John Wayne / Orange County Airport (KSNA), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
John Wayne / Orange County Airport (KSNA) is a Class 1, tower-controlled airport serving the Santa Ana area of Southern California, roughly 39 nautical miles from the metro core. The field operates two paved runways, headed by the 5,700-foot Runway 02L/20R, and offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel with CBP inspection services available on site. Annual traffic reached 162,154 total operations in 2025 per FAA TFMSC data, with business aviation accounting for 50,275 of those movements.
Runways
John Wayne / Orange County Airport has two paved runways. The longest, 02L/20R, is 5,700 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
John Wayne / Orange County Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
John Wayne / Orange County 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
John Wayne / Orange County Airport recorded 50,275 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July. Business aviation traffic at KSNA concentrates in July, August, and October, according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 4,643 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
John Wayne / Orange County Airport averages 3.6 days above 90°F in September. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 80.4°F, and December the coldest, at 66.5°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
John Wayne / Orange County Airport has published operating constraints in seven categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
When the control tower is closed, contact SoCal Approach for clearance delivery.
Taxiway C has a gross weight limit of 60,000 pounds.
FBO general aviation aprons are limited to a maximum gross weight of 100,000 pounds for dual-gear aircraft with wingspans under 100 feet. General aviation aircraft are prohibited from using any portion of the air carrier commercial ramp.
Traffic pattern altitude for Runway 02L/20R is 1,000 feet AGL for small aircraft and 1,500 feet AGL for turbine aircraft over 12,500 pounds. Traffic pattern altitude for Runway 02R/20L is 800 feet AGL for small single-engine aircraft and 1,000 feet AGL for twin-engine aircraft.
When the control tower is closed, pilots must activate the MALSR on Runway 20R and the PAPI on Runways 02L and 20R via CTAF.
Runway 02R/20L is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 scheduled passenger operations carrying more than 9 passenger seats, or for non-scheduled passenger operations carrying more than 30 passenger seats. Runway 02R/20L closes when the control tower is closed.
Runway 20X was created to support the OJW LDA associated with the KSNA ILS for Runway 20R.
Aircraft landing on Runway 20L should use caution for jet blast from aircraft holding between Runway 20L and Runway 20R at Taxiway L, and use caution for wake turbulence from jet aircraft landing on Runway 20R.
VFR aircraft: to avoid overflight of Runway 20R, Runway 20L arrivals should fly final at a 15-degree angle to the runway, and Runway 20L departures should turn 15 degrees left at the departure end of the runway. To avoid overflight of Runway 02L, Runway 02R departures should turn 15 degrees right at the departure end of the runway.
Noise abatement procedures are in effect; contact the airport noise office for details.
Be alert for birds on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 602/F/A/X/T
When the control tower is closed, no local training or touch-and-go operations are permitted.
Maintain at or above 300 feet AGL until established on final.
Contact ground control prior to pushback on Taxiway A and Taxiway B.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
John Wayne / Orange County Airport has five airfields within 22 NM. The closest is Los Alamitos Aaf (KSLI), 11.44 NM northwest.
Part of the Orange County and San Diego area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KSNA
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 KSNA.
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 is the weight limit on Taxiway C at KSNA?
Taxiway C at John Wayne / Orange County Airport (KSNA) is limited to aircraft with a gross weight of 60,000 pounds. This restriction applies specifically to that taxiway and should be factored into ground routing for heavier business jets. Separately, the FBO general aviation aprons at KSNA carry their own limit of 100,000 pounds for dual-gear aircraft with wingspans under 100 feet. General aviation aircraft are prohibited from using any portion of the air carrier commercial ramp. Dispatchers planning heavier aircraft into KSNA should confirm taxi routing in advance given these separate limits.
Is Runway 02R/20L usable for scheduled passenger operations at KSNA?
Runway 02R/20L at KSNA is restricted for certain commercial passenger flights. It is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 scheduled passenger operations carrying more than 9 passenger seats, nor for non-scheduled passenger operations carrying more than 30 passenger seats. This runway also closes entirely whenever the air traffic control tower is closed. At 2,886 feet long and 75 feet wide, it is significantly shorter and narrower than the airport's primary runway, 02L/20R, which measures 5,700 feet.
What happens at KSNA when the control tower is closed?
Several operational changes take effect at John Wayne / Orange County Airport (KSNA) when the tower is closed. Runway 02R/20L closes completely during these hours, and local training or touch-and-go operations are not permitted. Pilots must activate the MALSR on Runway 20R and the PAPI systems on Runways 02L and 20R themselves via CTAF. Clearance delivery functions are handled by SoCal Approach instead of local tower staff during tower-closed periods. These procedures should be built into any flight planning for early or late operations at KSNA.
Does KSNA have customs and immigration services on site?
Yes, CBP inspection services are available on site at John Wayne / Orange County Airport (KSNA) according to the FAA registry. This makes KSNA usable for international arrivals requiring federal inspection without needing to route through a separate customs airport. The airport is a Class 1 facility by traffic volume, recording 162,154 total annual operations with 50,275 of those attributed to business aviation in 2025 per FAA TFMSC data. Both 100LL and Jet A fuel are available, supporting a range of aircraft types on international itineraries.
Why is business aviation traffic at KSNA higher in certain months?
Business aviation traffic at John Wayne / Orange County Airport (KSNA) concentrates in July, August, and October, based on FAA TFMSC data for 2025. October posted the highest monthly figure among the peak months at 4,397 operations, compared to a February low of 3,667. The airport handled 50,275 business aviation operations for the year against 162,154 total operations. Dispatchers scheduling flights into KSNA during these peak months should anticipate higher ramp and taxiway congestion relative to the winter months.