Lois Larson
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, was founded in the early 1920s and has since undergone numerous transformations. The airport's history is deeply intertwined with the region's aviation history and the life of actor John Wayne, for whom the airport was renamed in 1979. Over the years, it has grown from a small, general aviation facility to a thriving commercial hub, serving millions of passengers annually and playing a significant role in the story of air transportation in Orange County, California.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1923/1925 |
| Original name | Orange County Airport |
| Renamed | 1979 |
| New name | John Wayne Airport |
| Year of first commercial flight | 1952 |
| Year of new terminal building | 1967 |
| Year of Terminal C addition | 2011 |
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What You'll Learn
John Wayne Airport's history
John Wayne Airport, with the IATA code SNA, ICAO code KSNA, and FAA LID code SNA, is an international airport that serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area in California. The airport is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County and is the sole commercial airport in the county.
The history of John Wayne Airport can be traced back to the early 1920s when it began as a private landing strip. In 1923, aviation pioneer Eddie Martin started a small flying operation on rural Irvine Ranch land, which eventually expanded into a real airport. In 1925, Orange County started acquiring property for its first county airport, and in 1928, the first county airport was dedicated. This airport was located northeast of the present-day airport, with minimal development, including a dirt runway and a windsock.
In 1939, the county acquired a different site, west of the original location, from The Irvine Company. Construction began in 1941 on two runways, an administration building, a control tower, and a hangar. During World War II, the airport was used as an Army Airbase, and after the war, it continued to serve small, private aircraft. In 1952, commercial airline service was introduced to Orange County, and a new terminal was completed in 1967.
In 1979, the airport was renamed John Wayne Airport in honour of actor John Wayne, a resident of neighbouring Newport Beach, who passed away that year. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the terminal in 1982. The airport has undergone several expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of Terminal C and the expansion of existing terminals as part of a $543 million project in 2011.
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The airport's name change
The history of John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, goes back to the early 1920s when it was a private landing strip. In 1923, aviation pioneer Eddie Martin started his flying operation on Irvine Ranch land, and by 1925, the county had begun acquiring property for its first county airport. In 1928, the Board of Supervisors dedicated the original Orange County Airport, which was located northeast of today's airport.
In 1939, the county took control of the airport's operations, and in 1941, construction began on the first two runways, an administration building, a control tower, and a hangar. During World War II, the airport served as an Army Airbase, and in 1952, it introduced its first commercial airline service.
In 1961, an airport master plan anticipated that the airport would serve 400,000 passengers annually. The airport continued to expand, and by the 1970s, it was facing noise complaints from nearby residents, including John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach. In 1979, on a motion from Supervisor Tom Riley, the Orange County Board of Supervisors renamed the airport John Wayne Airport in honour of the actor, who had passed away that year.
In June 2020, an airport name change was requested due to comments John Wayne made in a 1971 interview with Playboy, which were believed to be in support of white supremacy.
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John Wayne Airport's terminals
John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, has three terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B, and Terminal C. The airport began as a private landing strip in the early 1920s and grew into a small airport with a portable wooden hangar by the 1930s. In 1939, the County of Orange acquired the airport and took control of its operations. Over the years, the airport has expanded to meet the growing demand for air transportation in the region.
Each terminal area at John Wayne Airport has its own set of gates and amenities, including parking garages located directly outside. Terminal A is located at the north end of the airport and is home to several airlines, including Air Canada, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, and WestJet. The baggage claim area in Terminal A has two baggage carousels, an information desk, and an ATM. The airline ticketing counters and a community space featuring local art are located on the upper level of Terminal A.
Terminal B is situated in the centre of the airport, connected to both Terminal A and Terminal C. Only Alaska Airlines and United Airlines operate from this terminal. The baggage claim area in Terminal B also has two baggage carousels, along with a grab-and-go coffee shop and an information booth. The ground transportation area is conveniently located across from Terminal B arrivals for easy access to onward travel.
Terminal C, built as part of the expansion project in 2011, added six additional gates to the airport. The baggage claim area in Terminal C has a separate section for international arrivals with immigration and customs facilities. Information booths are located at both ends of the baggage claim, and a TSA PreCheck enrollment office is also on this level. The security checkpoint at Terminal C provides quick access to gates 14 to 21 and 22A-C, located at the south end of the airport. Terminal C offers a variety of shopping and dining options, an art exhibit, family restrooms, and an ATM.
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The airport's location and surroundings
John Wayne Airport 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, with its IATA airport code registered to Santa Ana, the county seat.
The history of John Wayne Airport dates back to the early 20th century. In 1923, aviation pioneer Eddie Martin established a small flying operation on rural Irvine Ranch land in Orange County. Within a few years, Martin had transformed the operation into a fully-fledged airport, known as Eddie Martin's private airport, which became the original Orange County Airport. In the late 1920s, Orange County began acquiring property for its first county airport, and by 1928, they had acquired 160 acres of land. The first county airport was located northeast of the present-day airport, where the 405 freeway now stands.
In 1939, the county acquired a different site, slightly west of the original location, from The Irvine Company. Construction on the new airport site began in 1941, with the development of two runways, an administration building, a control tower, and a hangar. During World War II, the airport was used as an Army Airbase, and after the war, it continued to serve small, private aircraft. In 1952, commercial airline service was introduced to Orange County, and a new terminal was completed in 1967.
Over the years, the airport has undergone significant expansion and improvements. In 1979, the airport was renamed John Wayne Airport in honour of the actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and passed away that year. The airport has continued to grow and now offers international flights to Mexico and Canada. It is the sole commercial airport in Orange County and is categorised as a primary commercial service airport due to its high volume of passenger traffic.
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John Wayne Airport's busiest years
John Wayne Airport, originally named Orange County Airport, has been serving Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area in California for over a century. The airport has grown significantly since its early days as a private landing strip in the 1920s, and even more so since the County of Orange acquired it in 1939.
The airport's busiest years have been influenced by various factors, including infrastructure developments, population growth, and changes in aviation regulations. By the mid-1980s, the airport was serving about three million passengers annually, and this number continued to grow in the following decades.
One of the airport's busiest years was 2014, when Federal Aviation Administration records showed a total of 9 million passengers, including 4,584,147 enplanements. This made John Wayne Airport the second busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area in terms of passenger count. The airport's capacity and popularity continued to increase, with the Orange County Board of Supervisors setting a higher passenger limit of 11.8 million per year for 2021.
The growth in passenger numbers prompted expansion projects, such as the addition of Terminal C in 2011, which provided six additional gates and improved facilities. By 2023, the airport was handling over 10.8 million passengers annually, with plans to further increase the annual limit to 12.2 or 12.5 million by 2026, demonstrating the continued growth and busyness of John Wayne Airport.
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Frequently asked questions
John Wayne Airport, originally known as Orange County Airport, was established in the early 1920s as a private landing strip.
John Wayne Airport became a commercial airport in 1952 when a commercial air carrier introduced airline service to Orange County.
The airport was renamed in 1979 in honour of actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and died that year.
