Point Hope Airport (PHO)

Point Hope Airport (PHO), designated by the ICAO as PAPO, is a small state-owned domestic aviation facility located on the Chukchi Sea coast in Alaska, approximately 2 miles southwest of the village center. The airport operates from a single, compact passenger terminal designed primarily to facilitate essential domestic travel and cargo transport for the remote Inupiat community. It acts as a critical infrastructure lifeline, connecting one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in North America to the regional hub of Kotzebue.

Facilities at the airstrip are extremely minimal and tailored for the harsh Arctic environment. The terminal provides a basic sheltered waiting area for travelers, but lacks modern commercial amenities such as retail shops, restaurants, or currency exchange bureaus. Since the facility is generally unattended by permanent airport staff, most passenger services and flight information are handled directly by regional carriers like Bering Air. Travelers are strongly advised to be completely self-sufficient and to handle all logistical needs, including food and water, within the village prior to arrival.

The airfield features a single 4,000-foot asphalt runway (03/21) situated at an elevation of 12 feet above sea level. Operationally, the facility is currently undergoing a major multi-year realignment project to move the runway further inland to mitigate the effects of significant coastal erosion. Ground transportation to the Point Hope village is informal, with no dedicated taxi or rental services stationed at the airstrip; visitors typically arrange private vehicle pickups or utilize ATVs to reach the town's main districts and administrative offices.