The Port of Orcas will close Runway 16/34 at Orcas Island Airport from September 8 through September 23, 2026, so crews can pave the field that serves Eastsound. The Port’s own schedule also closes Taxiway A and the terminal apron for that window, while the helipad stays open for emergency medical flights.
Kenmore Air is already telling passengers that Orcas Island Airport will be closed September 8 through 23 for repaving, which knocks out the usual 40 minute Kenmore Air Express hop from Boeing Field. If you are bound for lodging in the San Juan Islands, treat those 16 days as a no fly arrival at Eastsound and lock a ferry, a different island airport, or a new Kenmore itinerary before Labor Day ends.
- Runway closure: September 8 through 23, 2026, at Orcas Island Airport (KORS) in Eastsound, Washington.
- What stays open: The helipad, with no interruption to EMS helicopter flights, according to the Port of Orcas.
- Airline warning: Kenmore Air says the airport will be closed those dates for repaving and points travelers to the Port.
- Next step: Do not book a Kenmore Air Express landing at Eastsound inside the window. Use the Anacortes ferry or another San Juan field, then recheck after September 23.
Project Schedule Overview
– a three phase pavement project with the FAA and the Washington State Department of Transportation to resurface and reseal the runway, taxiways, and apron without expanding the airport’s footprint.
Phase 1 – Preparatory Work
August 29 – September 7
The airport will remain fully operational during this phase while crews begin site preparation, including:
- Demolition and pavement removal
- Installation of stormwater pipes and drainage structures
- Pavement excavation and localized base repairs
September 8 – September 23
This phase includes the most significant construction activities and requires closure of Runway 16-34. The helipad will remain open throughout this closure period, with no interruption to EMS flights.
Work will include:
- Demolition and pavement removal
- Installation of stormwater pipes and drainage structures
- Pavement excavation and repair
- Paving of Runway 16-34
- Paving of the south terminal apron
- Crack sealing and seal coating of blast pads, apron areas, and taxi lanes
- Placement of initial runway markings
This is the period when the majority of visible progress will occur, transforming decades-old pavement into a renewed airfield surface designed to serve the community for many years to come.
Phase 3 – Final Airfield Improvements
September 24 – October 3
Following runway reopening, crews will complete remaining airfield improvements, including:
- Paving Taxiway A and the northern portion of the terminal apron
- Placement of initial taxiway and apron markings
- Installation of aircraft tie-down anchors
During this phase, airport users may encounter localized construction activity, but the runway is expected to be available for normal operations.