
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is located in Santa Ana, California, and is also known as Santa Ana Airport or Orange County Airport. The airport is situated in an unincorporated area of Orange County, surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. John Wayne Airport is the only commercial airport in Orange County and is recognised for its unique takeoff procedure due to local noise restrictions and a short runway. The airport was originally named Orange County Airport but was renamed in 1979 to honour actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John Wayne Airport |
| Other Names | Orange County Airport, Santa Ana Airport |
| Location | Orange County, California |
| IATA Code | SNA |
| ICAO Code | KSNA |
| FAA LID | SNA |
| Address | 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707 |
| Phone Number | 949-252-5200 |
| Number of Terminals | 1 |
| Terminals | A, B, and C |
| Number of Daily Flights | 126 |
| Destinations Served | 2 international, 43 domestic |
| Distance from Downtown Santa Ana | Approximately 5 miles (8 km) |
| Distance from Downtown Los Angeles | Approximately 35 miles (56 km) |
| Year Established | 1923 |
| Owner | County of Orange |
| Unique Takeoff Procedure | Yes |
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What You'll Learn

John Wayne Airport is in Santa Ana, California
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is located in Santa Ana, California. The airport is about 35 miles south of Los Angeles 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.
John Wayne Airport is the only commercial airport in Orange County, California, and is about 5 miles from downtown Santa Ana. The airport is easily accessible by road, with nearby stations in Irvine, Santa Ana, and Tustin. The iShuttle route 400A operates between John Wayne Airport and Tustin Metrolink Station approximately every 30 minutes, and Greyhound buses operate from the Santa Ana train station. Rideshare services like Lyft, Uber, and Wings are also permitted to pick up and drop off passengers at the airport.
John Wayne Airport is unique in its takeoff and landing procedures due to local noise restrictions and a short runway. Most commercial airliners need to cycle to full power while holding at the end of the runway and then release the brakes when engines are fully spooled up. Pilots must then make a steep 25-degree climb to 500-700 feet, where engine power is reduced to minimise noise. These procedures have led some passengers to rate John Wayne Airport as one of the scariest airports in the nation.
The airport has a rich history, with Eddie Martin first adding a hangar to his airfield in 1926. In 1935, Howard Hughes set a world speed record in a flight from the Eddie Martin Airport. The current John Wayne Airport was established between 1940 and 1941 as the new Orange County Airport, adjacent to Martin Field, which subsequently closed. During World War II, the field served as the Santa Ana Army Air Base. After the war, the federal government returned the airport to the county, stipulating that it remain open to all kinds of aviation uses.
John Wayne Airport is proud of its commitment to providing an exceptional guest experience. It has been ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
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The airport's code is SNA
John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) is located in Santa Ana, California. The airport's IATA code, SNA, is derived from Santa Ana, the county seat. The airport is situated at 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707, approximately 5 miles (8 km) from downtown Santa Ana and 35 miles (56 km) from downtown Los Angeles.
John Wayne Airport is an international airport serving Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. It is the only commercial airport in Orange County. The airport is easily accessible via various transportation options, including ridesharing services, shuttle services, buses, and taxis.
The airport has a unique takeoff procedure due to local noise restrictions and a short runway. Pilots must perform a steep climb and make a left turn after departure to minimise noise disruption in the nearby cities of Newport Beach, Irvine, and Costa Mesa.
John Wayne Airport has a rich history, initially established as an airfield by aviation pioneer Eddie Martin in 1923. It was later renamed Orange County Airport and, in 1979, honoured actor John Wayne by adopting his name. The airport has a strong focus on providing a high-quality aviation 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's the closest airport to Disneyland
John Wayne Airport, Orange County (JWA) is the closest airport to Disneyland, located about 15 miles away. The airport is conveniently situated in the heart of Orange County, at the intersection of Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Irvine. Its IATA airport code, SNA, is derived from Santa Ana, the county seat when the codes were standardised.
The airport, surrounded by a rich history, was originally established as Orange County Airport between 1940 and 1941. During World War II, it served as the Santa Ana Army Air Base before being returned to the county for aviation use. In 1979, the airport was renamed after the legendary actor John Wayne, who resided in the neighbouring city of Newport Beach and passed away that year. A statue honouring John Wayne was installed at the airline terminal three years later, in 1982.
John Wayne Airport is the only commercial airport in Orange County, providing both international and general aviation services. Its unique location and noise restrictions result in a distinct takeoff procedure, with pilots performing a steep 25-degree climb shortly after departure to minimise noise impact on the surrounding communities.
For travellers visiting Disneyland, John Wayne Airport offers a convenient gateway. The airport is recognised for its commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience, ranking #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Additionally, lodging options near Disneyland provide shuttle services to and from the park, enhancing the overall convenience and accessibility of your magical vacation.
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It's also known as Orange County Airport
John Wayne Airport (JWA) in California is also known as Orange County Airport. The airport is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County and is owned and operated by the county. It is the only commercial airport in Orange County and is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa.
The airport was originally named Orange County Airport and was established in 1940 or 1941 on land adjacent to Martin Field, which was founded by aviation pioneer Eddie Martin in 1923. In 1979, the Orange County Board of Supervisors renamed the airport in honor of actor John Wayne, who lived in neighboring Newport Beach and died that year. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the airline terminal in 1982.
The airport's IATA airport code is SNA, which is derived from Santa Ana, the county seat. The airport is located approximately 35 miles south of Los Angeles and is about 20 minutes from Anaheim, making it a popular choice for families visiting Disneyland. The airport served nearly 9 million passengers in 2012 and is ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
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The takeoff procedure is unique due to noise restrictions
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is located in the centre of Orange County, California, and is surrounded by several residential communities. It is one of the most noise-sensitive airports in the United States. To mitigate potential noise impacts from aircraft operations, the airport maintains some of the strictest noise rules in the country.
The takeoff procedure at John Wayne Airport is unique due to these local noise restrictions and its short runway. When using the typical traffic pattern (departures from runway 20R), most commercial airliners cycle to full power (95–97%) while holding at the end of the runway, then release the brakes when the engines are fully spooled up. Pilots must make a steep 25-degree climb to 500 to 700 feet (150–210 m), where engine power is reduced to reduce noise. This climb is about twice as steep as the departure from other airports, which is typically a nose pitch of 10-15 degrees.
Pilots must also make a left turn after departure to 175 degrees to enter a corridor over the city of Newport Beach, where the noise was deemed to be the least disruptive. These procedures have led passengers to rate John Wayne Airport as one of the nation's scariest. The airport has a voluntary Visual Flight Rules traffic pattern procedure, which provides a departure flight path that avoids residential areas and reduces the impact of aircraft operations on the community.
The General Aviation Noise Ordinance (GANO) has been adopted by the County of Orange to regulate the hours of operation and the maximum permitted noise levels associated with general aviation operations. Compliance with the GANO is mandatory unless deviations are necessary for safety reasons. The maximum permitted noise limits specified in the GANO apply during all weather conditions and seasons, and they represent the maximum noise level that is permitted to occur at each noise monitoring station at any time.
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Frequently asked questions
18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, California.
949-252-5200.
SNA. The SNA code recognises that Santa Ana was the county seat when the codes were normalised.
Yes, John Wayne Airport is also known as Santa Ana Airport or Orange County Airport due to its location in Santa Ana, California.



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