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Gulf Shores International Airport, also known as Jack Edwards Airport, is located in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. The airport is situated approximately two miles north of the central business district of Gulf Shores. With over 90,000 annual operations, it is ranked as the second busiest airport in Alabama. The airport offers multiple weekly flights, serving over 100,000 passengers per year, and has recently expanded to include commercial flights.
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What You'll Learn
Gulf Shores International Airport
In 1983, the City of Gulf Shores purchased the airport and made significant improvements, including a new general aviation terminal and runway extensions, enabling it to accommodate most U.S. aircraft. With a continuous increase in operations, the airport became the second busiest in Alabama, leading to the need for an air traffic control tower. In 2021, the airport commissioned its control tower, and due to its growth and broader impact, it was rebranded as Gulf Shores International Airport – Jack Edwards Field.
The airport covers an area of 838 acres (339 hectares) at an elevation of 17 feet (5 metres) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: Runway 9/27, which is 6,962 feet by 100 feet (2,122 metres by 30 metres), and Runway 17/35, measuring 3,596 feet by 75 feet (1,096 metres by 23 metres). For the 12-month period ending January 31, 2023, the airport recorded 61,372 aircraft operations, with an average of 168 operations per day.
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Jack Edwards Airport
The airport was originally an outlying field for the Naval Air Station Pensacola, known as Canal Field. It opened in 1942 as a training site for Naval Aviators. After a decline in military use, the US Navy sold the airport to the State of Alabama in 1977, and it was renamed Jack Edwards Airport to honour Congressman Jack Edwards. In 1983, the State sold the airport to the City of Gulf Shores, which created the Gulf Shores Airport Authority in 1988 to manage operations.
The airport covers an area of 838 acres (339 ha) at an elevation of 17 feet (5 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 9/27, which is 6,962 by 100 feet (2,122 x 30 m), and 17/35, which is 3,596 by 75 feet (1,096 x 23 m). In 1998, a new general aviation terminal was built, and in 2003, Runway 9/27 was extended, enabling the airport to accommodate nearly all US aircraft.
For the 12-month period ending January 31, 2023, Jack Edwards Airport recorded 61,372 aircraft operations, averaging 168 per day. Aircraft operations included general aviation (91%), military (7%), air taxi (2%), and a small percentage of commercial flights. The airport currently serves over 100,000 passengers annually and is the second-busiest airport in Alabama.
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Commercial flights via Allegiant Air
Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field (IATA: GUF, ICAO: KJKA, FAA LID: JKA) in Baldwin County, Alabama, offers commercial flights via Allegiant Air. Allegiant Airlines announced in 2021 that it would begin offering the first-ever commercial air service from Gulf Shores International Airport, with six nonstop routes connecting the beach community to major cities across the country.
The new routes from Gulf Shores include:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Knoxville, Tennessee via McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Cincinnati, Ohio via Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Houston, Texas via William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, Arkansas via Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)
- Belleville, Illinois via MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV)
- Kansas City, Missouri via Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Allegiant Airlines offers nonstop flights and low airfares, with introductory fares starting as low as $49 one-way for certain routes. The airline also offers the opportunity to earn rewards points on Allegiant purchases through its Allways Rewards Visa® card.
Gulf Shores International Airport has a rich history, originally opening in 1942 as a Naval Aviator training site for the Pensacola Naval Air Station. After a decline in military use, the airport was transferred to the State of Alabama in 1977 and renamed Jack Edwards Airport to honour Congressman Jack Edwards. The City of Gulf Shores purchased the airport in 1983 and made significant improvements, including a new general aviation terminal and runway extensions, enabling the airport to accommodate nearly all U.S. aircraft.
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Airport location and transport
Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field (IATA: GUF, ICAO: KJKA, FAA LID: JKA) is located in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States, approximately 2 miles north of the central business district of Gulf Shores. The airport is owned by the Gulf Shores Airport Authority and is about 4 km north of the City of Gulf Shores.
The airport has a long history, originally opening in 1942 as a Naval Aviator training site for the Pensacola Naval Air Station. After a decline in military use, the airport was transferred to the State of Alabama in 1977 and renamed Jack Edwards Airport to honour Congressman Jack Edwards. In 1983, the City of Gulf Shores purchased the airport, and in 1998, a new general aviation terminal was constructed, followed by the extension of Runway 9/27 in 2003, allowing the airport to accommodate nearly all U.S. aircraft.
Gulf Shores International Airport is easily accessible by road, with major highways leading straight to the coast. Interstate 65 and Interstate 10 are common routes, with many travellers taking Highway 59 to the coast. However, for a faster and less congested journey, the Baldwin/Foley Beach Express route is recommended. Rental cars are available at the airport, and driving is the most convenient way to explore the area. Local taxis, Uber, and Lyft services are also options for getting around.
As of May 2025, Gulf Shores International Airport offers commercial flights through Allegiant Air, with six non-stop flight destinations. The airport has the potential to become Alabama's second-busiest airport, with projections indicating it could attract 40,000 to 60,000 new tourists annually. Seasonal destinations include McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Northwest Arkansas National Airport, and Kansas City International Airport.
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Airport history
Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field (IATA: GUF, ICAO: KJKA, FAA LID: JKA) is a public airport in Baldwin County, Alabama. It is located two nautical miles (4 km) north of the City of Gulf Shores. The airport is owned by the Gulf Shores Airport Authority and is also known as Jack Edwards National Airport.
The airport was originally an outlying field (Canal Field) for the Naval Air Station Pensacola. It opened in 1942 as a Naval Aviator training site. After a decline in military use, the US Navy sold the airport to the State of Alabama in 1977. It was renamed Jack Edwards Airport to honour Congressman Jack Edwards. In 1983, the City of Gulf Shores purchased the airport and created the City of Gulf Shores Airport Authority in 1988 to manage operations.
Major improvements followed, including a new general aviation terminal in 1998 and the extension of Runway 9/27 in 2003, enabling the airport to accommodate nearly all U.S. aircraft. JKA became the second-busiest airport in Alabama, prompting the need for an air traffic control tower. In 2014, a land sale funded matching grants for FAA support, and thanks to Senator Richard Shelby’s efforts in the 2020 FAA reauthorization program, JKA fast-tracked the process and commissioned its tower on November 17, 2021. Recognizing its growth and broader impact, the Airport Authority voted to rebrand the facility as Gulf Shores International Airport – Jack Edwards Field.
As of May 2025, Gulf Shores International Airport offers commercial flights via Allegiant Air with six non-stop flight destinations. The airport has multiple weekly flights serving over 100,000 passengers per year. The inaugural Allegiant Air flight arrived at Gulf Shores from McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee, marking the first-ever commercial flight service to the city.
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Frequently asked questions
Gulf Shores International Airport, also known as Jack Edwards Field.
The airport is located approximately 2 miles north of the central business district of Gulf Shores.
GUF.
Most travellers opt for a rental car as their primary mode of transportation from the airport. Local taxis, Uber, and Lyft are also available.
As of May 2025, Gulf Shores International Airport offers commercial flights to six non-stop flight destinations via Allegiant Air. These include Knoxville, Houston, Northwest Arkansas, and Kansas City.
