Port Lions Airport in Port Lions, Alaska

Port Lions Airport: Northern Kodiak Island Community Air Access

Port Lions Airport serves the community of Port Lions on the northern shore of Kodiak Island, a small community of approximately 200 residents with a unique origin story. Port Lions was established in 1964 following the devastating Good Friday Earthquake that destroyed the original village of Afognak on Afognak Island north of Kodiak. The Lions Clubs International organization assisted in funding the community's reconstruction at the current location, giving Port Lions both its name and its history as a community rebuilt from disaster. The airport provides the primary reliable transportation link for the community, as while the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry serves Port Lions, air access provides the faster connection to Kodiak's services and medical facilities.

Commercial fishing remains central to Port Lions' economy, and the airport supports the movement of fishing crews, equipment, and catch between the community and Kodiak City's larger harbor and processing facilities. Small aircraft from Kodiak-based operators serve Port Lions regularly, and the airport enables medevac flights for medical emergencies requiring hospital-level care at Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center. Alaska DOT&PF maintains Port Lions Airport as part of the Kodiak Island Borough's rural airport infrastructure. The FAA Alaskan Region provides navigational services and airspace management for the northern Kodiak Island aviation corridor, which includes some of the most scenic coastal terrain in Southcentral Alaska.

Frequently Asked Questions About Port Lions Airport

How did Port Lions get its name?

Port Lions was named for the Lions Clubs International organization, which helped fund the reconstruction of the village after the original community of Afognak was destroyed by the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake and tsunami.

What transportation options serve Port Lions?

Port Lions is served by the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry from Kodiak and by small aircraft from Kodiak-based air operators. There is no road connection to Kodiak City.

What industries support Port Lions?

Commercial fishing is the primary industry, with Port Lions residents working in salmon, halibut, crab, and other fisheries that make Kodiak Island one of the most productive fishing regions in the world.

Port Lions Airport: Northern Kodiak Island Flying

Port Lions sits on Kizhuyak Bay along Kodiak Island's scenic northern coast, offering pilots an approach over waters known for Kodiak brown bear activity along the shoreline, bald eagle nesting, and the rich marine wildlife that makes Kodiak Island one of Alaska's premier wildlife viewing destinations. The flight from Kodiak City to Port Lions passes over or near the road system that connects Kodiak City's northern communities, then continues over more remote terrain to the airport. Weather on the northern Kodiak Island coast can differ from Kodiak City conditions, and current weather assessment is important before each flight.

The FAA Alaskan Region and Alaska DOT&PF jointly support the maintenance of Port Lions Airport as a public-use rural facility within the Kodiak Island Borough's comprehensive aviation network. The airport's role in connecting a community built from the ashes of one of America's most destructive natural disasters reflects the resilience of Alaska's island communities and the importance of reliable air access to that resilience. For the residents of Port Lions, the airport is as much a symbol of community continuity as it is a practical transportation asset — a facility that enables the modern version of the community to thrive in a beautiful but remote corner of the Gulf of Alaska that their ancestors from Afognak Island chose as their new home.