Remote Pacific airfield on a historic coral atoll.
Opened
1935
Location
Wake Island, United States Minor Outlying Islands
Wake Island Airfield (IATA: AWK, ICAO: PWAK) is a military airstrip located on Wake Island, a remote coral atoll in the central Pacific Ocean controlled by the United States. The airfield is operated under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force and serves primarily military and government purposes, with no scheduled commercial passenger service.
The island gained historical significance during World War II as the site of the Battle of Wake Island in December 1941, and the airfield has roots in that era. Today it functions mainly as a refueling and emergency diversion stop for transpacific flights, as well as supporting occasional U.S. military operations and scientific missions.
Access to Wake Island is restricted; civilians require special authorization to visit. The island has no permanent civilian population, and the airfield infrastructure is maintained for operational readiness rather than commercial aviation.
Terminals
There are no commercial passenger terminals; the airfield consists of a single runway and basic military facilities.
Getting to & from
No public ground transportation exists, as the island has no civilian population or road network beyond internal access routes.
Airlines here
No commercial airlines operate scheduled service to Wake Island Airfield.
Notable facts
- ›Wake Island was the site of the Battle of Wake Island in December 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- ›The airfield has a single runway approximately 9,800 feet long, suitable for large aircraft.
- ›Wake Island is an unincorporated U.S. territory administered by the U.S. Air Force.
- ›The airfield serves as an emergency diversion point for transpacific commercial flights.
- ›Access to Wake Island and its airfield is restricted and requires U.S. government authorization.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
