Jazmin Li
Ketchikan International Airport is unique in several ways. Firstly, it is located on Gravina Island, which is separated from the city of Ketchikan, requiring passengers to take a ferry to and from the airport. Secondly, the airport has no direct road access to the outside world or the city of Ketchikan, making the ferry connection essential for travellers. The airport is also unique in its management structure, with the state of Alaska owning it and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough operating it through a partnership agreement. This agreement allows for greater local community control over management and development, generating revenue opportunities not available to traditional airport management structures. Finally, Ketchikan International Airport has a fascinating history, with longer-range land plane air services operated via an old military airfield on Annette Island until the early 1970s. The current airport opened in 1973, and Alaska Airlines was one of the first airlines to offer jet service to the airport.
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What You'll Learn
- Ketchikan International Airport is located on Gravina Island, separate from the city of Ketchikan
- It is state-owned and the fifth busiest airport in Alaska
- There is no direct road access to the airport. Passengers must take a ferry
- The airport was opened in 1973, following local residents' efforts and two studies
- Ketchikan Airport has a unique partnership agreement with the state, allowing for greater local control
Ketchikan International Airport is located on Gravina Island, separate from the city of Ketchikan
Ketchikan International Airport is located on Gravina Island, which is separate from the city of Ketchikan. The airport is about one nautical mile (2 km) west of the central business district of Ketchikan, on the other side of the Tongass Narrows. This unique location means that passengers must take a ferry to get to and from the airport, a journey of around seven minutes. The ferry connects Gravina Island and Revillagigedo Island, with departures in each direction every hour.
The airport is state-owned and is operated by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. It is the fifth busiest airport in Alaska, with 148,645 passenger boardings recorded in 2023, a 3.38% increase from 2022. The current airport was opened in 1973, following an earlier study in 1967 that chose the Gravina Island site.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough has a unique partnership agreement with the state, allowing for the operation of the airport with local community control and participation in its development. This arrangement also enables greater revenue-generating opportunities and a higher level of service for airport users than would otherwise be possible.
The airport has no direct road access to the outside world or the city of Ketchikan. Similarly, Ketchikan and Revillagigedo Island have no land-based connections to the mainland. A proposed bridge to connect the city and the airport faced criticism for its cost and was ultimately not funded by the United States Congress in 2007.
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It is state-owned and the fifth busiest airport in Alaska
Ketchikan International Airport is a state-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile (2 km) west of the central business district of Ketchikan, a city in Alaska with no direct road access to the outside world or the airport itself. The airport is situated on Gravina Island, just west of Ketchikan, across the Tongass Narrows. To get to the airport from the city, passengers must take a seven-minute ferry ride. This ferry service operates from 6:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and provides transport for both passengers and vehicles. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough offers paid public parking on Revillagigedo and Gravina Islands.
The airport is owned by the State of Alaska and is managed by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough (KGB) through a unique partnership agreement. This agreement allows for the operation of the airport, with the state serving as a technical advisor and financial partner in significant maintenance projects. This arrangement provides greater local control over management and development, increased revenue opportunities, and an enhanced level of service for airport users.
Ketchikan International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in Alaska. In 2023, the airport recorded 148,645 passenger boardings (enplanements), representing a 3.38% increase from 2022. It is categorised as a primary commercial service (non-hub) airport, serving more than 10,000 enplanements per year. The current airport was inaugurated on August 4, 1973, following efforts by local residents, studies by the Alaska State Division of Aviation, and land clearing in 1969.
The airport's location on Gravina Island has sparked discussions about improving connectivity. A proposed bridge designed to link the city and the airport faced criticism for its cost and was dubbed the "bridge to nowhere." However, the United States Congress ultimately decided against funding the bridge in 2007.
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There is no direct road access to the airport. Passengers must take a ferry
Ketchikan International Airport is a state-owned airport located on Gravina Island, just off the coast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The airport is unique in that it has no direct road access, and passengers must take a ferry to reach it. This makes for an interesting travel experience and offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
The airport is situated about one nautical mile, or two kilometres, west of Ketchikan's central business district. To get to the airport from the city, passengers need to take a seven-minute ferry ride across the Tongass Narrows. This ferry ride offers a unique perspective of the city and its surrounding natural beauty.
The ferry service operates regularly, with two departures every hour in each direction. It provides a crucial connection between the airport and the city, as both the airport and Ketchikan are inaccessible to each other and the mainland by road. This lack of road access presented a unique challenge during the airport's construction in the early 1970s, which was overcome through a partnership between the Alaska Division of Aviation and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
The Ketchikan International Airport is an important transportation hub for the region, serving as the fifth busiest airport in Alaska. Its history dates back to the World War II era, when an old military airfield on nearby Annette Island served longer-range land plane services to and from Ketchikan. However, the current airport's location on Gravina Island provides a more convenient and accessible option for travellers.
The ferry ride to the airport is a quick and efficient way to travel, offering a seamless connection to the city of Ketchikan. It is a unique feature of the airport, providing a memorable travel experience for visitors and locals alike.
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The airport was opened in 1973, following local residents' efforts and two studies
The Ketchikan International Airport, located on Gravina Island, opened on August 4, 1973, following a long campaign by local residents and two studies. The airport is unique in that it is only accessible to and from Ketchikan by ferry. This campaign for a new airport was supported by a 1965 study by the Alaska State Division of Aviation, and a follow-up study in 1967 that selected the current site. The site was cleared in 1969, and the airport was officially opened in 1973.
The campaign for a new airport was driven by the local community, who recognised the need for improved transport connections to and from Ketchikan. The new airport replaced the old military airfield on Annette Island, which had been in use since World War II. The old airfield was located 20 miles south of Ketchikan and was served by a range of aircraft, including amphibian planes that linked the airport to the Ketchikan Harbour Seaplane Base.
The 1965 study by the Alaska State Division of Aviation highlighted the benefits of a new airport and recommended a site on Gravina Island. This site was confirmed in a subsequent study in 1967, which also led to the land being cleared in 1969. The new airport was constructed in the early 1970s and was the culmination of these local and state-level efforts to improve transport connections to and from Ketchikan.
The new airport was designed to accommodate larger aircraft and provide more frequent flights to and from Ketchikan. The airport is state-owned and is operated by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough through a unique partnership agreement. This agreement allows for greater local control over management and development, as well as increased revenue-generating opportunities. The airport has been a success, with a steady increase in passenger numbers over the years, and it is now the fifth busiest airport in Alaska.
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Ketchikan Airport has a unique partnership agreement with the state, allowing for greater local control
Ketchikan International Airport is a state-owned airport located on Gravina Island, around 2 kilometres west of Ketchikan, Alaska. The airport is unique in that it has no direct road access, and passengers must take a seven-minute ferry ride to reach the airport from the city. This ferry operates from 6:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and provides connections to both Revillagigedo and Gravina Islands.
The airport is managed by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough (KGB) through a distinctive partnership agreement with the state. This arrangement allows for greater local control over the management and development of the airport. The state acts as a technical advisor and financial partner for significant maintenance projects. This collaboration enables the airport to generate more revenue and provide enhanced services to its users.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough has entered into two lease agreements with the Alaska Division of Aviation: a 55-year lease for essential buildings and a five-year lease for ferry operations. This setup empowers the local community with more control over the airport's operations and development, allowing them to cater to the needs of their users effectively.
The Ketchikan International Airport is a crucial transportation hub, serving as the fifth busiest airport in Alaska. Its unique partnership agreement with the state showcases an innovative approach to airport management, emphasising local involvement and tailored services. This model has likely contributed to the airport's success and ability to cater to a significant number of passengers each year.
The airport's history dates back to the 1960s when the local community advocated for a new airfield. This led to a series of studies and, eventually, the selection of the current site on Gravina Island. The airport opened on August 4, 1973, with Alaska Airlines providing the first jet service from Seattle, utilising a Boeing 720 jetliner.
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Frequently asked questions
Ketchikan International Airport is located on Gravina Island, with no direct road access to the outside world or the airport. A seven-minute ferry ride connects the airport to the city of Ketchikan, crossing the Tongass Narrows with passengers and vehicles.
Ketchikan International Airport is state-owned and is entirely managed by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough through a unique partnership agreement. This agreement allows for the operation of the airport, with the state acting as a technical advisor and financial partner in major maintenance projects.
Ketchikan International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in Alaska. The airport had 148,645 passenger boardings in 2023, a 3.38% increase from 2022. Alaska Airlines was one of the first airlines to serve the airport, offering the first jet service from Seattle in 1973.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough offers paid public parking on Revillagigedo and Gravina Islands. There is also a passenger waiting facility open daily from 6 am to 8:30 pm.
