Over two years after Alaska Airlines announced upgrades were coming to its terminal in Nome, the airline says its prioritizing other projects elsewhere in the state.
The upgrades are part of a $72 million “Great Land Investment Plan” initiated by Alaska Airlines. The plan began with an expansion of the airline’s Anchorage lounge in 2025. Repairs to the airline’s King Salmon and Dillingham terminals are underway.
Last month, Alaska Airlines announced plans to demolish and rebuild its terminal in Kodiak. A key complaint in Kodiak was congestion in the baggage and security areas. Demolition is expected to begin later this year, according to Alaska Airlines spokesperson Tim Thompson.
The airline’s terminal in Utqiaġvik is next on the list for a remodel, Thompson said. After those projects are complete, Alaska Airlines will turn its attention to renovations in Bethel and Nome.
“We have no further specific details but will keep the community updated as we proceed,” Thompson said.
The Nome terminal last underwent a major renovation in 2007. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, passenger traffic at the Nome Airport has increased 14% in the nearly two decades since.
Especially in the busy summer months, the Nome terminal has grown overcrowded. Passengers battle for elbow room and stand on their tip-toes to spot their checked bags sliding down a small metal ramp. The terminal in Utqiaġvik has a similar chute-style baggage claim. The Bethel terminal has a luggage belt that snakes through the lobby.
Alaska Airlines plans to upgrade a total of 13 stations it owns in the state. It originally expected the work to be complete by the end of 2027.
