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John Wayne Airport (JWA) is the sole commercial airport serving Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area in California. It is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, and is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. Nonstop flights from John Wayne Airport reach several destinations across the United States, including Denver, Colorado.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John Wayne Airport |
| Previous Name | Orange County Airport |
| Location | Orange County, California |
| IATA | SNA |
| ICAO | KSNA |
| FAA LID | SNA |
| Year Established | 1939 |
| Year Renamed | 1979 |
| Surrounding Cities | Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa |
| Registered IATA City | Santa Ana |
| Number of Runways | 2 |
| Main Runway Length | 5,700 feet (1,700 m) |
| Passenger Count (2013) | 4,450,628 |
| Passenger Count (2014) | 4,584,147 |
| Passenger Count (February 2024) | 856,665 |
| Passenger Count (February 2025) | 783,496 |
| Largest Airlines (2023) | Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Alaska Airlines |
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What You'll Learn
John Wayne Airport is in Orange County, California, not Denver
John Wayne Airport is located in Orange County, California, and not in Denver. The airport is situated in an unincorporated area of Orange County and is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. It is the only commercial airport in Orange County and is owned and operated by the county itself.
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 passed away that year. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the airline terminal in 1982.
John Wayne Airport has a rich history, with the first airstrip in the area constructed in 1923 when Eddie Martin signed a lease to operate a flying school on land owned by the Irvine Company. The county purchased the land in 1939 through a land swap and has owned it since. The airport has undergone various remodellings and expansions over the years, adding new passenger holding areas, baggage claim areas, and a terminal annex building.
The airport serves both international and general aviation and is a primary commercial service airport, with over 10,000 passenger boardings per year. It is easily accessible from Denver, with several airlines offering flights between the two destinations, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Frontier.
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The airport is named after actor John Wayne
The Orange County Airport was renamed John Wayne Airport on June 20, 1979, in honour of the actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and passed away that year. John Wayne Airport is the sole commercial airport in Orange County, California, and is located in an unincorporated area of the county, surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa.
John Wayne Airport is named after the famous actor, who was known for his roles in Western and war films. Wayne had a lengthy and prolific career in Hollywood, appearing in over 150 films during five decades in the industry. He was a prominent figure in American culture, known for his rugged, manly persona and his embodiment of frontier values.
The airport's name change was intended to honour Wayne's legacy and his contributions to the film industry. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the airline terminal in 1982, further commemorating the actor.
In June 2020, there were calls to change the airport's name once more, due to comments made by John Wayne that were believed to be in support of white supremacy in a 1971 interview with Playboy. The controversy sparked debate about the actor's legacy and whether the airport should continue to bear his name.
Despite the recent controversy, the airport code for John Wayne Airport remains SNA, which is registered to Santa Ana, the county seat of Orange County.
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It is an international airport
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, is an international airport. It 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, although its IATA airport code, SNA, is registered to Santa Ana, the county seat.
John Wayne Airport is the only commercial airport in Orange County. It is a primary commercial service airport, as categorized by the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011-2015, since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings per year. The airport has two runways. The main runway, 2L/20R, is 5,700 feet (1,700 m) long, making it the shortest runway in the United States that handles regularly scheduled international flights.
The airport offers flights to various destinations, including Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago–O'Hare, New York–Kennedy, and Las Vegas. It serves as a hub for several major airlines, including Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Alaska Airlines.
John Wayne Airport has a rich history, dating back to the establishment of the first airstrip in the area in 1923. The airport was renamed in 1979 in honor of actor John Wayne, who lived in neighboring Newport Beach and passed away that year. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the airline terminal in 1982.
The airport has undergone various renovations and expansions over the years, including the addition of passenger holding areas, a new baggage claim area, and a terminal annex building. It is committed to providing an exceptional guest experience and was ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
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It is the second busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, is located in Orange County, California, and serves the Greater Los Angeles area. It is the only commercial airport in Orange County and is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa.
In 2014, John Wayne Airport was the second busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area by passenger count, with over 9 million total passengers. The airport has seen an increase in passenger traffic over the years, with 4,450,628 enplanements in 2013, increasing to 4,584,147 in 2014. As of February 2025, the airport served 783,496 passengers, a decrease of 8.5% compared to February 2024, which had a passenger traffic count of 856,665.
The airport has two runways, with the main runway, 2L/20R, being the shortest in the United States that handles regularly scheduled international flights. John Wayne Airport offers nonstop flights to various destinations, including Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, and New York.
The airport has a rich history, with the first airstrip constructed in 1923 through a lease agreement between Eddie Martin and James Irvine for a flying school. The Orange County Board of Supervisors renamed the airport in 1979 to honor actor John Wayne, who resided in neighboring Newport Beach. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the terminal in 1982.
John Wayne Airport has received recognition for its commitment to customer satisfaction, ranking #1 in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Additionally, the airport promotes sustainability initiatives, with Southwest Airlines transitioning to paper cups instead of plastic cups for drinks.
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The airport has two runways
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, is located in Orange County, California, and is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. The airport is not in Denver, but there are flights that travel between Denver and Orange County.
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. Despite its short length, the runway can accommodate passenger jetliners, although these have never been larger than a DC-9, MD-80, or 737-300. The second runway does not appear to have a designation, and its length is also unknown.
The first airstrip in the area was constructed in 1923 when Eddie Martin signed a five-year lease with James Irvine to operate a flying school on Irvine Company land. The Orange County Board of Supervisors renamed the airport in 1979 to honor actor John Wayne, who lived in neighboring Newport Beach and passed away that year. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the airline terminal in 1982.
John Wayne Airport is the only commercial airport in Orange County and is ranked highly in customer satisfaction. The airport is easily accessible from Denver, with several airlines offering round-trip flights between the two locations.
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Frequently asked questions
John Wayne Airport (JWA).
In an unincorporated area of Orange County, California, it is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa.
SNA.
Yes, there are direct flights from Denver International Airport (DEN) to John Wayne Airport SNA.
Some airlines that fly from Denver to Orange County include American Airlines, United Airlines, and Frontier.
