 metres). There is also one seaplane landing area (8W/26W), which measures 4,600 by 150 feet (1,402 by 46 metres). The airport's single runway was upgraded in 2009 to bring it in line with the safety standards prescribed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The first phase of the upgrade expanded the runway length by 900 feet westward and 250 feet eastward, at a cost of $42 million. A 75-foot safety area was also added to both sides of the runway.

The passenger terminal building at Juneau International Airport was constructed in 1948 and has undergone multiple renovations since then. It has a built-up area of 80,000 square feet and offers various facilities, including baggage and freezer storage services, food and drink stores, a lost and found centre, a smoking zone, and internet access areas. The terminal underwent a significant expansion in three phases, including the construction of new windows and siding on the south side, as well as a new roof. The size of the baggage belt in the terminal was also doubled during the expansion.

The airport's passenger capacity

The passenger capacity of Juneau International Airport has been steadily increasing over the years. The airport recorded 378,741 passenger boardings in 2008, 337,038 in 2009, and 344,057 in 2010. In 2011, the airport was used by 0.3 million passengers and recorded 86,564 aircraft movements. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2015-2019 categorised the airport as a primary commercial service (non-hub) airport based on 353,048 enplanements (boardings) in 2012.

Juneau International Airport covers an area of 662 acres (or 653 acres according to another source) and is located 7-11 miles northwest of the central business district of Juneau, Alaska. The airport is a regional hub for all air travel, from bush carriers to major US air carriers such as Alaska Airlines, which has served the airport for over 45 years. Other airlines that have served the airport include Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), which was one of the first major airlines to serve Juneau, Pacific Northern Airlines, Western Airlines, Wien Air Alaska, and MarkAir.

The airport has one land runway (8/26) and one water runway (8W/26W). The land runway is made of asphalt and measures 8,857 by 150 feet (2,700 x 46 m), while the water runway measures 4,600 by 150 feet (1,402 x 46 m). The airport also has a variety of passenger services, including food and beverage options, a gift shop, baggage storage, and short- and long-term parking.

Airlines that use the airport

Juneau International Airport (IATA: JNU, ICAO: PAJN, FAA LID: JNU) is a city-owned airport and seaplane base located seven nautical miles (8 mi, 13 km) northwest of Juneau, Alaska. The airport is a hub for all types of air travel, from bush carriers to major airlines.

Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was one of the first major airlines to serve Juneau International Airport. In 1947, Pan Am operated daily Douglas DC-4 propliner services to Seattle via a stop at the Annette Island Airport, which served Ketchikan. The airline also flew DC-4 services twice weekly nonstop to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada, with a continuing service to Fairbanks, Galena, and Nome in Alaska. In the 1950s, Pacific Northern Airlines (the successor of Woodley Airways) served the airport with Douglas DC-4 and Lockheed Constellation propliners, offering daily services to Seattle, Anchorage, and Yakutat, and direct services to Cordova in Alaska.

By 1965, Pacific Northern was operating nonstop jet services to Seattle, Anchorage, and Annette Island. In 1967, the airline was acquired by and merged into Western Airlines, which continued to operate jet services to the airport. By 1968, Western was operating daily nonstop Boeing 720B jet services to Seattle, Anchorage, and Annette Island, with one-stop direct service to Los Angeles.

Alaska Airlines has served Juneau for over 45 years, beginning operations at the airport in the late 1960s after acquiring two local air service carriers, Alaska Coastal Airlines and Cordova Airlines. The airline has primarily operated jetliners, including Boeing 727-100, 727-200, and 737-200 models, as well as Boeing 737 jets. In the past, Alaska Airlines also flew smaller prop and turboprop aircraft from the airport, including the Convair 240, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, and two versions of the Grumman Goose amphibian aircraft.

Other airlines that have served Juneau International Airport include Wien Air Alaska, MarkAir, and Delta Air Lines. In 1968, Wien operated Fairchild F-27 turboprop flights into the airport three days a week on a route of Juneau - Whitehorse - Fairbanks. By 1977, the airline was flying Boeing 737-200 jet services twice a week from Juneau to Whitehorse, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. MarkAir operated daily nonstop Boeing 737-400 jet service to Seattle and Anchorage in 1995. Delta Air Lines acquired and merged with Western Airlines in 1987 and served Juneau with daily nonstop flights to Seattle and direct services to Los Angeles until the early 1990s. Delta returned to the market in 2014, offering seasonal services to compete with Alaska Air, resulting in significantly reduced fares to Seattle.

The airport's history

Juneau International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport and seaplane base located seven nautical miles (8 miles or 13 km) northwest of the central business district of Juneau, Alaska. The airport is a regional hub for all types of air travel, from bush carriers to major US airlines such as Alaska Airlines. During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a transport link between combat bases in the Aleutians and airfields in mainland USA.

In 1947, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was the first major airline to serve Juneau, operating daily Douglas DC-4 propliner services to Seattle via a stop at the Annette Island Airport. During the 1950s, Pacific Northern Airlines (the successor of Woodley Airways) served the airport with Douglas DC-4 and Lockheed Constellation propliners, offering daily services to Seattle, as well as non-stop flights to Anchorage and Yakutat, and direct flights to Cordova in Alaska.

The jet age arrived in Juneau in the early 1960s. By 1965, Pacific Northern was operating non-stop jets to Seattle, Anchorage, and Annette Island. In 1967, the company was acquired by Western Airlines, which continued to serve Juneau with jet service. By 1968, Western was operating daily non-stop Boeing 720B jet service to Seattle, Anchorage, and Annette Island, with one-stop direct service to Los Angeles.

In 1969, Alaska Airlines began serving Juneau, operating Boeing 727-100 jet services daily. Alaska Airlines has served Juneau for over 45 years, primarily operating Boeing 727 and 737 jetliners. In addition to jet services, Alaska Airlines also flew smaller prop and turboprop aircraft from the airport, including the Convair 240, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, and two versions of the Grumman Goose amphibian aircraft.

Transport links to the airport

Juneau International Airport (IATA: JNU, ICAO: PAJN, FAA LID: JNU) is located seven nautical miles (8 mi, 13 km) northwest of the central business district of Juneau, Alaska. The airport is about 9 miles away from Juneau, and the road distance is 8.4 miles.

There are several transport options for getting to and from the airport. The cheapest way to get to the airport from Juneau is by car, which costs $1-$3 and takes about 12 minutes. Driving directions from downtown Juneau: Take Egan Expressway to the Glacier Highway exit at McDonald's, turn left on Glacier Highway, then turn left again at Shell Simmons Drive and follow this road until you see the airport. Short- and long-term parking are available directly in front of the terminal building. Short-term parking allows for 15 minutes of free parking.

The fastest way to get to the airport is by taxi, which also takes about 12 minutes and costs $24-$29.

If you don't have a car, the best way to get to the airport is by taking the Line 3 bus, which takes 21 minutes and costs $2. The bus departs from Glacier Avenue and 12th Street to Glacier Highway & Jordan Avenue and operates hourly every day.

There are also other transport operators that offer up-to-date schedules, route maps, journey times, and estimated fares to help you make an informed decision about which option is best for you.

Frequently asked questions