Once one of the largest and busiest airports in the United States, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) was once in the best strategic position of any global airport. In an era when overflying the Soviet Union was not permitted and aircraft ranges were limited, flying from the United States or Europe to East Asia almost always required a stopover in Anchorage for refueling. Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! Located just five miles from downtown Anchorage, the airport was named after legendary Alaska senator Ted Stevens and has been in operation since it opened its doors 73 years ago in 1951, and is managed by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
Today, the airport is categorized as a medium-hub primary commercial service facility, which does not do justice to the airport's history as an international gateway. Alaska Airlines is the only operator flying between LAX and ANC airports. Changes over time have made the airport unrecognizable from its early years Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Anchorage has mostly reverted to being a domestic-oriented airport that primarily serves to connect Alaska with the rest of the United States .
With the Siberian flight corridor opened up, airlines could now pay hefty, but valuable, overflight fees to fly nonstop directly over the Soviet Union, ending the need for expensive and slow stopovers in Anchorage. Despite Russian airspace closing down again amid Russia's 2022 invasion .
