Ketchikan International Airport
Ketchikan, United States
Ketchikan International Airport
Southeast Alaska's gateway, perched beside the sea.
- ›The airport is located on Gravina Island, separated from Ketchikan by the Tongass Narrows.
- ›A controversial 2005 U.S. Congressional earmark proposed building a bridge to replace the ferry, dubbed the 'Bridge to Nowhere.'
- ›The state-operated ferry connecting the airport to the city runs 24 hours a day.
- ›Ketchikan receives some of the highest annual rainfall of any city in the United States, impacting flight operations.
- ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 89 feet above sea level.
Ketchikan International Airport, situated on Gravina Island and accessible from the city via a short ferry crossing, serves as the primary air gateway to one of Southeast Alaska's most storied port towns. Opened in 1973, the airport reflects the remote, rugged character of the region it serves, handling regional turboprop flights and connecting Ketchikan to Juneau, Seattle, and Anchorage. Its unique island location makes it one of the few commercial airports in the United States requiring passengers to take a ferry to reach the mainland city.
- Main Terminal — A single compact terminal handling all commercial and charter operations, with basic amenities suited to regional traffic volumes.
- Airport-City Ferry (state-operated shuttle crossing the Tongass Narrows, runs on schedule with flights)
- Taxi services available at the ferry terminal on the Ketchikan side
- Rental car agencies accessible near the terminal and ferry dock
- Local city bus (Ketchikan Gateway Borough Transit) connects from the downtown ferry dock
- Best Western Plus Landing Hotel
- Cape Fox Lodge
- Gilmore Hotel
- My Place Hotel Ketchikan
- Narrows Inn
Inside the terminal, dining options are limited to a small café offering basic snacks, beverages, and light meals given the airport's compact size. Once the ferry delivers passengers to downtown Ketchikan, a wider range of seafood-focused restaurants and local diners are easily accessible along the waterfront. Fresh Alaskan king crab and salmon dishes are local specialties worth seeking out in town.
- Factor in ferry crossing time of approximately 5–10 minutes when planning your schedule; arrive early enough to catch the shuttle before your flight.
- Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in the United States — pack waterproof gear regardless of the season.
- The ferry to the airport is free for foot passengers but confirm current schedules as service times are tied to flight departures.
- Car rental availability is limited; book vehicles well in advance, especially during the busy summer cruise season.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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Ketchikan International Airport is a state-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile (2 km) west of the central business district of Ketchikan, a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough in Alaska, that has no direct road access to the outside world or to the airport. The airport is located on Gravina Island, just west of Ketchikan on the other side of the Tongass Narrows. Passengers must take a seven-minute ferry ride across the water to get to the airport from the town.
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