Fairbanks International Airport Control Tower to Close Overnight This Weekend

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) – Fairbanks International Airport’s air traffic control tower will halt operations overnight starting this weekend. According to information received by Alaska’s News Source, the closure will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time, commencing Sunday, Oct. 19, at 0600 UTC. This measure will remain until further notice, with a tentative cancellation date set for Oct. 31, 2027, at 1200 UTC.

During the tower’s closure, no air traffic controllers will be guiding flights. Instead, aviation communication will occur through a shared radio frequency, allowing pilots to follow federal regulations that permit landings without tower clearance. While the Class D airspace will stay active, air traffic services associated with it will be unavailable. Pilots are advised that terminal radar services will not function, and the Fairbanks Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) will also be inactive during these times. In addition, the runway visual range will not be operational, with preset lighting based purely on forecast conditions. Concerns have emerged among travelers, particularly regarding the safety implications of flying without tower oversight, reflecting mixed feelings about the upcoming changes.