Cold Bay Airport
Cold Bay, United States

Cold Bay Airport
Remote Alaska Peninsula gateway serving Cold Bay's strategic location.
- ›Cold Bay Airport has one of the longest runways in Alaska, stretching approximately 10,400 feet, built during World War II.
- ›The airport was constructed as Fort Randall Army Airfield during WWII and served as a key strategic base in the Aleutian Campaign.
- ›Cold Bay has a population of fewer than 100 people, making its airport infrastructure disproportionately large relative to the town.
- ›The airport is used as an emergency diversion airport for transpacific commercial flights due to its long runway.
- ›Cold Bay is not connected to any road system outside the local area, making the airport the primary means of access to the community.
Cold Bay Airport, located on the Alaska Peninsula near the tip of the Aleutian Chain, is one of Alaska's most historically significant airfields, originally built by the U.S. military during World War II. It features exceptionally long runways — among the longest in Alaska — reflecting its strategic wartime importance and its role supporting cargo and emergency operations. Today it primarily serves as a lifeline airport for the small community of Cold Bay and nearby Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
- Main Terminal — A small, single-room terminal handling the limited scheduled and charter flights serving Cold Bay's remote community.
- Rental vehicles (limited local availability)
- Taxi or private vehicle by local arrangement
- Cold Bay Lodge
Dining options at Cold Bay Airport are extremely limited given the remote location and very small community. Visitors should plan to bring provisions or arrange meals through their lodging, as the Cold Bay Lodge is essentially the primary hospitality option in the area.
- Cold Bay is extremely remote — book lodging and transport well in advance as options are very scarce.
- Weather changes rapidly on the Alaska Peninsula; expect potential flight delays due to wind, fog, and storms.
- The airport's long runways occasionally serve as emergency diversion points for transpacific flights.
- Izembek National Wildlife Refuge nearby offers world-class birding and wildlife viewing for nature travelers.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (4 destinations)








Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Aircraft operating here
Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.
IndianAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.
City & Place Guide
No guide exists for this place yet — Click to generate a Traveler Pulse guide.
Passport, Visa & Immigration
Flying internationally via CDB? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for United States from official government sources.
Cold Bay Airport is a state owned, public use airport located in Cold Bay, a city in the Aleutians East Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. First built as a United States Army Air Forces airfield during World War II, it is one of the main airports serving the Alaska Peninsula. Scheduled passenger service is available and air taxi operators fly in and out of the airport daily. Formerly, the airport operated as Thornbrough Air Force Base.
Read full article on Wikipedia