Airport Proposed near Denali National Park and Preserve

Doyon, Limited is proposing the construction of a new airport in the Denali Borough.

According to an informational document released by Doyon, the proposed airport would be located within an hour’s drive of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve.  It would be built to accommodate aircraft as large as a Boeing 737.  Currently, the closest airport to the Park where planes that large can land is in Fairbanks, about two hours from the entrance.

Doyon says the intent of the new airport would be to provide easier access to the area around Denali National Park as part of its Cultural Corridor program.

Doyon is partnering with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities in the early phases of planning for the potential airport.  So far, two potential sites have been identified.  One, the preferred location, is about six-and-a-half miles southeast of Clear.  The second potential site is about seven miles north of Healy just east of the Parks Highway.

In order to be large enough for a 737, the airport would need to cover more than 425 acres.

Costs for the airport itself are estimated at fifty million dollars.  The terminal is expected to cost an additional eighteen million dollars.

According to a timeline provided by Doyon, the first flight at Denali Airport could take place as soon as 2028. Environmental Impact Studies and initial site processing are anticipated to begin in 2023.

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