Airport Magazine

The Inside Story of One of America's Most Unique Airports

Jeremy.Barnum@jhairport.org (Jeremy Barnum) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:38:38 GMT

Every airport is unique but as the only commercial service airport located within a national park, we humbly believe that Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is extraordinary. Hear us out.

A visit to Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park begins before you touch down.

Travelers from one of the 15 major U.S. airports with direct service to Jackson Hole Airport are treated to one of the most scenic approaches in the world.

Following arrival procedures approved by the FAA to both ensure safety and avoid noise sensitive areas of Grand Teton National Park, aircraft approach JAC from the northeast flying over the Gros Ventre or Absaroka mountains.

At approximately 12,000 feet you track the Buffalo Fork River as you cross into Grand Teton National Park. You soon bank left to join the Snake River, the lifeblood of Jackson Hole.

Passengers who had the good sense, or good fortune, to be seated on the right side of the plane now have unobstructed views of a national park namesake.

Outside your window, the pinnacled peaks of the Teton Range reach for the sky. While the Tetons contain some of the oldest rocks in North America, therange itself is relatively young and still growing. Rising from a fault line that the geologically informed passenger can see from the plane, the Grand Teton checks in at 13,775 feet, the second highest peak in Wyoming. Since the Pleistocene, glaciers have carved and sculpted the range’s dramatic canyons and left behind the iconic lakes at the base which attract millions of visitors from around the world
each year.

An elevation of 6,451 feet marks your terrestrial arrival to JAC and Grand Teton National Park where you disembark via mobile ramps. The airport does not use jet bridges as they would exceed height restrictions mandated in the Jackson Hole Airport Board’s 1983 Use Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior which oversees America’s national parks. The height restrictions are intended to minimize visual obstructions
of park scenery. The importance of these efforts to preserve iconic views of the Tetons is easy to appreciate. You will often see passengers — and even flight crew members — stop for selfies with the mountain backdrop as they make their way across the ramp and to the terminal.

Entering the baggage claim area, visitors encounter various art installations that highlight the area’s unique natural features, wildlife and western cultural heritage. Park rangers featured in digital displays over baggage carousels welcome visitors to GTNP and offer tips for enjoying the area responsibly. With their national park experience well underway, visitors often see wildlife like moose, elk and pronghorn antelope within minutes of
leaving the airport. America’s

So how did Wyoming’s busiest commercial airport end up in a national park in the first place? The Town of
Jackson and Teton County first built an airstrip on the current airport site in the 1930s. A local pilot described the
early days of the airport this way: “First you buzzed over home to tell your wife you were here. Then she came out and drove the horses off the runway and then showed the lights so you could see where you could land. The airport was a dirt strip with a corral to put the airplanes in so the cows wouldn’t eat them up.”

In 1941, a municipal airport was approved by the Civil Aeronautics Administration using both public land
administered by the Department of the Interior and private land belonging to the Snake River Land Company.
The Rockefeller family, through the Snake River Land Company, purchased private land for eventual donation to
the U.S. Government as part of Grand Teton National Park. When the park was expanded in 1950 to its present-day boundary, it included the land occupied by the airport.

The Jackson Hole Airport Board was formed by the Town of Jackson and Teton County in 1968 and operated
under a series of special use permits with the National Park Service until the 1980s. As use of the airport increased and short-term land use permits began to conflict with FAA requirements, then-Secretary of the Interior James Watt recognized the Airport Board as the airport’s sole legal proprietor in 1982. The following year the Airport Board negotiated a long-term use agreement with the Department of the Interior and National Park Service that enabled the board to accept FAA funding while mandating restrictions on noise and infrastructure to mitigate impacts on the national park.

Today, JAC’s unique location inspires our efforts to achieve the Airport Board’s vision, “To be recognized as a leader in delivering a positive and unique guest experience, an unwavering commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and a culture based on people helping people.”

Passengers consistently praise the airport’s signature lodge-inspired design, where natural materials and cozy
fireplaces create a welcoming atmosphere that complements the surrounding landscape. Airport hosts stand at the ready to share their experience and knowledge with visitors.

During outgoing CEO Jim Elwood, A.A.E.’s, tenure, who retired in early July after nearly 12 years leading JAC, the
airport made significant improvements to virtually every part of the airport and its operation. Perhaps the most significant project undertaken during Elwood’s tenure was the total reconstruction of the airport’s only runway in 2022, which had not been overhauled since the 1970s.

The multi-phased project required a complete closure of the runway and airport. To minimize impacts to the community and the local economy (JAC is estimated to contribute $2.4 billion to Wyoming’s economy), airport
leadership laid out an ambitious timeline of completing the project in less than three months. Elwood and his team not only met their timeline, completing the runway reconstruction in 78 days, they did so under budget and while making significant improvements to the commercial terminal during the closure. Crews recycled tens of thousands of cubic yards of previous pavement and subbase materials to reduce emissions and fuel use from offsite hauling activities.

The following year, the Airport Board assumed operations of the airport’s only fixed-base operator (FBO). In 2025, the airport completed construction of a new 30,000 square foot building housing airport administration offices and the FBO terminal. The new building is the most sustainable airport facility to date and utilizes a geothermal HVAC system and energy efficient lighting.

In 2025, JAC became the first airport in the world to be certified an International Dark Sky Place. This
unprecedented recognition was the result of a sophisticated lighting management plan that required the replacement of hundreds of lighting fixtures on the landside of the airport while continuing to meet FAA lighting standards airside. These measures not only reduce light pollution, but they also help protect national park
wildlife that rely on the natural nocturnal environment to thrive. Come stargaze in our parking lot!

In addition to noise abatement measures included in the airport’s use agreement with the Department of the
Interior, JAC established an innovative Fly Quiet program designed to encourage operators to fly quieter
aircraft, utilize preferred arrival and departure procedures and respect the airport’s voluntary noise curfew.

Behind every innovation, achievement and exceptional passenger experience is the dedicated group of professionals who are committed to excellence and are proud to ride for the JAC brand. The airport
team has adopted the mantra of “People Helping People” and it is reflected in how they interact with the public and with each other. We know we are fortunate to live and work in such an extraordinary place. We recognize that with that privilege comes responsibility. We hope you will share that sense of stewardship when you find yourself traveling through Jackson Hole Airport.

Q&A With the Airport Director: James C. Chrisley, C.M., ACE

�Թ��ֳ� Staff — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:38:20 GMT

James C. Chrisley, C.M., ACE, was appointed director of aviation for Clark County, Nev., in September 2025, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience across commercial, general aviation and military airport operations both nationally and internationally. In his current role, Chrisley oversees one of the most dynamic aviation systems in the U.S., managing five airports: Harry Reid International, Henderson Executive, North Las Vegas, Jean Sport Aviation Center and Overton-Perkins Field.

Investing in People: How the �Թ��ֳ� Foundation is Shaping the Future Through Education

gwen.basaria@aaae.org (Gwen Basaria) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:37:28 GMT

Since its founding in 1989, the �Թ��ֳ� foundation has awarded more than 3,780 scholarships, providing more than $7.8 million in educational support. For the 2026-2027 academic year alone, the foundation awarded 124 scholarships totaling $515,500, empowering students across the country to advance their education and career goals.

A Reflection on the Past Five Years of Advanced Air Mobility

Zach.Schuman@Woolpert.com (Zach Schuman, C.M.) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:37:09 GMT

Over the past five years, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) has advanced from research and development to planning to implementation and operation, reaching a major inflection point this year with the launch of the AAM and eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.

Upfront - Aug./Sept. 2026

�Թ��ֳ� Staff — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:55:54 GMT

Southwest Airlines Begins First Ever Service to Anchorage

ANC

Southwest Airlines has begun its first ever service to Ted Stevens Anchorage International in Alaska. The carrier will offer twice daily seasonal service from Anchorage to both Denver International and Harry Reid International in Las Vegas through September 15.

Flavors & Finds - Aug./Sept. 2026

�Թ��ֳ� Staff — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:55:33 GMT

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Plans Largest Ever Concessions Redevelopment

MSP

The Metropolitan Airports Commission has announced that Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP) will undergo its most significant concessions redevelopment in more than a decade to open 47 new venues across its two terminals by 2029. A request for proposals has been released outlining the redevelopment of 80,000 square feet — 40 percent of MSP’s total concessions program — for food, beverage, retail, news and convenience and spa venues.

Photo Courtesy: MAC

Terminal Trends - Aug./Sept. 2026

�Թ��ֳ� Staff — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:55:17 GMT

Denver International to Add Pedestrian Walkways Connecting Concourses

DEN

Denver International plans to construct pedestrian walkways between its three concourses. The Colorado airport
will repurpose portions of its existing underground baggage tunnels for the pedestrian walkways, which were
determined to be the best alternative option to the train for passengers to travel between Concourse A to B and
B to C. Project details are being finalized, with construction expected to begin in 2027.

Why Columbia Metropolitan Airport Entered the Ground Handling Business

r.kreulen@flycae.com (Ryan Kreulen, A.A.E.) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:01:48 GMT

In 2024 Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) began an ambitious and somewhat unique plan to generate additional revenue while simultaneously increasing total cargo tonnage coming through the airport. The plan was to get into the ground handling business.

Q&A With the Airport Director: Wendy Reiter

�Թ��ֳ� Staff — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:01:17 GMT

The Port of Seattle named Wendy Reiter as managing director of Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), effective January 7, 2026. A veteran leader at SEA and longtime partner to key federal aviation agencies, Reiter previously led security, fire and emergency preparedness for SEA. Over the last 35 years she has held key management roles with airports and airlines in Seattle and in the Midwest.

Preparing Airport Terminals for the Future

mbutler@cscos.com (Mike Butler) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:52:47 GMT

Airport terminals have always evolved in response to new aircraft and changing airline market conditions. The way terminals are built and how people move through them depends on the types of aircraft at the gates and the number of passengers arriving and departing. For many years, both aircraft types and passenger growth remained relatively stable.