John Wayne Airport
Encyclopedia
John Wayne Airport is an airport
in an unincorporated area
in Orange County, California
, with its mailing address in the city of Santa Ana
, which is also the county seat
, hence the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code. The main entrance to the airport is off of MacArthur Blvd in Irvine
, the city that abuts the airport from the north and east. Newport Beach and Costa Mesa form the southern and western boundaries, respectively, together with a small unincorporated area along the Corona del Mar (73) Freeway
. Santa Ana lies just north, not actually touching the airport directly. Originally named Orange County Airport, the county Board of Supervisors
renamed it in 1979 to honor the actor John Wayne
, who resided in neighboring Newport Beach and died that year. It also became the first airport to be named after an entertainer.
The main runway, at 5701 feet (1,737.7 m), is the shortest of any major airport in the United States, and passenger airliners at the airport have never been larger than the Boeing 757
. (Some larger cargo aircraft fly from SNA, such as the FedEx A310
/300
.) Some gates are built to handle planes up to the size of a Boeing 767
, which could operate with payload/fuel load restrictions. No wide-body passenger airliners
have ever been scheduled into SNA.
John Wayne Airport is the sole commercial airport within Orange County
. General aviation operations outnumber commercial operations and several facilities at the airport serve the general aviation and corporate aviation community. The other general aviation airport within the county is Fullerton Municipal Airport
. Other commercial airports within close proximity are Long Beach Airport, followed by Los Angeles International Airport
and LA/Ontario International Airport. In 2008, John Wayne Airport was the second busiest airport in the area (by passenger count) with almost 9 million total passengers.
The largest airlines at John Wayne Airport are Southwest Airlines
, United Airlines
, American Airlines
, and Alaska Airlines
.
John Wayne Airport is 14 miles (22.5 km) from Orange County's signature attraction - the Disneyland Resort
. By contrast, Los Angeles International Airport
is 35 miles (56.3 km) from Disneyland.
A statue of the airport's namesake welcomes passengers passing through the arrivals area on the lower level.
. It was purchased through a land swap by the County of Orange in 1939 and remains under the County's ownership and management.
After serving as a military base during World War II, it was returned by the federal government to the County with the stipulation that it remain open to all kinds of aviation uses.
During the 1950s the only airline flights were Bonanza's few flights between Los Angeles and Phoenix, via San Diego. In 1963 Bonanza started nonstop F27s to Phoenix, and to Las Vegas in 1965; in 1967 Air California started Electras nonstop to San Francisco, 48 flights a week each way. The first scheduled jet flights were Bonanza DC-9s later in 1967.
In 1967, the 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) Eddie Martin Terminal was constructed to accommodate 400,000 annual passengers. Remodeling added two passenger holding areas in 1974, a new baggage claim area in 1980 and a terminal annex building in 1982, bringing the facility to 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²).
Nonstop flights reached Salt Lake City in 1976-77 (Hughes DC9s), Denver in 1982 (Frontier MD80s), Dallas-Fort Worth in 1983 (American MD80s), Chicago in 1986 (AirCal 737-300s), and New York Kennedy in 1991 (America West 757s).
After the Orange County Airport was renamed the John Wayne Airport in 1979, Arrival and Departure Monitors in airports throughout the country continued to identify the airport as Orange County, which is the nickname for the OMB
Metropolitan Designation, Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California
. To commemorate the Airport's namesake, the John Wayne Associates commissioned sculptor Robert Summers to create nine-foot bronze statue of "the Duke." The nine-foot statue, created at Hoka Hey Foundry in Dublin, Texas, was dedicated to the County on November 4, 1982. Today, the bronze statue is located in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal on the Arrival Level.
In 1990, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal opened to the public. The aging 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²) Eddie Martin Terminal was replaced with a modern 337900 square feet (31,391.9 m²) facility. The new facility included 14 loading bridges, four baggage carousels, wide open spaces and distinct roadside arrival and departure levels. In 1994, the then-unused Eddie Martin Terminal was then demolished.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a new, larger airport was proposed for the nearby site of the then recently closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. However, after a series of political battles, combined with significant opposition from residents in the vicinity of El Toro, the proposal was defeated, and no new airport was built.
In 2011, additional Terminal space was added and existing terminals were refreshed. A new Terminal C with six additional gates was built along with dedicated commuter gate areas in the new Terminal C and new commuter facilities in Terminal A. A new parking lot C was added along with additional support facilities such as a Central Utility plant.
The airport has previously been served by Aloha Airlines
(2001-2008), Virgin America
(2009-2010) and Air Canada
(2010).
The short primary runway (19R/1L), coupled with the local noise restrictions, can require a takeoff at or near full power (95-97% power). Some aircraft departing from the airport may cycle to full power while holding at the runway then release the brakes when engines are fully spooled up. On operations from runway 19R a steep climb may also be required to allow for a power reduction at about 500–700 feet for a quieter overflight over the city of Newport Beach. For 19R departures a left turn after departure to 175 degrees allows for a passage over Newport Beach within the confines of the noise abatement profile. Departures from 1L (normally during Santa Ana wind conditions) are not affected by these noise abatement procedures. Landings almost always include full flap extensions, and the use of full reverse thrust.
The county prohibits commercial departures between 10:00PM and 7:00AM (8:00AM on Sundays) and commercial arrivals between 11:00PM and 7:00AM (8:00AM on Sundays). Exceptions can be made for an emergency, mechanical, air traffic control or weather delay, which is beyond the control of the airline.
In 2003, the settlement agreement was amended to increase operations, but focused on increases only for aircraft meeting the lowest noise signatures.
Access and noise reports are published by the airport and are available to the public. These reports are generated on a regular basis and outline curfew exceptions per carrier and overall noise impact.
The main passenger terminal, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, is named for the late county supervisor who lobbied for the airport's expansion in the 1980s. The Thomas F. Riley Terminal is divided into three terminal areas, A, B and C with dedicated commuter gate areas at the North end of Terminal A and South end of Terminal C.
Terminals A and B were built in 1990 and Terminal C was added to the existing building in 2011, opening on November 14th, 2011. Terminal C added 6 new gates and a dedicated commuter gate area. Terminal A also added a dedicated commuter gate area along with refreshed gates, signage and information displays at both Terminal A and B. New eateries and retail were also added to Terminal C along with refreshed eateries in both Terminals A and B.
All three Terminals, A, B and C are within the same Thomas F. Riley building and security screened passengers can move "airside" between all terminal areas. Security screening lanes exist in all three terminal areas right next to check in. All security screening areas also have a "fast track" lane for first class and elite frequent fliers. Switching between Terminals indoors before security "landside" is also possible, the check in counter areas between all three terminals have connecting walkways to allow access between all Terminals.
Terminal C also provides a US Customs and Border Protection FIS/Federal Inspection Service for international flights that do not do pre-clearance. Two arrival gates feed into the FIS and passengers once cleared exit at the South end of the Terminal C arrivals area.
Terminals A, B and C contain restaurants, bars and shops, with a themed restaurant located in the air side connecting area of both terminals. In the upper rotunda above the themed restaurant is an American Airlines Admirals Club (operating out of Terminal A) and a United Club ( operating out of Terminal B). Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided in the terminals.
Seven baggage claim belts are in the arrivals area, two in Terminal A, two in Terminal B and three in Terminal C. Immediately outside the baggage claim is the curbside arrivals pickup area. Rental car offices are in between Terminal A and B baggage claim areas with most rental agencies on site in the lower levels of the parking facility across the arrivals pickup area between Terminal A and B. Across the roadway from the arrivals pickup area between Terminal A and B is an island for public transportation including taxis, buses and the Disneyland Resort Express.
. This allows the airport to support flights from Mexico and possibly Central American or Caribbean countries where the runway length and aircraft provides sufficient nonstop range.
WestJet
provides service to Vancouver
(began May 2011) and seasonal service to Calgary
(began June 2011). Both flights from Canada complete Immigrations and Customs formalities in Canada via United States Border Preclearance
.
AirTran Airways
has filed for authority to fly to Cabo San Lucas
and Mexico City
effective May, 2012. It would be the first International service to use the new FIS in Terminal C.
John Wayne Airport previously had service from Alaska Airlines
to Vancouver (dropped in 2002), Air Canada
to Toronto
(dropped in 2010).
routes 76 and 212. Both routes run only on weekdays.
Metrolink
station. The iShuttle service runs only during weekday rush hours. Route A services John Wayne Airport.
(AirCal) Flight 336 (a Boeing 737-200), flying from San Jose
, California
, to John Wayne Airport, crashed upon initiating a go-around. The crew was cleared for a visual approach to Runway 19R while the controller had cleared another flight to take off from 19R. Upon realizing the mistake, the controller ordered Air California 336 to go around and the other aircraft to abort its takeoff, which it did. The captain of the landing Air California aircraft delayed the go-around then initiated a gear up procedure before a positive rate of climb was achieved, causing the plane to stall. The 737 then banked left at low altitude causing the left wingtip to make contact with the runway. Then the nose came down and struck the ground and the airplane pirouetted and inverted and skidded down the runway before coming to rest in the margin. A fire started, four passengers sustained minor injuries, and 91 other passengers and 5 crew exited without incident. The aircraft, registration number N468AC, was damaged beyond repair and was written off.
On August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 255
, (a McDonell-Douglas MD-82) flying from Detroit Metro Airport to John Wayne Airport with an intermediate stop at Phoenix, Arizona, crashed during takeoff from Detroit, killing 154 of 155 passengers and crew on board and two persons on the ground. One of the contributing factors in the crash was the crew's concern about arriving at John Wayne Airport before the 11:00 p.m. commercial airline arrival curfew.
On December 15, 1993, a chartered IAI Westwind
business jet
carrying two flightcrew members and three passengers (including Rich Snyder, president of In-N-Out Burger
), crashed while on approach to John Wayne Airport. All five occupants were killed in the crash. The aircraft, which departed Brackett Field
, thirty miles to the north in La Verne, California, followed a Boeing 757
for landing, became caught in the 757's wake turbulence
, rolled into a deep descent and crashed near the intersection of State Route 55
and Edinger Avenue. The crash investigation led to the FAA requirement for an adequate period between heavy aircraft and following light aircraft to allow wake turbulence to diminish.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, with its mailing address in the city of Santa Ana
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
, which is also the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
, hence the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code. The main entrance to the airport is off of MacArthur Blvd in Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
, the city that abuts the airport from the north and east. Newport Beach and Costa Mesa form the southern and western boundaries, respectively, together with a small unincorporated area along the Corona del Mar (73) Freeway
California State Route 73
State Route 73 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route runs from Interstate 405 to Interstate 5 through the San Joaquin Hills in Orange County. From its northern terminus, the first three miles of the highway are called the Corona del Mar Freeway; this section of highway...
. Santa Ana lies just north, not actually touching the airport directly. Originally named Orange County Airport, the county Board of Supervisors
Orange County Board of Supervisors
The Orange County Board of Supervisors is the five-member governing body of Orange County, California.-Membership:The Board consists of five Supervisors elected by districts to four-year terms by the citizens of Orange County...
renamed it in 1979 to honor the actor John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, who resided in neighboring Newport Beach and died that year. It also became the first airport to be named after an entertainer.
The main runway, at 5701 feet (1,737.7 m), is the shortest of any major airport in the United States, and passenger airliners at the airport have never been larger than the Boeing 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
. (Some larger cargo aircraft fly from SNA, such as the FedEx A310
Airbus A310
The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engine widebody jet airliner. Launched in July 1978, it was the second aircraft created by Airbus Industrie,a consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. the consortium of...
/300
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
.) Some gates are built to handle planes up to the size of a Boeing 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
, which could operate with payload/fuel load restrictions. No wide-body passenger airliners
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
have ever been scheduled into SNA.
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. General aviation operations outnumber commercial operations and several facilities at the airport serve the general aviation and corporate aviation community. The other general aviation airport within the county is Fullerton Municipal Airport
Fullerton Municipal Airport
Fullerton Municipal Airport , owned and operated by the City of Fullerton, is the last strictly general aviation airfield still operating in Orange County, California....
. Other commercial airports within close proximity are Long Beach Airport, followed by Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
and LA/Ontario International Airport. In 2008, John Wayne Airport was the second busiest airport in the area (by passenger count) with almost 9 million total passengers.
The largest airlines at John Wayne Airport are Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
, United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
, American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, and Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
.
John Wayne Airport is 14 miles (22.5 km) from Orange County's signature attraction - the Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
. By contrast, Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
is 35 miles (56.3 km) from Disneyland.
A statue of the airport's namesake welcomes passengers passing through the arrivals area on the lower level.
History
The first airstrip on the grounds was constructed in 1923, when Eddie Martin founded a flying school on land owned by the Irvine CompanyIrvine Company
The Irvine Company is a privately held real estate development company based in Newport Beach, Orange County, Southern California. The corporate center of the company lies in Newport Center. A large portion of its operations are centered in and around the City of Irvine, a planned city of 250,000...
. It was purchased through a land swap by the County of Orange in 1939 and remains under the County's ownership and management.
After serving as a military base during World War II, it was returned by the federal government to the County with the stipulation that it remain open to all kinds of aviation uses.
During the 1950s the only airline flights were Bonanza's few flights between Los Angeles and Phoenix, via San Diego. In 1963 Bonanza started nonstop F27s to Phoenix, and to Las Vegas in 1965; in 1967 Air California started Electras nonstop to San Francisco, 48 flights a week each way. The first scheduled jet flights were Bonanza DC-9s later in 1967.
In 1967, the 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) Eddie Martin Terminal was constructed to accommodate 400,000 annual passengers. Remodeling added two passenger holding areas in 1974, a new baggage claim area in 1980 and a terminal annex building in 1982, bringing the facility to 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²).
Nonstop flights reached Salt Lake City in 1976-77 (Hughes DC9s), Denver in 1982 (Frontier MD80s), Dallas-Fort Worth in 1983 (American MD80s), Chicago in 1986 (AirCal 737-300s), and New York Kennedy in 1991 (America West 757s).
After the Orange County Airport was renamed the John Wayne Airport in 1979, Arrival and Departure Monitors in airports throughout the country continued to identify the airport as Orange County, which is the nickname for the OMB
OMB
OMB is a three-letter abbreviation which may stand for:* Office of Management and Budget, a group that oversees the activities of federal agencies in the United States* Owner Managed Business, small and medium enterprises...
Metropolitan Designation, Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California
Santa Ana–Anaheim–Irvine, California is the metropolitan designation given to Orange County, California, United States, by the Office of Management and Budget . The OMB bases its names for metropolitan areas on their dominant cities...
. To commemorate the Airport's namesake, the John Wayne Associates commissioned sculptor Robert Summers to create nine-foot bronze statue of "the Duke." The nine-foot statue, created at Hoka Hey Foundry in Dublin, Texas, was dedicated to the County on November 4, 1982. Today, the bronze statue is located in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal on the Arrival Level.
In 1990, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal opened to the public. The aging 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²) Eddie Martin Terminal was replaced with a modern 337900 square feet (31,391.9 m²) facility. The new facility included 14 loading bridges, four baggage carousels, wide open spaces and distinct roadside arrival and departure levels. In 1994, the then-unused Eddie Martin Terminal was then demolished.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a new, larger airport was proposed for the nearby site of the then recently closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. However, after a series of political battles, combined with significant opposition from residents in the vicinity of El Toro, the proposal was defeated, and no new airport was built.
In 2011, additional Terminal space was added and existing terminals were refreshed. A new Terminal C with six additional gates was built along with dedicated commuter gate areas in the new Terminal C and new commuter facilities in Terminal A. A new parking lot C was added along with additional support facilities such as a Central Utility plant.
The airport has previously been served by Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
(2001-2008), Virgin America
Virgin America
Virgin America, Inc. is a United States-based low-cost airline that began service on August 8, 2007. The airline's stated aim is to provide low-fare, high-quality service for "long-haul point-to-point service between major metropolitan cities on the Eastern and West Coast seaboards." San Francisco...
(2009-2010) and Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
(2010).
Airfield information
John Wayne Airport covers 500.82 acres (2 km²) of land. The airport has multiple general aviation facilities, a main commercial airline building split into two terminal areas, and 2 paved runways.- Runway 1L/19R: 5,701 x 150 ft (45.7 m). (1,738 x 46 m), Commercial Aircraft, General Aviation serving most incoming and departing traffic to the west of the airport. ILSInstrument Landing SystemAn instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
equipped. - Runway 1R/19L: 2,887 x 75 ft (22.9 m). (880 x 23 m), General Aviation, Light Aircraft
Aircraft noise abatement and curfew
A 1985 settlement agreement defined the scope of operation for John Wayne Airport in how it affects the local community. The area that lies directly South of John Wayne Airport is considered a noise sensitive area. The agreement in conjunction with a Phase 2 Commercial Airline Access Plan and Regulation controls the number of noisier operations (mainly commercial aircraft) allowed from the airport. Noise abatement enforcement is carried out with the aid of 10 permanent noise monitoring stations. These stations are placed in areas that exceed a Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) of 65 dB.The short primary runway (19R/1L), coupled with the local noise restrictions, can require a takeoff at or near full power (95-97% power). Some aircraft departing from the airport may cycle to full power while holding at the runway then release the brakes when engines are fully spooled up. On operations from runway 19R a steep climb may also be required to allow for a power reduction at about 500–700 feet for a quieter overflight over the city of Newport Beach. For 19R departures a left turn after departure to 175 degrees allows for a passage over Newport Beach within the confines of the noise abatement profile. Departures from 1L (normally during Santa Ana wind conditions) are not affected by these noise abatement procedures. Landings almost always include full flap extensions, and the use of full reverse thrust.
The county prohibits commercial departures between 10:00PM and 7:00AM (8:00AM on Sundays) and commercial arrivals between 11:00PM and 7:00AM (8:00AM on Sundays). Exceptions can be made for an emergency, mechanical, air traffic control or weather delay, which is beyond the control of the airline.
In 2003, the settlement agreement was amended to increase operations, but focused on increases only for aircraft meeting the lowest noise signatures.
Access and noise reports are published by the airport and are available to the public. These reports are generated on a regular basis and outline curfew exceptions per carrier and overall noise impact.
Terminals
Terminals A and B were built in 1990 and Terminal C was added to the existing building in 2011, opening on November 14th, 2011. Terminal C added 6 new gates and a dedicated commuter gate area. Terminal A also added a dedicated commuter gate area along with refreshed gates, signage and information displays at both Terminal A and B. New eateries and retail were also added to Terminal C along with refreshed eateries in both Terminals A and B.
All three Terminals, A, B and C are within the same Thomas F. Riley building and security screened passengers can move "airside" between all terminal areas. Security screening lanes exist in all three terminal areas right next to check in. All security screening areas also have a "fast track" lane for first class and elite frequent fliers. Switching between Terminals indoors before security "landside" is also possible, the check in counter areas between all three terminals have connecting walkways to allow access between all Terminals.
Terminal C also provides a US Customs and Border Protection FIS/Federal Inspection Service for international flights that do not do pre-clearance. Two arrival gates feed into the FIS and passengers once cleared exit at the South end of the Terminal C arrivals area.
Terminals A, B and C contain restaurants, bars and shops, with a themed restaurant located in the air side connecting area of both terminals. In the upper rotunda above the themed restaurant is an American Airlines Admirals Club (operating out of Terminal A) and a United Club ( operating out of Terminal B). Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided in the terminals.
Seven baggage claim belts are in the arrivals area, two in Terminal A, two in Terminal B and three in Terminal C. Immediately outside the baggage claim is the curbside arrivals pickup area. Rental car offices are in between Terminal A and B baggage claim areas with most rental agencies on site in the lower levels of the parking facility across the arrivals pickup area between Terminal A and B. Across the roadway from the arrivals pickup area between Terminal A and B is an island for public transportation including taxis, buses and the Disneyland Resort Express.
Airlines and destinations
International service
Two gates support international arrivals from countries without United States Border PreclearanceUnited States border preclearance
The United States operates border preclearance facilities at a number of ports and airports in foreign countries. They are staffed and operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Travelers pass through Immigration and Customs, Public Health, and Department of Agriculture inspections...
. This allows the airport to support flights from Mexico and possibly Central American or Caribbean countries where the runway length and aircraft provides sufficient nonstop range.
WestJet
WestJet
WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a Canadian low-cost carrier that provides scheduled and charter air service to 71 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Founded in 1996, WestJet is currently the second largest Canadian air carrier, behind Air Canada, operating an average of...
provides service to Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
(began May 2011) and seasonal service to Calgary
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
(began June 2011). Both flights from Canada complete Immigrations and Customs formalities in Canada via United States Border Preclearance
United States border preclearance
The United States operates border preclearance facilities at a number of ports and airports in foreign countries. They are staffed and operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Travelers pass through Immigration and Customs, Public Health, and Department of Agriculture inspections...
.
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
has filed for authority to fly to Cabo San Lucas
Los Cabos International Airport
Los Cabos International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in Mexico, located at San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The airport serves Los Cabos area: San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. This airport has three terminals with 4 concourses...
and Mexico City
Mexico City International Airport
Benito Juárez International Airport , in Venustiano Carranza, one of the sixteen boroughs into which Mexico's Federal District is divided, is a commercial airport that serves Mexico City, the capital of Mexico...
effective May, 2012. It would be the first International service to use the new FIS in Terminal C.
John Wayne Airport previously had service from Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
to Vancouver (dropped in 2002), Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
to Toronto
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
(dropped in 2010).
Scheduled Cargo Service
Top Destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Arizona Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States... |
500,000 | Southwest, US Airways |
| 2 |  Republic of Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas |
430,000 | American |
| 3 |  Colorado Denver, ColoradoDenver International Airport Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel... |
419,000 | Frontier, Southwest, United |
| 4 |  California San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO... |
333,000 | Southwest, United |
| 5 |  Washington Seattle, Washington |
302,000 | Alaska |
| 6 |  Illinois Chicago, Illinois (ORD) |
267,000 | American, United |
| 7 | California San Jose, California San Jose International Airport Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport serving the city of San Jose in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is named for San Jose native Norman Yoshio Mineta, who was Transportation Secretary in the Cabinet of George W... |
242,000 | Southwest |
| 8 | California Oakland, California Oakland International Airport Oakland International Airport , also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is a public airport located south of the central business district of Oakland, a city in Alameda County, California, United States... |
239,000 | Southwest |
| 9 |  Nevada Las Vegas, NVMcCarran International Airport McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and... |
232,000 | Southwest |
| 10 | California Sacramento, CA Sacramento International Airport Sacramento International Airport is a public airport located 10 miles northwest of the central business district of Sacramento, in Sacramento County, California, USA. It is run by Sacramento County... |
209,000 | Southwest |
Bus
The airport is served by OCTAOrange County Transportation Authority
The Orange County Transportation Authority is the public sector transportation planning body and mass transit service provider for Orange County, California. Its ancestor agencies include not only the prior Orange County Transit District but also such diverse entities as the Pacific Electric...
routes 76 and 212. Both routes run only on weekdays.
Irvine iShuttle
The City of Irvine's iShuttle route A serves the airport and TustinTustin (Metrolink station)
The Tustin Metrolink Station is a station in Tustin, Orange County, California.The station is located in the shopping plaza at Jamboree Road and Edinger Avenue....
Metrolink
Metrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
station. The iShuttle service runs only during weekday rush hours. Route A services John Wayne Airport.
Taxis and Private Shuttles
Taxis and private shuttles are also available from the Ground Transportation Center located outside the lower level between Terminal A and B.Disneyland Resort Express
The Disneyland Resort Express provides regular service from the airport to Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Resort Hotels.Car Rental
On site car rentals are available in the basement level of the Parking A2/B2 garages. Off site car rental shuttles are available at the Ground Transportation Center.Car/Parking
The airport has 4 parking garages open in the main terminal area, A1, A2, B2 and C. Valet parking is available between at a drop off/pick up area Terminals A and B and between Terminals B and C. An off airport parking lot (Main Street Parking) is also available at 1512 Main Street in Irvine with free shuttle service to the terminals.Aircraft incidents
On February 17, 1981, Air CaliforniaAir California
Air California, later AirCal, was a regional airline using mainline equipment and serving different points in the state of California and some neighboring western U.S. states. It was founded by a partnership of Orange County businessmen as an alternative to other airlines and what was left of the...
(AirCal) Flight 336 (a Boeing 737-200), flying from San Jose
San Jose International Airport
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport serving the city of San Jose in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is named for San Jose native Norman Yoshio Mineta, who was Transportation Secretary in the Cabinet of George W...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to John Wayne Airport, crashed upon initiating a go-around. The crew was cleared for a visual approach to Runway 19R while the controller had cleared another flight to take off from 19R. Upon realizing the mistake, the controller ordered Air California 336 to go around and the other aircraft to abort its takeoff, which it did. The captain of the landing Air California aircraft delayed the go-around then initiated a gear up procedure before a positive rate of climb was achieved, causing the plane to stall. The 737 then banked left at low altitude causing the left wingtip to make contact with the runway. Then the nose came down and struck the ground and the airplane pirouetted and inverted and skidded down the runway before coming to rest in the margin. A fire started, four passengers sustained minor injuries, and 91 other passengers and 5 crew exited without incident. The aircraft, registration number N468AC, was damaged beyond repair and was written off.
On August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 255
Northwest Airlines Flight 255
Northwest Airlines Flight 255 was a flight that originated at MBS International Airport in Saginaw, Michigan, and was scheduled to terminate at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, with intermediate stops at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, near Detroit,...
, (a McDonell-Douglas MD-82) flying from Detroit Metro Airport to John Wayne Airport with an intermediate stop at Phoenix, Arizona, crashed during takeoff from Detroit, killing 154 of 155 passengers and crew on board and two persons on the ground. One of the contributing factors in the crash was the crew's concern about arriving at John Wayne Airport before the 11:00 p.m. commercial airline arrival curfew.
On December 15, 1993, a chartered IAI Westwind
IAI Westwind
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Frawley, Gerald. "IAI Westwind". The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 1997/98. Fyshwick ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-875671-26-9....
business jet
Business jet
Business jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals...
carrying two flightcrew members and three passengers (including Rich Snyder, president of In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger is a regional chain of fast food restaurants with locations in the western United States. Founded in 1948 by Harry Snyder and his wife Esther, establishing the first In-N-Out burger in Baldwin Park and headquartered in Irvine, California, In-N-Out Burger has since expanded outside...
), crashed while on approach to John Wayne Airport. All five occupants were killed in the crash. The aircraft, which departed Brackett Field
Brackett Field
Brackett Field is a public airport located one mile southwest of La Verne, in Los Angeles County, California, USA. It was named after Dr. Frank Parkhurst Brackett .-History:...
, thirty miles to the north in La Verne, California, followed a Boeing 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
for landing, became caught in the 757's wake turbulence
Wake turbulence
Wake turbulence is turbulence that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air. This turbulence includes various components, the most important of which are wing vorticies and jetwash. Jetwash refers simply to the rapidly moving gases expelled from a jet engine; it is extremely turbulent,...
, rolled into a deep descent and crashed near the intersection of State Route 55
California State Route 55
State Route 55 is an 18-mile long north–south highway in the U.S. state of California. The portion of the route built to freeway standards is known as the Costa Mesa Freeway...
and Edinger Avenue. The crash investigation led to the FAA requirement for an adequate period between heavy aircraft and following light aircraft to allow wake turbulence to diminish.
See also
- California World War II Army AirfieldsCalifornia World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established numerous airfields in California for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.-Overview:...
External links
- John Wayne Airport (Official Site)
- Terminal Maps/Layout (Official Site)
- John Wayne Airport Improvement Program (Official Site)
- John Wayne Airport Settlement Agreement
- Orange County Sheriff's Department John Wayne Airport Police Services