Northway Airport (PAOR), Alaska
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Northway Airport (PAOR), also identified as ORT, sits at 1,720 feet elevation in eastern Alaska near the Canadian border, roughly 192 nautical miles from the nearest metro area. The field is unattended and uncontrolled, with a single paved runway and CBP inspection services available onsite for arriving international traffic, making it a border-crossing point for general aviation operating between Alaska and Canada.
Runways
Northway Airport has one paved runway, 06/24, 5,100 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Northway Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Northway Airport recorded 61 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in June. Business aviation traffic at PAOR concentrates in the winter and early summer months, with January and June recording the highest monthly operations counts.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month June, 14 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Northway Airport averages 0.1 days above 90°F in June, 31.0 freeze days in January and 3.2 snow days in November. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 71.5°F, and January the coldest, at -4.5°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Northway Airport has published operating constraints in three categories: access, runway notes and other notes.
Foreign arrivals at Northway/PAOR or Yarger Lake require prior permission two hours in advance, normally within the 1800Z-0000Z window, per U.S. Customs.
REIL is activated on runway 24; PAPI is available on runway 06 and runway 24; MIRL is available on runway 06/24; monitor CTAF.
Frequent variable strong crosswinds occur on this runway.
A ski strip runs parallel and adjacent to the threshold on the northwest side.
Runway condition is unmonitored; a visual inspection prior to landing is recommended.
Winter snow removal operations are conducted; monitor CTAF.
Floatplane customs service is available at Yarger Lake, 8 nautical miles east.
Northway and Knob Ridge weather cameras are available at https://weathercams.faa.gov/.
An electronically filed eAPIS manifest is required prior to departure.
This is a cold temperature airport; altitude correction is required at or below -48C.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Northway Airport has two airfields within 46 NM. The closest is Tok Junction (PFTO), 35.54 NM northwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PAOR
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.
$1,200.00 catering order at PAOR.
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
Does KPAOR, also known as ORT, have customs service for arriving international flights?
Yes, PAOR has CBP inspection services available onsite. Foreign arrivals require prior permission and typically operate within the 1800Z-0000Z window. An electronically filed eAPIS manifest is required before departure. Pilots should plan customs arrangements well ahead of an international arrival at this airport.
What is the runway configuration at Northway Airport?
Northway Airport has a single paved runway, 06/24, measuring 5,100 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. A ski strip runs parallel and adjacent to the threshold on the northwest side for winter operations. Runway condition is unmonitored, so a visual inspection prior to landing is recommended.
Is fuel available at PAOR?
Fuel type data for Northway Airport is not specified in available records. The airport is unattended, so any fuel service would not be staffed on demand. Pilots planning a stop at PAOR, also identified as ORT, should confirm fuel availability directly before relying on it for trip planning.
How cold does it get at Northway Airport, and are there special procedures?
Northway Airport is designated a cold temperature airport, requiring altitude corrections at or below -48C. Climate data shows average January highs near -4.5F with roughly 31 days per month below freezing in the coldest months. Pilots flying into PAOR during winter should apply appropriate cold-weather altimetry corrections on approach.