Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport

Taken on a flight from Seattle to Anchorage in October 2007.
Source: Anchorage International Airport and Cook Inlet


IATA: ANC ICAO: PANC FAA LID: ANC

Airport type	Public
Owner	State of Alaska DOT&PF
Serves	Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Hub for	Passenger Alaska Airlines Cargo Atlas Air FedEx Express DHL Aviation UPS Airlines
Elevation AMSL	151 ft / 46 m
Coordinates	61°10′27″N 149°59′54″WCoordinates: 61°10′27″N 149°59′54″W
Website	www.dot.state.ak.us/anc/

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (IATA: ANC, ICAO: PANC, FAA LID: ANC) is a major airport in the U.S. state of Alaska, located 5 miles (8 km) southwest of downtown Anchorage. The airport is named for Ted Stevens, a U.S. senator from Alaska in office from 1968 to 2009. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a medium-hub primary commercial service facility.

The airport was renamed in 2000 by the Alaska Legislature to honor then long-standing U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. Stevens survived a crash at the airport in 1978 that also killed his then-wife.

In October 2018, Alaska Governor Bill Walker and Heilongjiang Province Governor Wang Wentao announced plans to connect Anchorage and Harbin Taiping International Airport with year-round, nonstop flights as early as summer 2019.

On November 30, 2018, the airport suffered minor damage and was temporarily closed following a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in the area. In June 2019, American Airlines switched the Boeing 737-800 on their seasonal route to Phoenix with the Airbus A321neo making them the first and only airline as of July 2019 to use the A321neo at Anchorage.

During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the airport was briefly the busiest in the United States due to sustained volume of cargo flights through Alaska while passenger travel sharply decreased in other American airports.

Passenger traffic

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport’s passenger traffic hovered around the five million mark between 1998 and 2008, apart from in 2002 when the airport suffered a 13% drop in traffic. Fairbanks and Juneau are the next busiest airports though neither managed more than half a million passengers last year. Anchorage traffic peaks in June, July and August when passenger numbers are twice as high as between October and April. Most major U.S. passenger carriers serve ANC, with the majority of passenger flight operations by Alaska Airlines to and from Seattle (an average of 20 flights per day) and Fairbanks (5-7 flights per day).

Anchorage is also envisioned as a future connecting point for air traffic to the Russian Far East. During the summer season 2008, there was one weekly flight to Russia by Vladivostok Air. Yakutia Airlines resumed summer seasonal service to Russia in 2012. Many of Alaska’s North Slope workers live either in Anchorage or elsewhere in the Lower 48 states and fly through the airport to their jobs in Prudhoe Bay.

As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 2,599,313 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 2,282,666 enplanements in 2009, and 2,342,310 in 2010.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200 registered N554NW at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Operating Flight 1384 to Minneapolis
Source: Sunnya343

International cargo hub

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is a major cargo hub.[2 As of 2015, it ranked as the fourth busiest airport in the world by cargo traffic, after Hong Kong, Memphis, and Shanghai–Pudong.

FedEx Express and UPS Airlines operate major hubs at Anchorage International for cargo heading to and from the Far East. NWA Cargo used to operate a major hub at the airport until December 28, 2009 when it closed all operations for Northwest Cargo at all airports. FedEx Express is the airport’s largest cargo facility and can handle as many as 13,400 packages per hour, employing more than 1,200 people and providing a full customs clearance system. United Parcel Service’s hub handles about 5,000 parcels per hour. Both companies forecast a large growth in traffic over the next several years as trade with China and other Far East countries increases and plan to expand their Anchorage facilities comparatively. The United States Postal Service also operates a large sectional center facility (SCF) for the 995xx ZIP Codes. It processes mail and parcels headed to and from all Alaska cities.

Runway layout at ANC
Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Facilities and aircraft

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport covers an area of 4,608 acres (1,865 ha) at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m) above mean sea level. It has three runways: 7L/25R is 10,600 by 150 feet (3,231 x 46 m) with an asphalt surface; 7R/25L is 12,400 by 200 feet (3,780 x 61 m) with an asphalt/concrete surface; 15/33 is 10,865 by 200 feet (3,312 x 61 m) with an asphalt surface. The airport also has one asphalt helipad that is 100 by 100 feet (30 x 30 m).

For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2019, the airport had 261,961 aircraft operations, an average of 718 per day: 38% scheduled commercial, 32% general aviation, 29% air taxi, and <1% military. At that time there were 109 aircraft based at this airport: 61% multi-engine, 14% helicopter, 15% jet, and 10% single-engine.

The FAA projects operations to increase to 334,279 by 2030, or 918.882 operations per day.

Terminals

The South Terminal (domestic) serves Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Condor (Departures), Delta Air Lines, Icelandair (Departures), Sun Country, and United Airlines. All regional intrastate carriers also use the South Terminal.

The South terminal contains 3 concourses: Concourse A, Concourse B, and Concourse C. The area of what is today Concourse C stood the original airport terminal constructed in the 1950s. A hexagonal satellite terminal was constructed across the main structure shortly afterward. In 1969, the terminal underwent a major expansion, forming what is today Concourse B – notable new features included a curved arrival/departure structure with an elevated departure ramp for vehicles. The sweeping structure was designed to connect with the existing hexagonal satellite, now the end of Concourse B. In 1985, Concourse A was added. In 2009, This portion of the South terminal received seismic and aesthetic upgrades.

Concourse C was completely rebuilt in 2004, design by McCool Carlson Green Architects, while Concourses A and B were built in 1985 and 1969 respectively and renovated in 2009. Architects HNTB and RIM Architects performed the architectural work for A/B Concourse. The south terminal also contains two L gates, numbered L1 and L2. These gates are outside security on the lower level and adjacent to Concourse A.

The North Terminal (international), designed by McCool Carlson Green Architects, serves Condor, Eurowings, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Icelandair, Yakutia Airlines, all international seasonal charter flights, and military flights. In addition to these airlines, a few cargo airlines use the north side of the terminal for parking while their aircraft have small problems that need maintenance for a day or so. This terminal was built in 1982.

Airlines and destinations

Roughly thirty-seven destinations are accessible from ANC via nonstop or direct flights, including destinations in 14 U.S. states and the countries of Canada, Germany, Iceland, and Russia. U.S. mainline carriers operate a combination of year-round and seasonal service to the lower 48 states and Hawaii. Foreign carriers operate seasonal flights and seasonal charters to Canada, Asia, and Europe, the latter two sold as bundled services.

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Air Canada	Seasonal: Vancouver
Alaska Airlines	Adak, Bethel, Cold Bay, Cordova, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Honolulu, Juneau, Kenai, King Salmon, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Los Angeles, Nome, Portland (OR), Prudhoe Bay, Seattle/Tacoma, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Utqiagvik Seasonal: Chicago–O’Hare, Kahului, Kailua–Kona, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, San Francisco
Allegiant Air	Seasonal: Bellingham
American Airlines	Seasonal: Chicago–O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles
Condor	Seasonal: Frankfurt
Delta Air Lines	Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle/Tacoma Seasonal: Atlanta, Salt Lake City
Grant Aviation	Kenai
Icelandair	Seasonal: Reykjavik–Keflavík
Reeve Air Alaska	Gulkana
Sun Country Airlines	Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
United Airlines	Denver Seasonal: Chicago–O’Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco
Yakutia Airlines	Seasonal: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Cargo

Airlines	Destinations
AirBridgeCargo	Amsterdam, Chicago–O’Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Moscow–Sheremetyevo, Shanghai–Pudong
Air China Cargo	Beijing–Capital, Chicago–O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Shanghai–Pudong
Alaska Air Cargo	Adak, Barrow, Bethel, Cordova, Deadhorse, Dillingham, Juneau, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Seattle/Tacoma
Alaska Central Express	Aniak, Bethel, Cold Bay, Cordova, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor/Unalaska, Iliamna, Juneau, King Salmon, Kodiak, Port Heiden, Sand Point, Sitka, St. George, St. Paul
Amazon Air	Seattle/Tacoma
Asiana Cargo	Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York–JFK, Seoul–Incheon
Cargolux	Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York–JFK
Cathay Pacific Cargo	Atlanta, Chicago–O’Hare, Columbus–Rickenbacker, Dallas/Fort Worth, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, New York–JFK, San Francisco, Toronto–Pearson
China Airlines Cargo	Atlanta, Chicago–O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston–Intercontinental, Osaka–Kansai, Los Angeles, Miami, New York–JFK, San Francisco, Taipei–Taoyuan
China Cargo Airlines	Atlanta, Chicago–O’Hare, Shanghai–Pudong
China Southern Cargo	Chicago–O’Hare, Guangzhou,[50] Shanghai–Pudong, Zhengzhou
DHL Aviation	Charleston (SC), Chicago–O’Hare, Cincinnati, Hong Kong, Huntsville, Los Angeles, Miami, Nagoya–Centrair, New York–JFK, Osaka–Kansai, Seoul–Incheon, Shanghai–Pudong, Singapore, Tokyo–Narita
Etihad Cargo	Hanoi, Rickenbacker
EVA Air Cargo	Atlanta, Chicago–O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York–JFK, Osaka–Kansai, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Taipei–Taoyuan
Everts Air Cargo	Bethel, Dillingham, Emmonak, Galena, King Salmon, Kotzebue, Nome
FedEx Express	Guam, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Indianapolis, Memphis, Newark, Oakland, Osaka–Kansai, Seattle/Tacoma, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tokyo–Narita, Toronto-Pearson
FedEx Feeder	Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Kenai, Kodiak, Sitka
Kalitta Air	Chicago O’Hare, Hefei, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong
Korean Air Cargo	Chicago–O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Guadalajara, Halifax, Miami, New York–JFK, Seoul–Incheon, Toronto–Pearson
Lynden Air Cargo	Bethel, Kotzebue, Nome
National Airlines (N8)	Chicago-O’Hare, Fairfield, Fussa, Los Angeles, Nagoya–Centrair, Shanghai–Pudong, Tulsa
Nippon Cargo Airlines	Chicago–O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York–JFK, Tokyo–Narita
Northern Air Cargo	Aniak, Barrow, Bethel, Deadhorse, Dillingham, Nome, Red Dog, Unalakleet
Qantas Freight	Chicago–O’Hare, New York–JFK, Shanghai–Pudong
Singapore Airlines Cargo	Cincinnati, Dallas/Fort Worth, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Nanjing, Singapore, Xiamen
Sky Lease Cargo	Changsha, Chicago O’Hare, Miami, Zhengzhou
Suparna Airlines	Chicago O’Hare, Nanjing, Shanghai-Pudong, Zhengzhou
TransNorthern Aviation	Kenai, Kodiak
UPS Airlines	Chicago/Rockford, Hong Kong, Louisville, Newark, Ontario, Osaka–Kansai, Portland (OR), Seoul–Incheon, Seattle-Boeing, Shanghai–Pudong, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tokyo-Narita
Western Global Airlines	Dallas Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Louisville International Airport, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong

Alaska Airlines, Boeing 737-490, N767AS. Taken from a view point near Anchorage International Airport, Alaska in January 2008.
Source: Alaska Airlines 737 lifting off from Anchorage

Ground transport

Inter-terminal

A shuttle bus runs approximately every 15 minutes between the North and South terminals and the employee and long-term parking lots. A land-side inter-terminal walkway was completed in 2009. Air-side connections between the sterile areas of each terminal are not available.

To/from airport

Route 40 of the Anchorage People Mover bus system serves the airport’s North and South terminals every 15 minutes from 6:00am to 7:30pm on weekdays and every 30 minutes until 2:00am, as well as service every 30 minutes all day on Saturday and Sunday, connecting it with the downtown Transit Center.

Taxi queues are available in front of each terminal. Courtesy vans and other ground transportation options pick up from designated areas in front of each terminal.

Major national rental car chains are represented in an on-site consolidated rental car facility attached to the South terminal.

There is a rail station for the Alaska Railroad. It is only available during the summer season for cruise ship service only.

Renovations

Renovations began on the A and B concourses in fall 2006. These renovations are designed to bring the older portions into compliance with current seismic, heating, ventilation, electrical and safety codes, and also include new baggage handling systems and renovations to the interior of the concourses. Since the completion of the construction, all domestic flights are operated out of the South Terminal.

Commissioned art pieces

The piece consists of nine towers of glass, collectively adding up to 42 meters (130 ft) of in span and reaching to 8 meters (26 ft) at its highest point. The series of panels are inspired by Alaska’s immensely rugged landscape of glaciers and mountains. The ambiguous images embedded within the sculpture address Alaska’s continual balancing of the forces of technology with the vast powers of the natural world.

Programs

The airport features an innovative customer service program, which partners with most on-site (and some nearby) vendors and concessionaires and aims to promote a positive image of the airport and the State of Alaska in the minds of travelers. This volunteer, self-funded committee mystery shops at partnering companies and provides awards of cash, free covered parking, and donated prizes to winning employees.

Northwest Airlines Cargo, Boeing 747-251B(SF), N631NW. Taken from a view point near Anchorage International Airport, Alaska in January 2008.
Source: Northwest Cargo 747 taxiing at Anchorage

Accidents and incidents

On October 1, 1970, Douglas R4D-6 N47 of the Federal Aviation Administration crashed shortly after take-off and was destroyed in the subsequent fire. The aircraft was operating a local training flight. Both crews were killed.
On November 27, 1970, Douglas DC-8-63 of Capitol Airlines crashed on takeoff from Anchorage killing 47 of 229 passengers and crew on board, operating as Capitol Flight 3/26.
On January 13, 1977, JAL Cargo Flight 8054, a McDonnell-Douglas DC-8-62F, crashed shortly after takeoff with a cargo of live beef cattle for delivery to Tokyo, Japan. The three crew members and the two cargo handlers aboard the aircraft died in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was a stall that resulted from the pilot’s control inputs aggravated by airframe icing while the pilot was under the influence of alcohol.
On December 4, 1978, a Learjet 25C en route from Juneau crashed upon landing. Onboard were Ann Stevens, wife of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens; lobbyist and former Alaska Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development (and future U.S. Ambassador to Brazil) Langhorne A. Motley, prominent Anchorage lawyer Joseph Rudd, and three others. The party was traveling from the second-term inauguration of Alaska governor Jay Hammond to an Anchorage fundraiser organized by Motley. Motley and Ted Stevens were the only survivors.
On June 8, 1983, Reeve Aleutian Airways Flight 8’s propeller separated from the Lockheed L-188 Electra and tore a hole in the fuselage over the Pacific Ocean causing explosive decompression and loss of control. The pilots managed to land the aircraft safely at Anchorage and all 15 passengers and crew survived. Since the propeller fell into the sea the cause of the separation is undetermined.
On March 31, 1993, a Boeing 747–121, Japan Airlines Flight 46E, operated by Evergreen International Airlines, departing Anchorage for Chicago, suffered a complete loss of the number 2 engine pylon at 2,000 ft after encountering extreme turbulence after takeoff. The aircraft then experienced an uncommanded left bank of approximately 50 degrees. The flight crew successfully landed the aircraft back at Anchorage International, to discover the number 2 engine and all of the leading edge of the wing between the number 1 and 2 engines had been torn away.
On October 9, 2002, a Boeing 747-451, Northwest Airlines Flight 85 en route from Detroit to Tokyo, suffered a lower rudder hard over. While flying over the Bering Sea the aircraft abruptly went into a 35 through 40-degree left bank after the lower rudder had swung left 17° and hydraulic failure caused it to be stuck in place. Captain Frank Geib and First Officer Mike Fagan were at the controls at the time, having just taken over from Senior Captain John Hanson and First Officer David Smith. Geib declared an emergency and turned the aircraft back towards Anchorage. Hanson had returned to the cockpit and soon took over the controls. He and Fagan then flew the aircraft for over an hour before successfully landing in Anchorage. In order to steer the aircraft, they had to use asymmetric engine thrust or varying input into the engines as they were unable to use the ailerons at the time. No passengers or crew were injured, but the incident resulted in an airworthiness directive to prevent the possibility of a future accident.

Source: wikipedia