By Stacey Leasca
To most travelers, airports blur together. Airport terminals, runways, baggage claims, and even gift shops are fundamentally the same, no matter where they are (unless you have an expertly trained aviation eye). But Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is a hub unlike any other.
Located entirely inside Grand Teton National Park, it’s the United States’ only commercial airport of its kind, and its operations are as unique as its setting.
First designated as a national monument in 1943, Jackson Hole Airport (located at 1250 East Airport Road in Wyoming’s Teton County) officially became part of Grand Teton National Park in 1950. This mountain range location brings a unique set of challenges—and rewards.
It’s a one-of-a-kind aviation environment and daily operations are anything but typical. The airport complies with strict FAA regulations while balancing its responsibilities within a protected national park. The team manages strict environmental regulations, sudden weather shifts, and a mix of commercial flights, private aircraft, and military jets—all at a high-elevation airfield surrounded by protected wilderness.
“We get to flex our creativity,” Alton George, the Director of Operations at Jackson Hole Airport, said. We sat down with him for his view on what it takes to keep this commercial airport running day-to-day.
There’s no room to grow. Literally.
Airport upgrades usually mean building bigger. But at Jackson Hole Airport, expansion isn’t an option—it sits on protected land.
“Our agreement with the park states that the footprint we’re on can’t grow at all,” George said. “At most airports, if they need a facility or a new building, they (…) acquire the land. We don’t have that. What we have is our little stamp of an area.”
Everyone working at JAC has to stay sharp, flexible, and ready to rethink space as needs shift.
Everyone at JAC wears more than one hat.
George is a key player on the airport board. His role spans everything from airfield safety to emergency response, custodial operations, and guest services. The commercial airport’s operations department covers the runway and safety protocols, and also landside logistics—think parking, ground transportation, and everyday passenger experiences.
“And then we are also the RF department; that’s airport rescue, firefighting, and first responders of the airport,” George said. “Anything from a slip or trip to someone stating ‘I have chest pain,’ to if an aircraft doesn’t know if its gears will go down (…) we respond to all those types of emergencies.”
It’s a small airport with a large range of aircraft.
Jackson Hole Airport may be compact, but the range of aircraft it handles is anything but. Private jets are a frequent sight, and commercial service includes everything from regional planes to big-name airliners—with American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines serving Jackson Hole year-round.
“We have a very strong general aviation mix,” George said. “(There are) lots of private jets, and our commercial mix is regional jets, including Airbus 319s and Airbus 320s and 737s. There’s also the occasional military jet fly-by.”
Only 40 minutes from Teton Village, Jackson Hole’s ski season gets plenty of attention, but it’s the summer months that bring the highest volume of passengers, thanks to its location. Just 15 minutes from the town of Jackson, the airport serves as the main hub for visitors heading into Grand Teton or Yellowstone.
“A lot of people seem to believe that our winter would be our busiest time because of the skiers, but it’s actually our summer,” he said. “People wanting to come to the national park; that’s our bread and butter.”
The numbers back that up: in July 2024, JAC recorded 652 landings and deplaned 66,328 passengers. In February 2024, the commercial airport saw 517 landings and 48,833 passengers. That’s four to six times the entire population of Jackson, Wyoming. Popular destinations to fly in from include Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco… but visitors from all over the States (and worldwide) are welcomed.
At JAC, hospitality matters as much as operations.
The team at Jackson Hole Airport isn’t just focused on safe operations. They’re aiming to be the most welcoming airport in the country.
George explained that the custodial and operations team are deeply invested in creating a space that reflects the area’s natural beauty and character—and leaves a jaw-dropping first impression.
“We’ve done a lot of things over the years to make the airport look more like a museum than an airport. We want people to walk in and be, ‘Wow, this is Jackson Hole,’” George said. “This is indicative of what you’re going to see throughout the rest of your travels. This is the first thing people put their eyes on.”
You can visit jacksonholeairport.com for a preview and airport information, but the photos don’t do JAC justice. Visitors are greeted by thoughtful design touches like three working fireplaces and a rotating collection of local art. The airport offers free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, making it easy for visitors to stay connected while soaking in the views. And if you’re lucky, you might catch the Jackson Hole Tourism Board handing out complimentary mimosas while flight status updates play overhead.
Nothing beats the view.
While George enjoys all aspects of his role, he said there’s one thing that never gets old: the views of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
“Anytime the day’s getting rough (…), that view of the Tetons hits you right in the face,” he said. “And that’s all of our offices. So I think people take that as a pretty special thing.”
It’s a daily reminder that no matter how hectic things get—whether it’s clearing snow, managing airfield operations, or responding to an emergency—Jackson Hole Airport sits in one of the most breathtaking places in the country.
But for George, it’s the people who really set the tone.
“We have a lot of really skilled people in-house,” says George. “(They’re) willing to do more than average, well above average, to make this place run and run correctly.”
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