John Wayne Airport

John Wayne Airport - Orange County Airport: Long Name, Short Runway

John Wayne Airport - Orange County Airport is the long version of the name of John Wayne Airport. This long name came about when the previous Orange County Airport was renamed John Wayne Airport by the Orange County Board of Supervisors when well-known and well-loved actor John Wayne died in Newport Harbour, California back in 1979. (John Wayne used to live in nearby Lido Island prior to his death.) To help people associate the old name with the new name, the long version is occasionally used though officially the name of the airport is John Wayne Airport. To show the community's high regard for John Wayne (the actor), a statue with his likeness has been set up on the lower level of the arrivals area.

John Wayne Airport is presently the sole Orange County commercial airport but also handles some general aviation functions as well. An airport with a short runway Ironically, though the formal name of John Wayne Airport is quite long, the main runway is not. In fact, this runway is considered the shortest maintained by a major US airport anywhere. Usually, the airport requires the maximum size of aircraft to be like the Boeing 757 only so that the runway can accommodate them. But some facilities of the airport do allow bigger aircraft (such as the Boeing 767) to be used though the aircraft have to meet fuel load/payload limits first. To compensate for the short length of the runway, aircraft have to either stay within aircraft weight restrictions, reduce fuel weight, or reduce range (as deemed necessary.)

Facilities of the airport

The airport occupies a total of 500.82 acres, where it maintains 2 runways, and two terminals housed in the same main commercial carrier structure called the Thomas F. Riley building. When passengers have been appropriately screened, they are allowed access between both Terminal A and Terminal B. There are also some temporary structures that act as satellite facilities to host commuter flights.

Future plans include expansion of the southern portion of Terminal B so that six additional bridged aircraft gates can be constructed. After this project is done, the temporary structures will be eliminated to make way for permanent commuter flight facilities instead.

Restaurants, shops and bars can be found within both Terminal A and Terminal B. Within the airside connecting area of these two terminals, one may visit a themed restaurant for a change. Over this themed restaurant is a rotunda where the American Airlines Admirals Club is situated (within Terminal A) and the United Airlines Red Carpet Club holds court (inside Terminal B.)

Carriers serving the airport

Terminal A is served by Delta Air Lines, and Delta Connection; Continental Airlines; American Eagle; American Airlines; and Alaska Airlines. Terminal B, on the other hand, deals with flights by US Airways Express; US Airways; United Express; United Airlines; Southwest Airlines; Northwest Airlines; Frontier Airlines; and Aloha Airlines. UPS and FedEx Express are concerned solely with cargo movements, rather than passenger flights.

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