Iliamna Airport

Overview

Iliamna Airport is a medium airport serving Iliamna in the United States, providing an important gateway to this remote part of southwest Alaska. Known by the codes ILI and PAIL, the airport sits at an elevation of 192 feet (59 m), which helps keep weather and field conditions relatively accessible compared with higher inland airfields. For many visitors, it is less a sprawling hub and more a practical, regional arrival point where local conditions, daylight, and seasonal changes matter as much as the timetable.

Runways and Access

• Two lighted asphalt runways support conventional aircraft operations: 08/26 at 5,086 feet and 18/36 at 4,800 feet.
• Two water runways, listed as E/W at 2,998 feet and N/S at 2,892 feet, also reflect the area’s reliance on floatplane travel.
• This mix of land and water operating surfaces is especially useful in a region where lakes, weather, and terrain shape how people move.
• Travelers should expect aviation here to feel functional and local, with aircraft choice and routing often influenced by conditions on the day.

What Travelers Should Know

Because Iliamna Airport operates in the America/Anchorage time zone, it is worth double-checking departure times if you are connecting from elsewhere in Alaska or the lower 48. Visitors should also plan with flexibility: in rural Alaska, weather can affect schedules more than at large city airports, and services may be more limited than travelers are used to. The advantage is that the airport is closely tied to the region it serves, making it a useful starting point for reaching nearby communities, lodges, and outdoor destinations efficiently.