John Wayne Airport - Santa Ana

John Wayne Airport – Santa Ana (SNA) opened in 1941 and, renamed in 1979, serves as the compact but busy commercial gateway to Orange County, conveniently located near Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim and Newport Beach. The airport features one main terminal with multiple concourses and roughly two dozen gates, making it easy to navigate compared with larger Los Angeles airports. Ground access is straightforward via I‑405 and SR‑55 with shuttle services, regional buses and nearby Metrolink/Amtrak connections at Santa Ana station for onward travel. SNA is generally considered more convenient but slightly pricier for parking and some fares; it functions as a key focus city for Southwest with sizable American and Alaska regional operations.