Grand Canyon National Park Airport is 2026 ADOT Airport of the Year

PHOENIX — The Grand Canyon National Park Airport has been named the 2026 Airport of the Year by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The award recognizes the facility for its recent $12 million runway renovation project, which improved safety and reliability for travelers and general aviation traffic.

The renovation, completed in 2025, included resurfacing the airport’s only runway, reconfiguring a taxiway intersection, updating apron markings and installing new signage to comply with current Federal Aviation Administration standards.

The work was finished in just more than two months, a timeline chosen to minimize the impact on airport operations and visitors.

The ADOT Aeronautics Group presents the award annually, and a winner is chosen among the 67 publicly owned and operated airports across the state. The group also provides grant funding for capital improvement projects at those airports.

State officials credited Airport Manager David Reffner for coordinating the project while maintaining consistent service for the visitors who pass through the facility annually.

Located in Tusayan, about 7 miles south of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the facility is the only state-operated airport in Arizona. It serves as a primary hub for visitors traveling to the national park.

The airport first opened in 1965, and the terminal was dedicated two years later. This is the first time the facility has received the Airport of the Year honor, succeeding the 2025 winner, the Sedona Airport.

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