Wyoming's Largest Airport: A Comprehensive Overview

what is largest airport in wyoming

Wyoming is a state in the US with 18 airports. The largest airport in Wyoming is Jackson Hole Airport, which is located within Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyoming. The airport is located seven miles (11 km) north of Jackson in Teton County. In 2019, it was the busiest airport in Wyoming by passenger traffic, with 455,000 passengers. Another major airport in Wyoming is the Casper/Natrona County International Airport, which provides stress-free travel and above-and-beyond customer service.

Characteristics Values
Name Jackson Hole Airport
IATA JAC
ICAO KJAC
FAA LID JAC
Location 7 miles (11 km) north of Jackson in Teton County, Wyoming, US
Passenger Traffic in 2019 455,000
Airlines Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Sun Country Airlines
Aircraft Airbus A319, A320, Embraer 175, Bombardier CRJ700, Boeing 757-200
Terminal Designed by Gensler, with exposed wood, fireplaces, and nature photography throughout
Facilities Restaurant, gift shop, cafe, car rental services
Additional Information The airport is located inside the Grand Teton National Park

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Jackson Hole Airport: Wyoming's busiest airport

Jackson Hole Airport, located in Teton County, Wyoming, is the state's busiest airport. It is situated seven miles (11 km) north of Jackson and covers 533 acres (216 ha). The airport is located within Grand Teton National Park, making it the only commercial airport in the United States inside a national park. It is also one of the few airports in the region that does not have its air service subsidized by the federal Essential Air Service Program.

In 2019, Jackson Hole Airport recorded 455,000 passengers, making it Wyoming's busiest airport by passenger traffic. The airport offers year-round service to several destinations across the United States, including Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Denver. During peak summer and winter seasons, it provides nonstop airline service from up to 15 destinations. The airport is served by major airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

Jackson Hole Airport is known for its unique surroundings and has received awards for its terminal design, which blends seamlessly with the natural environment of the national park. The terminal features exposed wood, fireplaces, and nature photography. The airport is also known for its noise sensitivity, implementing bans on older, noisier aircraft with stage-II engines. Due to its short runway at high altitude, the largest aircraft regularly seen at the airport is the Boeing 757-200 operated by Delta Air Lines.

The airport has a variety of amenities for passengers, including a restaurant, a gift shop, and a cafe by the baggage claim area. It also has eleven hard stand gates and three baggage carousels. Construction projects at the airport aim to modernize and expand its facilities, including the addition of two more gates and the rebuilding of Jedediah's restaurant.

Jackson Hole Airport is an important gateway to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. It also serves as the most straightforward entry point for ski resorts in the Tetons, particularly the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The airport's pristine location and proximity to natural attractions make it a unique and memorable travel destination.

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Location and surroundings

Jackson Hole Airport is located within Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Teton County, Wyoming. It is about seven miles (11 km) north of Jackson. The airport is at the foot of the Teton Mountains in Northwest Wyoming. Jackson Hole is the busiest airport in Wyoming, with 455,000 passengers in 2019 and 880,000 annual passengers in 2023. The airport is an important gateway to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. It is also the most straightforward entry point for ski resorts in the Tetons, such as Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

The airport is located in a pristine natural environment, which imposes severe noise restrictions. It is also an important habitat for the rare sage grouse during its mating season. Due to its location in a national park, the airport terminal building's height is limited to 18 feet (5.5 m). The terminal blends with its surroundings, featuring exposed wood, fireplaces, and nature photography throughout. The airport is served by several rental car companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National.

Jackson Hole Airport is noise-sensitive and bans older, noisier aircraft with stage-II engines. The largest aircraft regularly seen at the airport is the Boeing 757-200 operated by Delta Air Lines. Other aircraft typically seen include the Airbus A319, A320, Embraer 175, and the Bombardier CRJ700. The airport has eleven hard stand gates and three baggage carousels, and passengers board aircraft via ramps as there are no jet bridges.

Another notable airport in Wyoming is the Casper/Natrona County International Airport. It provides convenient and time-saving travel options for residents of Wyoming, offering an alternative to driving long distances to Denver. The airport also plays a crucial role in the state's economic growth, transportation services, emergency response, infrastructure development, tourism, education, and improved connectivity.

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History

Casper–Natrona County International Airport is Wyoming's largest airport. It was formerly known as Casper Airport, Wardwell Field, and its runways are now streets in the town of Bar Nunn. The airport replaced the former Casper Airport in 1949.

During World War II, the airfield was known as Casper AAF and was part of the Air Transport Command as a transit station for WASP pilots ferrying combat aircraft across the United States. The 211th Army Air Force Base Unit took control of the airfield in July 1944, and it was inactivated in March 1945. After the war, the airfield was turned over to the civil control in the late 1940s.

Western Airlines was the first carrier to serve Casper, with roots tracing back to 1931 as Wyoming Air Service. The airline operated a north-south route from Denver to Great Falls, Montana, stopping in various cities, including Casper. In the 1970s, the carrier began operating Boeing 737-200 jetliners on its routes.

Over the years, various airlines have served Casper–Natrona County International Airport, including Challenger Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and SkyWest Airlines. Frontier Airlines introduced larger aircraft such as the Convair 340 and Convair 580 propliners in the early 1960s and began replacing their Convair 580 turboprop flights with Boeing 737-200 jet service in the 1970s. Continental Airlines served Casper with Boeing 727-200 and Douglas DC-9-10 jetliners starting in 1980, while Delta continued service into Casper with nonstop flights to Salt Lake City and Rapid City until 1994.

Today, Casper–Natrona County International Airport is more than just a transportation hub. It is a driving force for economic growth, emergency response, tourism, education, and improved connectivity to Wyoming and beyond. The airport provides stress-free travel and exceptional customer service, making it a convenient and time-saving option for travellers in the region.

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Terminal design and facilities

Jackson Hole Airport, located in Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyoming, is the state's largest airport. The airport is located seven miles (11 km) north of Jackson in Teton County, Wyoming, and is the busiest airport in Wyoming, with 455,000 passengers in 2019 and 880,000 annual passengers. The airport is served by major airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, and seasonally by Sun Country Airlines.

The terminal building at Jackson Hole Airport is designed to blend in with its natural surroundings, with a height restriction of 18 feet (5.5 m) due to its location within a national park. The design, by Gensler, features exposed wood, fireplaces, and nature photography throughout. The terminal received an American Institute of Architects Honor Award in 2014. The airport has eleven hard stand gates and three baggage carousels, and passengers board aircraft via ramps as there are no jet bridges. The terminal has a restaurant and gift shop post-security, as well as a cafe by the baggage claim area.

In 2021, construction began on relocating the pre-security cafe to baggage claim, creating additional check-in counter space. The next phase of construction will include modernizing and expanding the TSA checkpoint and adding more gate space for American Airlines. In the spring of 2022, construction will begin on rebuilding Jedediah's restaurant and adding two more gates.

Due to its location within a national park, the airport is subject to severe noise restrictions and bans older, noisier aircraft with stage-II engines. The largest aircraft regularly seen at the airport is the Boeing 757-200 operated by Delta Air Lines. The airport is an important habitat for the rare sage grouse during its mating season, and it is working towards becoming the first airport in the world to achieve certification as a Dark Sky place.

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Airlines and aircraft

Jackson Hole Airport (IATA: JAC, ICAO: KJAC, FAA LID: JAC) is located seven miles north of Jackson in Teton County, Wyoming. In 2019, it was the busiest airport in Wyoming, with 455,000 passengers. The airport is served by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which operate year-round, and Sun Country Airlines, which operates seasonally. Jackson Hole Airport is unique in that it is the only commercial airport in the United States located inside a national park, specifically Grand Teton National Park. Due to its location, the airport is subject to noise restrictions and bans older, noisier aircraft with stage-II engines. The largest aircraft regularly seen at the airport is the Boeing 757-200, operated by Delta Air Lines on flights to Atlanta. Other aircraft that can be commonly seen at the airport include the Airbus A319, A320, Embraer 175, and the Bombardier CRJ700. The airport has a unique terminal design that blends with its natural surroundings, featuring exposed wood, fireplaces, and nature photography. The terminal received an American Institute of Architects Honor Award in 2014.

Another notable airport in Wyoming is the Casper/Natrona County International Airport, which serves as a driving force for economic growth, transportation services, emergency response, infrastructure development, tourism, education, and improved connectivity to Wyoming and beyond. The airport offers secure and inexpensive parking, proximity to home, and quick security checks, providing added convenience and a stress-free travel experience.

Frequently asked questions

Jackson Hole Airport is the largest airport in Wyoming.

Jackson Hole Airport is located 7 miles north of Jackson in Teton County, Wyoming. It is the only commercial airport in the United States located inside a national park, specifically, Grand Teton National Park.

Jackson Hole Airport is Wyoming's busiest airport, with around 455,000 passengers in 2019 and 880,000 annual passengers.

Jackson Hole Airport is served year-round by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. Sun Country Airlines also operates seasonally.

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