Orange County Airport: Location And Travel Guide

John Wayne Airport, Orange County (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA) is located in the US state of California, serving Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. The airport is situated in an unincorporated area of Orange County, surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa, with its IATA airport code registered to Santa Ana, the county seat. John Wayne Airport is the sole commercial airport in Orange County, featuring two runways and handling both commercial and general aviation operations. Rated highly for customer satisfaction, the airport offers convenient amenities, efficient transportation options, and easy access to nearby destinations such as Anaheim and Disneyland.

John Wayne Airport, Orange County

The airport is named after the actor John Wayne, who resided in neighbouring Newport Beach and passed away in 1979, the same year the airport was renamed in his honour. A 9-foot bronze statue of "the Duke" can be found in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal on the Arrival Level. The Thomas F. Riley Terminal is comprised of Terminals A, B, and C, each featuring its own ticket counters, security checkpoints, and baggage claim areas.

John Wayne Airport offers a range of amenities and services to enhance the travel experience. These include four adjacent parking structures, valet parking, self-service ticketing kiosks, free high-speed Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, pet relief areas, a nursing mother's lounge, art exhibits, retail shops, and a variety of dining options. The airport also provides easy access to ground transportation options such as rental cars, shuttles, taxis, limousines, and ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft, and Wings.

John Wayne Airport serves both domestic and international destinations, with nonstop flights to over 20 destinations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The airport handles a significant volume of passenger traffic, with an average of 868,630 passengers passing through each month. In 2014, it was the second busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area by passenger count, accommodating over 9 million passengers.

The airport is conveniently located next to the interchange between I-405 (San Diego Freeway) and MacArthur Boulevard, with easy access to SR 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). It is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa, and its IATA airport code, SNA, is registered to Santa Ana, the county seat.

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Location and nearby attractions

John Wayne Airport, Orange County (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA) is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, California, and is surrounded by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. The airport is just 13 miles from Anaheim and 20 minutes from Disneyland Resort. The airport is easily accessible, situated next to the interchange between I-405 (San Diego Freeway) and MacArthur Boulevard.

The airport is named after the actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and died in 1979. A statue of John Wayne was installed at the Thomas F. Riley Terminal in 1982. The terminal is divided into three areas, Terminals A, B, and C, each with its own ticket counters, security checkpoints, and baggage claim areas. The airport offers a range of amenities, including free high-speed Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, pet relief areas, a nursing mother's lounge, art exhibits, retail shops, and over 20 dining options.

For those interested in aviation history, the Lyon Air Museum, located in a hangar on the west side of the airport, is a great attraction. The museum focuses on World War II military aircraft and vehicles, and hosts the Collings Foundation's annual flight experience program.

Orange County is also home to world-class tourist destinations such as Disneyland Resort and Knott's Berry Farm. Nearby Los Angeles offers additional attractions, including Universal Studios, the Getty Museum, Griffith Observatory, and Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier.

For those seeking outdoor adventures, the Hudson Valley region, just an hour north of New York City, offers a plethora of options. The village of Montgomery, with its charming shops, wineries, breweries, and golf courses, is a short two-minute drive from the airport. The city of Middletown, boasting an array of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment options, is also just 15 minutes west of the airport.

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History and renaming

The history of Orange County Airport, now known as John Wayne Airport, dates back to the 1920s. In 1923, aviation pioneer Eddie Martin established a private landing strip and a flying school on land owned by the Irvine Company. This airfield, known as the Eddie Martin Airport, became the original Orange County Airport in 1939 through a land swap between the Irvine Company and the County of Orange. The airport was relocated to a new site adjacent to Martin Field between 1940 and 1941.

During World War II, the airport served as a military base and was returned to the county by the federal government after the war, with the stipulation that it remain open to all types of aviation uses. In the 1950s, the airport became an important drag racing centre, hosting the world's first commercial drag strip, the Santa Ana Drag Strip, every Sunday when the runway was closed to air traffic.

In 1964, the airport was rebuilt and expanded, with two parallel runways oriented 190/10 degrees magnetic. The longer runway, at 5,701 feet, was long enough to accommodate jet airliners. In 1967, a new 22,000-square-foot terminal, the Eddie Martin Terminal, was built to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.

On June 20, 1979, the Orange County Board of Supervisors renamed the airport to John Wayne Airport in honour of the actor John Wayne, who lived in neighbouring Newport Beach and had passed away that year. A 9-foot bronze statue of John Wayne, known as "the Duke", was installed at the airport in 1982.

In 1990, the Eddie Martin Terminal was replaced by a new, larger terminal named the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, after the county supervisor who lobbied for the airport's expansion. The original Eddie Martin Terminal was demolished in 1994.

In June 2020, a petition was started to rename the airport again, due to comments made by John Wayne that were believed to be in support of white supremacy.

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Services and facilities

John Wayne Airport, Orange County (JWA) is located in an unincorporated area of Orange County, California, 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.

JWA is committed to providing a convenient and easy travel experience and has been recognised for its high customer satisfaction. The airport offers a range of services and facilities to enhance the guest experience, including:

Four adjacent parking structures, valet parking, and self-service ticketing kiosks
Free high-speed Wi-Fi and USB charging stations
Pet relief areas and a nursing mother’s lounge
Art exhibits, live performances, and retail shops
Over 20 dining options

JWA also provides support for guests with hidden disabilities, including trained therapy dogs at the Thomas F. Riley Terminal.

The airport consists of a main passenger terminal, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, named after the late county supervisor who lobbied for the airport's expansion. The terminal is divided into three areas, Terminals A, B, and C, each with its own ticket counters, security checkpoints, and baggage claim areas.

Terminals A and B were designed by Gensler & Associates, Leason Pomeroy Associates, and Thompson Consultants International. They feature restaurants, bars, and shops, with a themed restaurant located in the airside connecting area. There is also an American Airlines Admirals Club and a United Club located adjacent to each other on the mezzanine level. Terminal C, which opened in 2011, offers additional gates, a dedicated commuter gate area, and new eateries and retail options.

In addition to the airline terminal, JWA also has facilities that serve the general aviation and corporate aviation community. The airport is home to approximately 450 general aviation aircraft and has two fixed-base operators (FBOs): Clay Lacy Aviation and ACI Jet.

JWA offers international flights to Mexico and Canada and has two runways. The main runway, 2L/20R, is the shortest in the US that handles regularly scheduled international flights, while runway 2R/20L serves general aviation aircraft.

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Transport to and from the airport

Transport to and from John Wayne Airport, Orange County

The airport is located next to the interchange between I-405 (San Diego Freeway) and MacArthur Boulevard. It is also near I-405's interchange with SR 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). Heading south on MacArthur Boulevard from the airport provides access to SR 73 (Corona del Mar Freeway), which becomes the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (toll road) southeast of MacArthur Boulevard.

By Car

John Wayne Airport has four parking garages open in the main terminal area: A1, A2, B2 and C. Valet parking is available between Terminals A and B, and between Terminals B and C. An off-airport parking lot (Main Street Parking) is also available with a free shuttle service to the Thomas F. Riley Terminal every 15 minutes.

By Bus

The airport is served by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) route 76, which runs only on weekdays from 6 am to 6 pm. The City of Irvine's iShuttle route A also serves the airport and Tustin station, running only during weekday rush hours.

By Rental Car

There are eight on-site rental car companies at the airport, with rental car counters located on the Arrival Level, between Terminals A and B, across from the John Wayne statue. There are also several off-site rental car companies licensed to pick up passengers from the Terminal and shuttle them to their off-site locations.

By Taxi and Private Shuttle

Taxis and private shuttles are available from the Ground Transportation Center located outside the lower level between Terminal A and B.

By Ride App

Ride-hailing services Lyft, Uber, and Wingz are available. Pickups are allowed only in designated parking structure areas assigned for pickups. Drop-offs can be made at the departure level outside each terminal.