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Juneau International Airport

Coordinates: 58°21′18″N 134°34′35″W / 58.35500°N 134.57639°W / 58.35500; -134.57639
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Juneau International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Juneau
ServesJuneau, Alaska
Elevation AMSL25 ft / 8 m
Coordinates58°21′18″N 134°34′35″W / 58.35500°N 134.57639°W / 58.35500; -134.57639
Websitejuneau.org/airport
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
8/26 8,857 2,700 Asphalt
8W/26W 4,600 1,402 Water
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations108,885
Based aircraft275

Juneau International Airport (IATA: JNU, ICAO: PAJN, FAA LID: JNU) is a city-owned, public-use airport and seaplane base located seven nautical miles (8 mi, 13 km) northwest of the central business district of Juneau,[1] a city and borough in the U.S. state of Alaska which has no direct road access. The airport is a regional hub for all air travel, from bush carriers to major U.S. air carriers such as Alaska Airlines.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2015-2019 categorized it as a primary commercial service (nonhub) airport based on 353,048 enplanements (boardings) in 2012.[2] As per the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport had 378,741 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008,[3] 337,038 in 2009, and 344,057 in 2010.[4]

History

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During World War II, Juneau Airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a transport link between the combat bases being established in the Aleutians and airfields in the mainland United States. It was also used by Air Transport Command and facilitated the transport of Lend-Lease aircraft to the Soviet Union via Nome (Marks Army Airfield).[5]

Historical airline service

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Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was one of the first major airlines to serve Juneau. In 1947, Pan Am was operating daily Douglas DC-4 propliner service to Seattle via a stop at the Annette Island Airport, which served Ketchikan at the time and also flew DC-4 service twice a week nonstop to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada with continuing, no change of plane service to Fairbanks, Galena and Nome in Alaska.[6] Pan Am later operated Douglas DC-6B and Boeing 377 Stratocruiser aircraft into the airport.[7] During the 1950s, Pacific Northern Airlines (PNA, the successor of Woodley Airways) served the airport with Douglas DC-4 and Lockheed Constellation propliners with daily service to Seattle with a stop at Annette Island as well as nonstop to Anchorage and Yakutat and direct to Cordova in Alaska.[8]

The jet age arrived in Juneau during the early 1960s. In 1963, Pan Am was operating daily Boeing 707 jetliner flights to Seattle via a stop at Annette Island.[9] By 1965, Pacific Northern was operating Boeing 720 jets nonstop to Seattle, Anchorage and Annette Island.[10] In 1967, Pacific Northern was acquired by and merged into Western Airlines, which continued to operate jet service to the airport.[11] By 1968, Western was operating daily nonstop Boeing 720B jet service to Seattle, Anchorage and Annette Island with one stop direct service to Los Angeles.[12] By 1969, Alaska Airlines was operating Boeing 727-100 jet service into the airport on a daily basis with a round trip route of Seattle - Sitka - Juneau - Yakutat - Cordova - Anchorage - Unalakleet - Nome - Kotzebue.[13] Alaska Air has served Juneau for over 45 years and primarily operated Boeing 727-100, 727-200 and 737-200 jetliners into the airport (including the Boeing 737-200 passenger/freight Combi aircraft) in addition to Boeing 720 jetliners before switching to later model Boeing 737 jets.[14] Besides operating jet service into Juneau, Alaska Airlines also flew smaller prop and turboprop aircraft from the airport in the past including the Convair 240, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and two versions of the Grumman Goose amphibian aircraft, being a piston powered model and a turboprop version with the latter being named the "Turbo-Goose" by the airline.[13] Alaska Airlines began serving Juneau during the late 1960s after its acquisition of two local air service carriers, Alaska Coastal Airlines, which was based in Juneau, and Cordova Airlines.

Closeup view of the airport's main terminal, including both older and newer control towers; Mendenhall Glacier is seen in the background

Other air carriers which served Juneau over the years included Wien Air Alaska and MarkAir, which had both been based in Alaska. Western Airlines also returned to Juneau after ceasing service during the early 1970s.[15] In 1968, Wien was operating Fairchild F-27 turboprop flights into the airport three days a week on a route of Juneau - Whitehorse - Fairbanks.[16] By 1977, Wien was flying Boeing 737-200 jet service twice a week from the airport on a Juneau - Whitehorse - Fairbanks - Anchorage route and by 1979 the airline was operating daily nonstop 737-200 jet flights to Seattle and Anchorage.[17][18] During the early and mid 1980s, Western was operating daily nonstop Boeing 727-200 service to Seattle.[19] After its acquisition of and merger with Western in 1987, Delta Air Lines continued to serve Juneau with daily nonstop Boeing 727-200 flights to Seattle and direct, one stop service to Los Angeles into the early 1990s.[20]

In 1995, MarkAir operated daily nonstop Boeing 737-400 jet service to Seattle and Anchorage.[21] In 2014, Delta Air Lines returned to Juneau offering first seasonal, and then year round service before leaving the market again at the end of 2016 and now serves Juneau on a seasonal basis. Delta entering the market to compete with Alaska Air resulted in fares to Seattle being reduced almost by half.[22]

Facilities and aircraft

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New and old terminals at Juneau International Airport
The main passenger terminal at Juneau International Airport

Juneau International Airport covers an area of 662 acres (268 ha) at an elevation of 25 feet (8 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 8/26 with an asphalt surface measuring 8,857 by 150 feet (2,700 x 46 m). It has one seaplane landing area designated 8W/26W, which measures 4,600 by 150 feet (1,402 x 46 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, the airport had 108,885 aircraft operations, an average of 298 per day: 79% air taxi, 12% general aviation, 8% scheduled commercial, and <1% military. At the time 275 aircraft were based at the airport: 87% single-engine, 1% multi-engine, <1% jet, 10% helicopter, and 1% military.[1]

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 taxiing to the terminal at Juneau International Airport

Airlines and destinations

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Aside from providing passenger service, Alaska Airlines operates Boeing 737-700 jet freighter cargo flight service into Juneau.[23]

Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Alaska Airlines Anchorage, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Seattle/Tacoma, Sitka, Yakutat
Seasonal: Gustavus
Alaska Seaplanes Angoon, Elfin Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Kake, Klawock, Pelican, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Whitehorse[24]
Delta Air Lines Seasonal: Seattle/Tacoma[25]
Ward Air Excursion Inlet
Charter: Chatham, Funter Bay
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-400C being loaded with cargo at Juneau International Airport

Cargo

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Airline Destinations
Alaska Air Cargo Anchorage, Seattle/Tacoma
Alaska Central Express Anchorage, Ketchikan
Empire Airlines Anchorage

Statistics

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Top destinations

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Busiest domestic routes from JNU
(September 2022 – August 2023)[26]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Seattle/Tacoma, Washington 188,000 Alaska, Delta
2 Anchorage, Alaska 81,000 Alaska
3 Sitka, Alaska 25,000 Alaska, Alaska Seaplanes, Harris
4 Ketchikan, Alaska 18,000 Alaska
5 Petersburg, Alaska 10,000 Alaska, Alaska Seaplanes
6 Gustavus, Alaska 9,000 Alaska, Alaska Seaplanes, Harris
7 Haines, Alaska 7,000 Alaska Seaplanes
8 Hoonah, Alaska 6,000 Alaska Seaplanes
9 Skagway, Alaska 5,000 Alaska Seaplanes
10 Yakutat, Alaska 4,000 Alaska
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-400C at Juneau International Airport

Airline Market Share

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Top airlines at JNU (September 2022 - August 2023)[26]
Rank Airline Passengers Percent of market share
1 Alaska Airlines 632,000 86.52%
2 Kalinin Aviation 56,000 7.68%
3 Delta Air Lines 34,000 4.70%
4 Air Excursions 8,000 1.09%

Accidents and incidents

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  • On September 4, 1971, Alaska Airlines Flight 1866, a Boeing 727-100, crashed into the easterly slope of a canyon in the Chilkat Range of the Tongass National Forest while on approach to Juneau International Airport. All 111 passengers and crew on board were killed. At the time, it was the worst single airplane air disaster in United States history.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for JNU PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective August 25, 2011.
  2. ^ "Appendix A: List of NPIAS Airports with 5-Year Forecast Activity and Development Estimate" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) Report. Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  3. ^ "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). CY 2008 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009.
  4. ^ "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). CY 2010 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
  6. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Nov. 1, 1947 Pan American World Airways system timetable.
  7. ^ "Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska". SitNews. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  8. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Sept. 2, 1958 Pacific Northern Airlines system timetable
  9. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Aug. 1, 1963 Pan American World Airways system timetable
  10. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Oct. 1, 1965 Pacific Northern Airlines system timetable
  11. ^ http://www.timetablemages.com[permanent dead link], Aug. 1, 1967 Pacific Northern Airlines (a division of Western Airlines) system timetable
  12. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Aug. 1, 1968 Western Airlines system timetable
  13. ^ a b http://www.timetableimages.com, Summer-Fall 1969 Alaska Airlines system timetable
  14. ^ "Alaska Airlines" by Cliff & Nancy Hollenbeck, www.hollenbeckproductions.com
  15. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, April 30, 1972 Western Airlines route map
  16. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Sept. 16, 1968 Wien Air Alaska system timetable
  17. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Sept. 15, 1977 Wien Air Alaska system timetable
  18. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Seattle-Juneau & Anchorage-Juneau schedules
  19. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, April 1, 1983 & Feb. 15, 1985 Official Airline Guide (OAG) editions, Seattle-Juneau schedules
  20. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 & Oct. 1, 1991 Official Airline Guide (OAG) editions, Seattle-Juneau schedules
  21. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, April 2, 1995 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Seattle-Juneau & Anchorage-Juneau schedules
  22. ^ Phu, Lisa (April 11, 2016). "Delta to end year-round service in Juneau". JuneauEmpire.com. Juneau Empire. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  23. ^ Freighter and Combi Schedule
  24. ^ "Alaska Seaplanes Early Fall Schedule" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  25. ^ "Delta is resuming year-round service to Juneau (Again)". May 6, 2022.
  26. ^ a b "Juneau, AK: Juneau International (JNU)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. August 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  27. ^ Kiffer, Dave (September 7, 2011). "40 Years ago, 111 died in Alaska Airlines Crash Near Juneau". Stories in the News. Ketchikan. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
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