Jackson Hole Airport

{{short description|Airport in Teton County, Wyoming, United States}}

{{Infobox airport

| name = Jackson Hole Airport

| image = Jackson Hole Airport Logo.png

| image-width = 250

| image2 = Aerial image of the Jackson Hole Airport airport.jpg

| image2-width = 250

| IATA = JAC

| ICAO = KJAC

| FAA = JAC

| type = Public

| owner = Jackson Hole Airport Board

| operator =

| city-served = Jackson Hole

| location =

| elevation-f = 6,451

| elevation-m = 1,966

| website = {{URL|jacksonholeairport.com}}

| coordinates = {{coord|43|36|26|N|110|44|16|W|region:US-WY|display=inline,title}}

| image_map = KJAC Airport Diagram.svg

| image_mapsize = 200

| image_map_caption = FAA airport diagram

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 9

| mapframe-wikidata = yes

| r1-number = 1/19

| r1-length-f = 6,300

| r1-length-m = 1,920

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| stat-year = 2024

| stat1-header = Total Passengers

| stat1-data = 1,055,176

| stat2-header = Aircraft operations

| stat2-data = 32,999

| stat3-header = Based aircraft (2023)

| stat3-data = 21

| footnotes = Sources: Airport website,[http://www.jacksonholeairport.com/ Jackson Hole Airport], official website Bureau of Transportation Statistics,{{cite web|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E|title=Jackson, WY: Jackson Hole (JAC)|publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics|date=December 2019|access-date=December 6, 2021}} and Federal Aviation Administration{{FAA-airport|ID=JAC|use=PU|own=PU|site=27813.*A}}, effective February 20, 2025.https://aspm.faa.gov/opsnet/sys/Airport.asp {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

}}

Jackson Hole Airport {{airport codes|JAC|KJAC|JAC}} is a public airport located {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Jackson in Teton County, Wyoming, U.S. In 2019, it was the busiest airport in Wyoming by passenger traffic with 455,000 passengers.{{cite web|url=https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/the_hole_scroll/after-another-record-year-airport-forecasts-slower-growth/article_a1c0c07d-d99f-5925-8649-2a96cc6199d7.html|title=After another record year, airport forecasts slower growth|work=Jackson Hole News & Guide|date=26 January 2020 }} During peak summer and winter seasons, Jackson Hole offers nonstop airline service from up to 15 destinations across the United States. The airport is served year-round by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines and seasonally by Sun Country Airlines.

Jackson Hole Airport is the only commercial airport in the United States located inside a national park- specifically, Grand Teton National Park.[https://www.jacksonholeairport.com/about-jac/history Jackson Hole Airport website]. Retrieved February 19, 2019. (The Provincetown Municipal Airport in Massachusetts is on land leased from the National Park Service, but it is not in a national park.)

History

The airport was created in the 1930s as the best place to put an airport in Teton County. The airport was designated as part of a national monument in 1943 and merged with Grand Teton National Park in 1950. The runway was extended to its current length in 1959. President John F. Kennedy landed in an Army helicopter here on September 25, 1963. During the 1960s and 1970s an extension of the runway to {{convert|8000|ft|m}} was considered to accommodate jet aircraft, but the National Park Service successfully opposed the plan. In the late 1970s jets began using the existing runway. The area is noise sensitive and the airport allows no jets louder than stage III. The airport is an important habitat for the rare sage grouse during its mating season.{{cite web|url=http://www.jacksonholeairport.com/administration/#airport-history|title=Airport Administration - Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), Jackson Hole, Wyoming}}

The original Frontier Airlines was the first carrier to serve Jackson Hole, starting in 1959 with routes to Denver, Salt Lake City, and Billings using Douglas DC-3s, and later the Convair 340 and 580. This was eventually upgraded to the Boeing 737-200 series aircraft shortly before the airline shut down in 1986 following the Airline Deregulation Act. Other than some commuter airlines that briefly served the airport, Frontier had the only service until Western Airlines began flights to Salt Lake City in 1983 using Boeing 737-200s. Since that time, the airport has also seen service from Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Horizon Air, Big Sky Airlines, and Southwest Airlines in the past as well as many other commuter carriers.Official Airline guide

The airport once had an unusual terminal resembling a pioneer log cabin. The terminal was completely rebuilt between 2009 and 2014. The new terminal, designed by Gensler,{{cite web|url=http://architecturelab.net/2011/07/jackson-hole-airport-terminal-expansion-wyomingusa-by-gensler/|title=Jackson Hole Airport Terminal Expansion / Gensler|work=Architecture Lab|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001071631/http://architecturelab.net/2011/07/jackson-hole-airport-terminal-expansion-wyomingusa-by-gensler/ |archive-date=2011-10-01}} still blends with the unique surroundings of the national park with exposed wood, fireplaces, and nature photography throughout. The park limited the height of the terminal building to {{convert|18|ft}}.{{cite web|title=Jackson Hole Airport|url=http://www.apawood.org/designerscircle-jackson-hole|publisher=APA – The Engineered Wood Association|access-date=26 October 2016}} The terminal design received an American Institute of Architects Honor Award in 2014. In the spring of 2021, construction began on relocating the pre-security Café to baggage claim. This relocation created additional check-in counter space for Allegiant Airlines. In 2021, Allegiant left the airport due to small flight loads and the inability to reliably turn a profit at the airport.{{cite web|title=Allegiant Airlines begins service to four destinations|date=3 June 2021|url=https://jacksonholeradio.com/2021/06/allegiant-airlines-begins-service-to-four-destinations/|publisher=Jackson Hole Radio|access-date=30 November 2021}} The next phase of construction will modernize and expand the TSA checkpoint and give more gate space to American Airlines. In the spring of 2022 when the airport is closed, construction will commence on rebuilding Jedediah's restaurant and adding two more gates.{{Update after|2024|8|23|reason=text refers to 2022 in the future}}

Facilities

File:Jackson Hole Airport ramp.JPG{{More citations needed section|date=October 2024}}

Jackson Hole Airport covers {{convert|533|acre|abbr=on}}; its one runway, 1/19, is {{convert|6,300|x|150|ft|m|abbr=on}} asphalt.{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/JAC/Jackson-Hole-Airport|title=JAC airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 18, 2022}}

Jackson Hole Airport is noise sensitive and bans older, noisier aircraft with stage-II engines.

Due to a short runway at high altitude, the largest aircraft seen regularly at the Jackson Hole Airport is the Boeing 757-200 operated by Delta Air Lines on flights to Atlanta. Other aircraft typically seen include the Airbus A319, A320, Embraer 175, and the Bombardier CRJ700. Due to these conditions, Jackson Hole Airport does not typically see stretched versions of aircraft such as the Airbus A321 or Boeing 737-900, as they become weight restricted when taking off.

The airport currently{{when|date=February 2022}} has eleven hard stand gates and three baggage carousels. Jackson Hole Airport does not have jet bridges so passengers board aircraft via ramps. The airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shop post security as well as a cafe by the baggage claim area. The airport is served by Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and National rental car companies. Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty offer shuttle service from the airport to in-town rental cars.

Jackson Hole Airport is one of 16 airports that employs its security screeners under contract with the Transportation Security Administration's Screening Partnership Program. Screeners are employed by the Jackson Hole Airport Board rather than TSA.

The airport has an antler arch at the entrance to terminal from the taxiway similar to the one in the town square.

Airlines and destinations

{{Airport-dest-list

| Alaska Airlines |Seasonal: San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma

|American Airlines | Dallas/Fort Worth
Seasonal: Charlotte,{{cite web |title=American NS24 Charlotte Domestic Routes Addition |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231228-aans24clt |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=28 December 2023}} Chicago–O'Hare

| American Eagle | Seasonal: Los Angeles

| Delta Air Lines | Salt Lake City
Seasonal: Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paulhttps://news.delta.com/delta-fly-top-us-ski-destinations-lax-msp-and-more} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

| Delta Connection | Salt Lake City

| {{nowrap|Sun Country Airlines}} | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul

| United Airlines | Denver
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco

| United Express | Denver
Seasonal: Los Angeles}}

class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"
Destinations map
{{Location map+ \|United_States \|width=1000 \|float=center \|caption=Destinations from Jackson Hole Airport {{font color \| red \| Red}} = Year-round destination {{font color \| green \| Green }} = Seasonal destination {{font color \| blue \| Blue }} = Future destination \|places= {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=43.6084 \|long=-110.7367 \|position=left \|label= Jackson \|caption=\|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg\|marksize=15 }} {{Location map~ \|mark = Green pog.svg \|United_States \|lat=41.978611 \|long=-87.904722 \|position=left \|label=Chicago–O'Hare\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7}} {{Location map~ \|mark = Green pog.svg \|United_States \|lat=33.941381\|long=-118.408619\|position=bottom \|label={{nowrap\|Los Angeles}}\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=32.896944 \|long=-97.038056 \|position=left \|label=Dallas/Fort Worth\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7}} {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=47.450165\|long=-122.309176 \|position=right \|label=Seattle/Tacoma\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|mark = Green pog.svg \|United_States \|lat=33.63666 \|long=-84.428056 \|position=right \|label=Atlanta \|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|mark = Green pog.svg \|United_States \|lat=29.990140\|long=-95.336792 \|position=right\|label=Houston–Intercontinental\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=39.855193\|long=-104.673849\|position=right\|label=Denver\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=40.789836\|long=-111.979632\|position=bottom\|label={{nowrap\|Salt Lake City}}\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|mark = Green pog.svg \|United_States \|lat=32.733611\|long=-117.189722 \|position=bottom\|label=San Diego\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|mark = Green pog.svg\|United_States \|lat=44.884690\|long=-93.222430\|position=left\|label=Minneapolis/St. Paul\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|mark = Green pog.svg \|United_States \|lat=40.6925\|long=-74.168611\|position=left\|label=Newark\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=37.618889\|long=-122.375\|position=right\|label=San Francisco\|label_size=80 \|marksize=7 }} }}

class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"

Destinations map

{{Location map+ |United_States |width=1000 |float=center

|caption=Destinations from Jackson Hole Airport
{{font color | red | Red}} = Year-round destination
{{font color | green | Green }} = Seasonal destination
{{font color | blue | Blue }} = Future destination

|places=

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=43.6084 |long=-110.7367 |position=left |label=

Jackson

|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=41.978611 |long=-87.904722 |position=left |label=Chicago–O'Hare|label_size=80 |marksize=7}}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=33.941381|long=-118.408619|position=bottom |label={{nowrap|Los Angeles}}|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.896944 |long=-97.038056 |position=left |label=Dallas/Fort Worth|label_size=80 |marksize=7}}

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=47.450165|long=-122.309176 |position=right |label=Seattle/Tacoma|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=33.63666 |long=-84.428056 |position=right |label=Atlanta |label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=29.990140|long=-95.336792 |position=right|label=Houston–Intercontinental|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.855193|long=-104.673849|position=right|label=Denver|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=40.789836|long=-111.979632|position=bottom|label={{nowrap|Salt Lake City}}|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=32.733611|long=-117.189722 |position=bottom|label=San Diego|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg|United_States |lat=44.884690|long=-93.222430|position=left|label=Minneapolis/St. Paul|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=40.6925|long=-74.168611|position=left|label=Newark|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=37.618889|long=-122.375|position=right|label=San Francisco|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}

}}

Statistics

In the year ending December 31, 2019 the airport had 27,325 aircraft operations, average 75 per day: 37% general aviation, 29% air taxi, 33% airline and 1% military. 21 aircraft at the time were based at the airport: 17 single-engine, 2 multi-engine, and 2 jet.

=Top destinations=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" \|+ Busiest domestic routes from KJAC (September 2022 - August 2023){{cite web \|author1=Bureau of Transportation Statistics \|title=RITA BTS Transtats \|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=WNP&Nv42146_anzr=Wnpx510,%20jl:%20Wnpx510%20U1yr&pn44vr4=SNPgf \|website=transtats.bts.gov \|publisher=United States Department of Transportation \|access-date=December 13, 2023}}
Rank ! City ! Passengers ! Carriers
1 \| Denver, Colorado \| 124,000 \| United
2 \| Salt Lake City, Utah \| 107,000 \| Delta
3 \| Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas \| 65,000 \| American
4 \| Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois \| 59,000 \| American, United
5 \| Atlanta, Georgia \| 32,000 \| Delta
6 \| Los Angeles, California \| 23,000 \| American, Delta, United
7 \| San Francisco, California \| 19,000 \| Alaska, United
8 \| Newark, New Jersey \| 16,000 \| United
9 \| Seattle/Tacoma, Washington \| 15,000 \| Alaska
10 \| Houston, Texas \| 11,000 \| United

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"

|+ Busiest domestic routes from KJAC
(September 2022 - August 2023){{cite web |author1=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |title=RITA BTS Transtats |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=WNP&Nv42146_anzr=Wnpx510,%20jl:%20Wnpx510%20U1yr&pn44vr4=SNPgf |website=transtats.bts.gov |publisher=United States Department of Transportation |access-date=December 13, 2023}}

Rank

! City

! Passengers

! Carriers

| Denver, Colorado

| 124,000

| United

| Salt Lake City, Utah

| 107,000

| Delta

| Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

| 65,000

| American

| Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois

| 59,000

| American, United

| Atlanta, Georgia

| 32,000

| Delta

| Los Angeles, California

| 23,000

| American, Delta, United

| San Francisco, California

| 19,000

| Alaska, United

| Newark, New Jersey

| 16,000

| United

| Seattle/Tacoma, Washington

| 15,000

| Alaska

| Houston, Texas

| 11,000

| United

=Airline market share=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" \|+ Largest airlines at JAC (September 2022 – August 2023){{cite web\|title=RITA BTS Transtats - JAC\|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=JAC&carrier=FACTS\|website=www.transtats.bts.gov\|access-date=December 13, 2023}}
Rank ! Airline ! Passengers ! Share
1 \| United Airlines \| 374,000 \| 38.23%
2 \| Delta Air Lines \| 259,000 \| 26.53%
3 \| American Airlines \| 185,000 \| 18.91%
4 \| SkyWest Airlines \| 127,000 \| 12.97%
5 \| Alaska Airlines \| 28,000 \| 2.84%
— \| Other \| 5,000 \| 0.53%

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"

|+ Largest airlines at JAC
(September 2022 – August 2023){{cite web|title=RITA BTS Transtats - JAC|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=JAC&carrier=FACTS|website=www.transtats.bts.gov|access-date=December 13, 2023}}

Rank

! Airline

! Passengers

! Share

| United Airlines

| 374,000

| 38.23%

| Delta Air Lines

| 259,000

| 26.53%

| American Airlines

| 185,000

| 18.91%

| SkyWest Airlines

| 127,000

| 12.97%

| Alaska Airlines

| 28,000

| 2.84%

—

| Other

| 5,000

| 0.53%

Accidents and incidents

On September 11, 1988, a Snowy Butte Aviation Beechcraft Super King Air nosedived and crashed during a nighttime take off due to pilot fatigue and spatial disorientation. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed.{{ASN accident|id=19880911-0|title=N1283|access-date= September 18, 2022}}
On August 17, 1996, a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess AFB, Texas was unable to clear Sheep Mountain, crashing into it and killing all nine aboard. The aircraft was supporting the United States Secret Service as part of visit by President Bill Clinton to the area.{{cite news|last=Jones II|first=Roy A.|title=Dyess C-130 crashes; no survivors|url=http://www.texnews.com/news/crash081896.html|access-date=22 January 2011|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|date=18 August 1996|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614100758/http://www.texnews.com/news/crash081896.html|archive-date=14 June 2011}}
On December 20, 2000, actress and resident Sandra Bullock survived the crash of a chartered business jet at Jackson Hole Airport. The aircraft hit a snowbank instead of the runway, shearing off the nose gear and nose cone and damaging the wings.{{cite web|title=Plane Crash Involving Actress Sandra Bullock|url=http://www.airsafe.com/events/celebs/bullock.htm|publisher=AirSafe.com|access-date=22 January 2011|date=16 November 2007}}
On June 27, 2005, John T. Walton, son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, died when his CGS Hawk Arrow homebuilt aircraft (registered as an "experimental aircraft" under FAA regulations) that he was piloting crashed in Jackson, Wyoming. Walton's plane crashed at 12:20 p.m. local time (1820 GMT) shortly after taking off from Jackson Hole Airport.{{cite web|date=31 October 2006|title=DEN05FA100|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/15/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20050705X00921&key=1|access-date=22 January 2011|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|id=DEN05FA100}}