Airport Information

Gulf Shores International Airport board members set the policies and procedures by which the airport is operated. Those selected for the board are some of the area’s most prominent business and civic leaders. They bring the knowledge, experience, and expertise needed to ensure that JKA remains a first-class facility. Board meetings occur the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:30 in the conference room at the Airport Authority office.

Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA), originally Canal Field, opened in 1942 as a Naval Aviator training site for the Pensacola Naval Air Station. After a decline in military use, the property was transferred to the State of Alabama in 1977 and renamed Jack Edwards Airport to honor Congressman Jack Edwards. In 1983, the City of Gulf Shores purchased the airport and created the City of Gulf Shores Airport Authority in 1988 to manage operations. Major improvements followed, including a new general aviation terminal in 1998 and the extension of Runway 9/27 in 2003, enabling the airport to accommodate nearly all U.S. aircraft and earn a National designation.

JKA became the second-busiest airport in Alabama, prompting the need for an air traffic control tower. After a 2014 land sale funded matching grants for FAA support, and thanks to Senator Richard Shelby’s efforts in the 2020 FAA reauthorization program, JKA fast-tracked the process and commissioned its tower on November 17, 2021. Recognizing its growth and broader impact, the Airport Authority voted to rebrand the facility as Gulf Shores International Airport – Jack Edwards Field on October 25, 2021, officially launching the new name shortly after on November 10, 2021.

As of May, 2025, Gulf Shores International Airport now offers commercial flights via Allegiant Air with 6 non-stop flight destinations. The airport plans to expand to other carriers and destinations in the near future.