Quinhagak Airport (KWN)

Quinhagak Airport (KWN), identified by its ICAO code PAQH, is a critical aviation facility serving the remote Yup'ik community of Quinhagak in southwest Alaska. The airport features a single 4,000-foot gravel runway (12/30) and acts as a vital lifeline for medical evacuations and the transport of essential goods from regional hubs like Bethel. As of 2025, the facility is undergoing a major rehabilitation project supported by FAA grants to address runway surface irregularities caused by ongoing permafrost thaw and coastal environmental pressures. The passenger terminal at Quinhagak is a compact, single-story building designed for basic functionality in a remote Arctic environment. It serves as an integrated space for waiting, check-in, and weather shelter, but lacks modern commercial amenities such as retail shops, restaurants, or public Wi-Fi. Travelers are encouraged to be entirely self-sufficient and to coordinate flight logistics directly with regional carriers like Grant Aviation or Ryan Air, as the facility is primarily unattended outside of scheduled arrivals and departures. Infrastructure at the airfield includes pilot-activated medium-intensity runway lighting (MIRL) and a dedicated automated weather observation system (AWOS-3P) to support safe operations. Due to its location on Kuskokwim Bay, the airport faces significant challenges from coastal erosion and frost heaving, which can result in surface swells that occasionally impact aircraft weight limitations. Ground transportation to the village is managed via private vehicles, providing a quick 2-mile connection from the airfield to the nearby residential areas and the Kanektok River, which was the site of the community's original airport before it was relocated inland due to erosion in 2004.