Kenai Municipal (PAEN), Alaska
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN / ENA) is a towered, public-use field on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, situated about 54 nautical miles from the nearest metro area. The airport handles a mix of fixed-wing and seaplane operations across five runways, including a paved 7,855-foot primary runway, a gravel strip, a water runway, and two helicopter pads, supporting the business aviation traffic that accounts for the majority of its recorded 2025 operations.
Runways
Kenai Municipal has three runways. The longest, 02L/20R, is 7,855 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first. Helipads and surfaces under 500 ft are excluded.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Kenai Municipal has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 5pm, daily, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Kenai Municipal does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Ted Stevens Anchorage International (PANC), 51 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Kenai Municipal recorded 8,113 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in September. Business aviation traffic at PAEN is concentrated in certain months, with September, November, and April showing the highest monthly operations counts against lower activity in February and December.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month September, 917 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Kenai Municipal averages 30.0 freeze days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 63.3°F, and January the coldest, at 22.4°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Kenai Municipal has published operating constraints in six categories: weight restrictions, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Transient parking is on the south terminal ramp; helicopter parking is on the north terminal ramp. A landing fee applies to aircraft over 4,000 pounds.
Except for weather diversions, unscheduled aircraft over 12,500 pounds require 48-hour prior permission.
Pilot-activate REIL for runway 02L and VASI for runways 02L and 20R on CTAF. When the tower is closed, activate and increase intensity of HIRL for runway 02L/20R via Kenai FSS. When the tower is closed, activate MALSR for runway 20R on CTAF.
Runway 02R/20L is not available for Part 121/Part 380 operations involving scheduled passenger-carrying operations with more than 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying operations with more than 30 passenger seats.
Closed to operations November through April. Runway 02W/20W is not available for Part 121/Part 380 operations involving scheduled passenger-carrying operations with more than 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying operations with more than 30 passenger seats. Noise abatement procedure: aircraft arriving on 02W and departing on 20W must make final approach and crosswind turns south of the beachline unless authorized by ATC. The water landing area and taxiway channel are not visible from the air traffic control tower.
The seaplane base is controlled by Kenai ATCT during operating hours. When Kenai ATCT is closed, weather information is available from Kenai ATIS or Kenai FSS. A noise abatement procedure is in effect through the airport manager's office.
Birds present within a 10 nautical mile radius from spring through fall.
PCR VALUE: 461/F/B/X/U
Taxiways A, B, and E have a PCN of 48; taxiway C has a PCN of 59; taxiway F has a PCN of 43; taxiways D, J, K, and L have a PCN of 34.
Transient and commercial tie-down slips are available at the end of the water canal.
Outlined with cones.
Portions of the terminal ramp and taxiways G and H are not visible from the air traffic control tower.
Contact Kenai FSS local.
A weather camera is available on the internet at https://weathercams.faa.gov.
Airport sand gradation is larger than FAA recommended; see AC 150/5200-30.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Kenai Municipal has three airfields within 37 NM. The closest is Soldotna (PASX), 8.45 NM southeast.
Part of the Southern Alaska area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PAEN
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at PAEN.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What runways are available at PAEN / Kenai Municipal Airport?
Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN) operates five runways of differing surfaces and use. The primary paved runway, 02L/20R, is 7,855 feet long and 150 feet wide with an asphalt surface. A gravel runway, 02R/20L, measures 1,980 feet by 75 feet and is restricted from certain passenger-carrying operations. A seaplane runway, 02W/20W, spans 4,600 feet on water and is closed to operations from November through April. Two short helicopter pads, H1 and H2, round out the field at 55 by 55 feet each.
Is there a landing fee at KENAI MUNI?
Yes, Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN) assesses a landing fee for aircraft over 4,000 pounds. Transient parking is located on the south terminal ramp, while helicopter parking is designated on the north terminal ramp. Operators of unscheduled aircraft over 12,500 pounds diverting for weather are subject to a 48-hour PPR requirement outside that exception. These parking and fee details are relevant for dispatchers planning turnarounds or overnight stays at the field.
Does PAEN have customs clearance onsite?
Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN) does not have customs clearance onsite. The nearest customs facility is at Anchorage (PANC), located approximately 51.27 nautical miles away. Operators requiring customs processing near Kenai must plan to route through PANC or another designated port of entry. This distance should factor into fuel and routing plans for international arrivals that would otherwise favor Kenai as a destination.
What is the seasonal traffic pattern at KENAI MUNI?
Business aviation traffic at Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN) shows concentration in specific months rather than an even year-round spread. According to FAA TFMSC data covering 2025, monthly bizav operations ranged from a low of 438 in February to a high of 917 in September, with April and November also showing elevated counts near 866 and 868 respectively. This pattern reflects the notable seasonality flagged in the airport's traffic data. Dispatchers scheduling flights into Kenai should account for these fluctuations when estimating ramp and parking availability.
What noise abatement and visibility restrictions apply at PAEN?
Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN) enforces noise abatement procedures for the water runway 02W/20W, requiring arrivals and departures to make final approach and crosswind turns south of the beachline unless otherwise authorized by ATC. The water landing area and taxiway channel are not visible from the air traffic control tower. Portions of the terminal ramp and taxiways G and H are also not visible from the tower. A general noise abatement procedure is in effect through the airport manager's office, separate from the water-runway-specific procedure.