Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field[1] (IATA: GUF, ICAO: KJKA, FAA LID: JKA) is a public use airport in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.[1] It is owned by Gulf Shores Airport Authority and located two nautical miles (4 km) north of the City of Gulf Shores.[1] Also was known as Jack Edwards National Airport,[2] it is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.[3]

Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field
NAIP aerial image, 2006
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGulf Shores Airport Authority
ServesGulf Shores, Alabama
Elevation AMSL17 ft / 5 m
Coordinates30°17′23″N 087°40′18″W / 30.28972°N 87.67167°W / 30.28972; -87.67167
Websitewww.jka.us.com
Map
JKA is located in Alabama
JKA
JKA
Location of airport in Alabama
JKA is located in the United States
JKA
JKA
JKA (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 6,962 2,122 Asphalt
17/35 3,596 1,096 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft operations (year ending 1/31)61,372
Based aircraft116

This airport is assigned a three-letter location identifier of JKA by the Federal Aviation Administration, but the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code is GUF. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airport code is KJKA.[1][4][5]

History

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Jack Edwards Airport was originally an outlying field (Canal Field) for Naval Air Station Pensacola. The U.S. Navy sold it to the state of Alabama in 1977 and the new airport was named for U.S. Rep. Jack Edwards. In 1983 the state sold the airport to the city of Gulf Shores. A new terminal was built in 1998 and a runway extension was completed in 2003.[2]

Facilities and aircraft

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Jack Edwards Airport covers an area of 838 acres (339 ha) at an elevation of 17 feet (5 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways with asphalt surfaces: 9/27 is 6,962 by 100 feet (2,122 x 30 m) and 17/35 is 3,596 by 75 feet (1,096 x 23 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending January 31, 2023, the airport had 61,372 aircraft operations, an average of 168 per day: 91% general aviation, 7% military, 2% air taxi, and <1% commercial. At that time there were 116 aircraft based at this airport: 86 single-engine, 12 multi-engine, 10 jet, 1 helicopter, and 7 ultralights.[1]

Southern Airways Express previously served the airport, beginning in June 2013,[6] but later ceased operations to a number of airports including Jack Edwards due to cost considerations.[7]

Airlines and Destinations

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AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Allegiant Air Belleville/St. Louis (begins May 23, 2025),[8] Cincinnati (begins May 22, 2025),[8] Fayetteville/Bentonville (begins May 22, 2025),[8] Houston–Hobby (begins May 22, 2025),[8] Kansas City (begins May 24, 2025),[8] Knoxville (begins May 21, 2025)[8] [9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g FAA Airport Form 5010 for JKA PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective July 13, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Jack Edwards National Airport". Official site. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  3. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  4. ^ "Airline and Airport Code Search". International Air Transport Association (IATA). Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jack Edwards Airport (IATA: GUF, ICAO: KJKA, FAA: JKA)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  6. ^ "No TSA screening, but local Southern Airways passengers do get scrutiny)". AL.com. May 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "Gulf Shores' airport lands low-cost start-up carrier Southern Airways Express (updated)". Northwest Florida Daily News.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Allegiant Ties Record for Largest Expansion in Company History with 44 New Nonstop Routes, plus 3 New Cities". Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "Flight schedules and notifications". Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
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