View source for Yakima Air Terminal

{{Short description|Airport in Washington, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                   = McAllister Field
| image                  = Yakima Air Terminal - Washington.jpg
| caption                = [[USGS]] 2006 [[orthophoto]]
| IATA                   = YKM
| ICAO                   = KYKM
| FAA                    = YKM
| type                   = Public
| owner                  = City of Yakima
| operator               = 
| city-served            = [[Yakima, Washington]]
| location               = <!--if different than above-->
| elevation-f            = 1,099
| website                = [https://flyykm.com/ FLYYKM.com]
| coordinates            = {{coord|46|34|05|N|120|32|39|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
| image_map              = YKM - FAA airport diagram.png
| image_mapsize          = 180
| image_map_caption      = FAA airport diagram
| pushpin_map            = USA Washington#USA
| pushpin_relief         = yes
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Washington
| pushpin_label          = '''YKM'''
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| r1-number              = 09/27
| r1-length-f            = 7,604
| r1-surface             = Asphalt
| r2-number              = 04/22
| r2-length-f            = 3,835
| r2-surface             = Asphalt
| stat-year              = 2022
| stat1-header           = Aircraft operations
| stat1-data             = 35,588
| stat2-header           = Based aircraft
| stat2-data             = 133
| footnotes              = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=YKM|use=PU|own=PU|site=26480.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective July 13, 2023.</ref>
}}

'''McAllister Field''' {{airport codes|YKM<ref name="IATA">
 {{cite web
 | url = http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/code-search.aspx
 | title = IATA Airport Code Search (YKM: Yakima Air Terminal)
 | publisher = [[International Air Transport Association]]
 | access-date = July 18, 2013
 }}
</ref>|KYKM|YKM}} (known for the Yakima Air Terminal) is a public airport three miles south of [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]], in [[Yakima County, Washington]].<ref name="FAA" /> Owned by the City of Yakima,<ref name="FAA" /> it is used for [[general aviation]] and commercial air service. Yakima is served by one scheduled passenger air carrier ([[Alaska Airlines]] with service to [[Seattle/Tacoma International Airport]]) and two non-scheduled carriers ([[Sun Country Airlines]] and [[Xtra Airways]]). Sun Country Airlines operates charter flights to [[Laughlin, NV]] and Xtra Airways operates charter flights to [[Wendover, NV]].{{cn|date=January 2025}}

This airport is in the [[National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]] for 2011–2015, which [[FAA airport categories|called]] it as a ''primary commercial service'' airport.<ref>
 {{cite web
 | url = http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2011/npias_2011_appA.pdf
 | title = 2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A | format = [[PDF]], 2.03 MB
 | work = faa.gov
 | publisher = Federal Aviation Administration | date = October 4, 2010
 }}
</ref> [[Federal Aviation Administration]] records say the airport had 36,383 passenger boardings (enplanements) in [[calendar year]] 2022, 57,076 in 2014,<ref>
 {{cite web
 | url = http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy14-commercial-service-enplanements.pdf
 | title = Enplanements for CY 2008 | format = PDF, 1.0 MB
 | work = faa.gov
 | publisher = Federal Aviation Administration | date = December 18, 2009
 }}
</ref> 60,028 in 2009 and 53,832 in 2010.<ref>
 {{cite web
 | url = http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy10_all_enplanements.pdf
 | title = Enplanements for CY 2010 | format = PDF, 189 KB
 | work = faa.gov
 | publisher = Federal Aviation Administration | date = October 4, 2011
 }}
</ref>

==History==
The airfield first officially operated in 1926 (Goodman’s pasture had been in use unofficially before 1928) in an 80 acre field cleared from sagebrush with a runway added in 1932.<ref> https://flyykm.com/general-info/#:~:text=In%201926%2C%20the%20location%20of,%2F22%20(3%2C000%20feet). </ref> During [[World War II]] the airfield was used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]].

===Historical airline service===

[[Northwest Airlines]] was serving the airport in 1939 with a daily roundtrip [[Portland, OR]] - Yakima - [[Spokane]] flight operated with a [[Douglas DC-3]].<ref>[http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nw/nw3904/nw3904-1.jpg Northwest Airlines]</ref><ref>[http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nw/nw3904/nw3904-3.jpg Through Air Service]</ref> By the early and mid 1960s, Northwest was operating daily, no change of plane [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] propjet service from Yakima to the U.S. east coast via a number of intermediate stops as well as nonstop Electra service to [[Seattle/Tacoma International Airport]] (SEA), Portland (PDX) and Spokane (GEG).<ref name="nwahist">[https://northwestairlineshistory.org, Digital Archive, Timetables, Northwest Airlines system timetables]</ref>  In early 1962, Northwest was operating a daily eastbound [[Seattle]] - Yakima - Spokane - [[Great Falls, MT]] - [[Billings, MT]] - [[Bismarck, ND]] - [[Minneapolis/St. Paul]] - [[Milwaukee]] - [[Detroit]] - [[New York City]] (via [[Newark Airport]]) flight with an Electra.<ref name="nwahist"/>  By late 1965, Northwest was operating a daily eastbound Seattle - Yakima - Spokane - [[Missoula, MT]] - [[Helena, MT]] - [[Butte, MT]] - [[Bozeman, MT]] - Billings - [[Fargo, ND]] - Minneapolis/St. Paul - [[Washington D.C.]] [[National Airport]] flight also with an Electra.<ref name="nwahist"/>  Northwest was continuing to serve the airport in early 1966 with daily nonstop Electra propjet service to Seattle/Tacoma, Portland, OR and Spokane as well as direct, no change of plane Electra service to Billings, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington, D.C. and other destinations; however, the airline was no longer serving Yakima by late 1966.<ref name="nwahist"/>

[[West Coast Airlines]] was serving Yakima in 1954 with nine daily [[Douglas DC-3]] departures from the airport with flights to Seattle [[Boeing Field]] (BFI), [[Portland, OR]], [[Spokane]], [[Baker, OR]], [[Coeur d'Alene, ID]], [[Ellensburg, WA]], [[Ephrata, WA]], [[La Grande, OR]], [[Lewiston, ID]], [[Ontario, OR]], [[Pasco, WA]], [[Pendleton, OR]], [[Pullman, WA]] and [[Walla Walla, WA]].<ref>[http://www.timetableimages.com Time table Images], Nov. 1, 1954 West Coast Airlines system timetable</ref>  By the spring of 1968, West Coast was operating [[Douglas DC-9-10]] jet service nonstop from the airport to Seattle Boeing Field, Portland and Pasco as well as direct, no change of plane DC-9 jet flights to [[San Francisco]] ([[SFO]]), Spokane, [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] and [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]] in addition to flying [[Fairchild F-27]] turboprop service to a number of regional destinations.<ref>[http://www.timetableimages.com Time table Images], April 28, 1968 West Coast Airlines system timetable</ref>

West Coast Airlines then merged with [[Bonanza Air Lines]] and [[Pacific Air Lines]] to form Air West which was subsequently renamed [[Hughes Airwest]].
In the summer of 1968, Air West was operating [[Douglas DC-9-10]] and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] jet service from the airport nonstop to Portland, OR and Pasco as well as direct DC-9 service to San Francisco (SFO), Spokane, Eugene, Medford, [[San Jose, CA]], [[Fresno]] and [[Las Vegas]] in addition to nonstop [[Fairchild F-27]] turboprop flights to Seattle Boeing Field (BFI) with nonstop and direct F-27 service to other regional destinations.<ref>[http://www.timetableimages.com Time table Images], July 1, 1968 Air West system timetable</ref>  In 1975, Hughes Airwest was operating all of its flights from the airport with Douglas DC-9-10 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets with nonstop service to [[Seattle/Tacoma International Airport]] (SEA) and Pasco in addition to direct, no change of plane DC-9 jet flights to [[Los Angeles]] ([[LAX]]), [[Orange County Airport]] near [[Santa Ana, CA]], [[Salt Lake City]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Tucson]], Portland, OR, [[Santa Maria, CA]] and Eugene and was also operating direct, no change of plane DC-9 service to two international destinations:  [[Guadalajara, Mexico]] and [[Mazatlan, Mexico]].<ref>[http://www.departedflights.com/RW102675intro.html Oct. 26, 1975 Hughes Airwest system timetable]</ref> Also in 1975, [[Cascade Airways]], a commuter air carrier, was operating nonstop [[Beechcraft 99]] turboprop flights to Yakima from Seattle/Tacoma, Portland, OR, Spokane, Pullman, WA and [[Wenatchee, WA]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YKM75intro.html|title = YKM75intro}}</ref>

Hughes Airwest was then acquired by and merged into [[Republic Airlines]] in 1980.  In late 1980, Republic was operating [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] jet service from the airport nonstop to Seattle/Tacoma and Pasco as well as direct, no change of plane DC-9-30 jet flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, [[Denver]], [[Boise]] and Eugene.<ref name="nwahist"/>  However, by the summer of 1982 Republic was no longer serving Yakima.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.departedflights.com/RC060182.html |title = Republic Airlines June 1, 1982 Route Map}}</ref>

[[Horizon Air]] began serving the airport on September 1, 1981, as a new independent regional air carrier with nonstop [[Fairchild F-27]] turboprop service to Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) with Yakima being the first destination served by Horizon.<ref name="TCH-Horizon25">{{cite news |last=Isaacs |first=Nathan |date=September 7, 2006 |title=Horizon marks 25 years serving Tri-Cities |page=B6 |work=[[Tri-City Herald]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116011024/horizon-marks-25-years-serving/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=January 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>"Remember the Magic...The Story of Horizon Air" by Bill Endicott, Turner Publishing Company, page 52</ref>  By early 1985 Horizon Air was operating F-27 turboprops as well as smaller [[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner]] propjets into the airport with nonstop flights from Seattle/Tacoma, Portland, OR, Pasco and Pullman while [[Cascade Airways]] was operating its flights with [[Beechcraft 1900C]] and larger [[Hawker Siddeley HS 748]] turboprops with nonstop service from Seattle/Tacoma, Portland, OR, Spokane, Lewiston, ID, Moses Lake, WA, Pasco, Pullman, WA and Walla Walla, WA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YKM85intro.html|title = YKM85intro}}</ref> According to the [[Official Airline Guide]] ([[OAG (company)|OAG]]), Cascade and Horizon were operating a combined total of thirteen nonstop flights a day on weekdays from Seattle/Tacoma to Yakima in February 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YKM85p1.html|title = YKM85p1}}</ref>  Horizon Air was then acquired by [[Alaska Airlines]] in November 1986 as a wholly owned subsidiary and continues to currently serve Yakima with Alaska Airlines branded service.<ref>"Remember the Magic...The Story of Horizon Air" by Bill Endicott, Turner Publishing Company, ''Alaska Acquires Horizon, page 225''</ref>

Jet service had returned to Yakima by early 1988 when [[Pacific Southwest Airlines]] (PSA) was operating twice daily direct service to San Francisco with both flights making an intermediate stop in Pasco with one of these flights then continuing on from [[SFO]] to [[Orange County Airport]] in southern California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/PS021788p27.html|title = PS021788p27}}</ref>  That same year, PSA was acquired by and merged into [[USAir]] which in late 1988
was operating [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80]] jetliners twice a day nonstop from Seattle/Tacoma with both of these flights originating in San Francisco with twice daily jet service from [[SFO]] to Yakima thus being flown on a direct one stop basis.<ref name="ReferenceA">Dec. 1, 1988 OAG Pocket Flight Guide, North American Edition, Yakima flight schedules</ref>  At this same time, both Horizon Air (operating [[code sharing]] service on behalf of [[Alaska Airlines]]) and [[United Express]] (operated by [[North Pacific Airlines]] on a code sharing basis on behalf of [[United Airlines]]) were also operating nonstop flights from Seattle/Tacoma to the airport, Horizon Air with [[de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8]] and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner propjets, and United Express with [[British Aerospace]] [[BAe Jetstream 31]] propjets with both air carriers also operating nonstop service from Portland, OR to Yakima at this time.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>  According to the [[OAG (company)|OAG]], Horizon Air, United Express and USAir were operating a combined total of 19 nonstop flights every weekday from Seattle/Tacoma to Yakima in late 1988.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>  However, USAir was no longer operating jet service into Yakima by the summer of 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.departedflights.com/US070189.html |title = USAir July 1, 1989 Route Map}}</ref>

During the early and mid 1990s, both Horizon Air (on behalf of [[Alaska Airlines]]) and United Express (operated by [[WestAir Commuter Airlines]] on behalf of [[United Airlines]]) continued to serve Yakima primarily with nonstop flights operated with twin turboprop aircraft from Seattle/Tacoma with Horizon operating nonstop turboprop service from Portland, OR as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YKM91intro.html|title = YKM91intro}}</ref><ref name="YKM95intro">{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YKM95intro.html|title = YKM95intro}}</ref>  In the spring of 1995, Horizon Air was operating all of its nonstop flights from Seattle/Tacoma to Yakima with [[Dornier 328]] propjets while United Express was operating all of its flights from SEA to the airport with [[British Aerospace]] [[BAe Jetstream 31]] propjets.<ref name="YKM95intro"/>  By June 1999, Horizon Air was operating all of its flights to Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) with [[de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8]] turboprops while United Express (operated by [[SkyWest Airlines]] on behalf of United Airlines) was operating all of its flights to SEA with [[Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia]] turboprops with a combined total of 16 daily nonstop flights operated by the two air carriers from the airport to Seattle/Tacoma at this time.<ref>[http://www.departedflights.com/SEA99intro.html Yakima-Seattle/Tacoma flight schedules]</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the airport has two daily passenger flights to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport operated by [[Alaska Airlines]] by their affiliate Horizon Air. The airport has entered discussions with [[Allegiant Airlines]] and [[Avelo Airlines]] to establish a flight to [[Las Vegas]] in the future.<ref name="YHR-Flights2023">{{cite news |last=Donofrio |first=Joel |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Flights resume, with more planned at Yakima airport |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/business/flights-resume-with-more-planned-at-yakima-airport/article_0559612e-8425-11ee-97dd-3f5a94ee38a7.html |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |accessdate=December 29, 2023}}</ref>

==Facilities and aircraft==
[[File:Mcallister Field.JPG|thumb|Photograph of McAllister Field in Yakima taken from the east in June 2006]]

McAllister Field covers 825 [[acre]]s (334 [[hectare|ha]]) at an [[elevation]] of 1,099 feet (335 m) above [[mean sea level]]. It has two asphalt runways: 9/27 is 7,604 by 150 feet (2,318 x 46 m) and 4/22 is 3,835 by 150 feet (1,169 x 46 m).<ref name="FAA" /> The Yakima Air Terminal is equipped with a contract Air Traffic Control Tower, operated by SERCO under a contract with the [[FAA]]. The tower operates daily from 0600 to 2200.

In the year ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 35,588 aircraft operations, average 97 per day, 80% [[general aviation]], 10% military, 7% air taxi and 3% airline. 133 aircraft were then based at this airport, 106 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 5 jet, 6 [[helicopter]]s and 1 glider.<ref name="FAA" />

The airport is home to [[Cub Crafters]], a manufacturer of light sport and light utility aircraft. The airport has one full-service fixed-base operator (FBO), McCormick Air Center, which provides hangar leasing, aircraft rental, flight instruction, and fuel. The airport has one aviation museum known as McAllister Air Museum.

Yakima Air Terminal is designated as the primary diversion site for flights unable to reach [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]]. In December 2023, an [[Airbus A330]] on an international [[Delta Air Lines]] flight from [[London Heathrow Airport]] landed at Yakima due to heavy fog in the Seattle area. It was the largest commercial airliner to land at the airport; due to the lack of customs facilities, passengers were processed by officials who arrived from Western Washington by car.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ochoa |first=Sanitago |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Flight from London to Seattle diverted to Yakima because of fog and fuel |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/flight-from-london-to-seattle-diverted-to-yakima-because-of-fog/article_7566b6e8-a03a-11ee-841e-bf42ca5be16b.html |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |accessdate=December 21, 2023}}</ref> Yakima has been proposed as a potential [[reliever airport]] for the Seattle area by local officials.<ref>{{cite news |last=Donofrio |first=Joel |date=April 1, 2023 |title=Yakima's offer to be part of state’s airport solution praised, questioned at meeting |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/yakima-s-offer-to-be-part-of-state-s-airport-solution-praised-questioned-at-meeting/article_3046defe-cfec-11ed-ade7-3f13dfa9de51.html |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |accessdate=December 21, 2023}}</ref>

{{clear left}}

==Airlines and destinations==
===Passenger===
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport destination list
| [[Alaska Airlines]] | [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]]<ref name="YHR-Flights2023"/>}}

{| class="collapsible collapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:25em; margin:0.2em auto"
|-
! Destinations Map
|-
|{{Location map+ |USA Washington |width=500 |float=center
|caption=Destinations from Yakima Air Terminal
|places=
{{Location map~ |USA Washington |lat=46.5703 |long=-120.5398 |position=left |label={{lower|5px|<small>'''Yakima'''</small>}}|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}
{{Location map~ |USA Washington |lat=47.450165|long=-122.309176 |position=left|label='''<small>[[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |marksize=7 }}
}}
|}

===Cargo===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}}
{{Airport destination list
| AirPac Airlines | [[Boeing Field|Seattle–Boeing]]
| [[Ameriflight]] | [[Boeing Field|Seattle]], [[Spokane International Airport|Spokane]]
| [[FedEx Feeder]] | [[Grant County International Airport|Moses Lake]], [[Spokane International Airport|Spokane]]
}}

==See also==
* [[List of airports in Washington (state)|List of airports in Washington]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.yakimaairterminal.com/ Yakima Air Terminal - McAllister Field], official site
* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/AllStateAirports/Yakima_McAllisterField.htm McAllister Field] at [[WSDOT]] Aviation
* [http://msrmaps.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=12&lat=46.5682&lon=-120.5461&w=800&h=600&lp=---+None+--- Aerial image as of July 1996] from [[USGS]] ''[[The National Map]]''
* {{FAA-diagram|00465|Yakima Air Terminal (YKM)}}
* {{FAA-procedures|YKM|Yakima Air Terminal (YKM)}}
{{US-airport|YKM}}

{{Airports in Washington}}
{{USAAF Training Bases World War II}}

[[Category:Airports in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Yakima, Washington]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Yakima County, Washington]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:USAAF Contract Flying School Airfields]]