Alaska International Airport System (AIAS)

What is AIAS?

The Alaska International Airport System (AIAS) comprises Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) which includes Lake Hood Seaplane Base (LHD) and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), serving as vital hubs for international and domestic airlines. Together, these airports connect Alaska with the United States, Europe, and Asia, while also supporting extensive passenger and cargo services. AIAS handles nearly 6 million passengers annually and plays a significant role in the local economy, accounting for 1 in 7 jobs in Anchorage and 1 in 8 jobs in Fairbanks.

Anchorage, the larger of the two, is the 4th largest cargo airport in the world by cargo throughput and ranks 2nd in the United States for landed weight. Equipped with advanced landing systems and modern terminal facilities, both ANC and FAI serve as alternates for each other, capable of accommodating any aircraft, anytime. Fairbanks, located north of the Alaska Range, acts as the primary hub for Northern Alaska, with both airports providing essential gateways to Alaska, Denali National Park, and beyond. Separated by Denali, the highest peak in North America, the airports benefit from distinct weather patterns, ensuring that they are never closed simultaneously, offering airlines a reliable place to land whether crossing the Pacific, Atlantic, or the continental U.S.

History of AIAS

The Alaska International Airport System has its origins in 1948 when the U.S. Congress authorized the construction of ANC and FAI, with commercial operations beginning in 1951. Following Alaska's statehood in 1959, the Alaska Statehood Act mandated that the airports be transferred from federal to state ownership at no cost, though the State did not assume management until 1960. The Alaska State Legislature officially created the Alaska International Airport System (AIAS) in 1961, and it has since operated as a state-owned enterprise fund under the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF).

Photo by Rebekah Cadigan, Alaska DOT&PF

 

Questions or comments contact AIAS Staff

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