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Originally named Orange County Airport, the county Board of Supervisors renamed it in 1979 to honor the actor John Wayne, who resided on Lido Island in nearby Newport Harbor and died that year. The main runway, at 5,701 feet (1,738 m), is one of the shortest of any major airport in the United States, resulting in most passenger aircraft operating from the airport to be no larger than the Boeing 757. However, some larger cargo aircraft, such as the FedEx A310/300, fly from SNA. Some gates are built to handle planes up to the size of a Boeing 767, which can operate with payload/fuel load restrictions. No widebody passenger aircraft are currently in scheduled service to the airport. Carriers operating from the airport must compensate for the very short runway by either limiting range, lowering fuel weight, or imposing aircraft weight restrictions as needed.
John Wayne Airport is the sole commercial airport within Orange County. Even with the presence of commercial airline operations, general aviation use is significant. General aviation operations outnumber commercial operations and several facilities at the airport serve the general aviation and corporate aviation community. The other general aviation airport within the County is Fullerton Municipal Airport. Other commercial airports within close proximity are Long Beach Airport, followed by Los Angeles International Airport and LA/Ontario International Airport. The most prominent airlines at John Wayne Airport are Southwest Airlines (23.3%), American Airlines (14.4%), and United Airlines (12.8%). John Wayne Airport is 14 miles (23 km) from Orange County's signature attraction - the Disneyland Resort. By contrast, Los Angeles International Airport is 35 miles (56 km) from Disneyland.
A statue of the airport's namesake welcomes passengers passing through the arrivals area on the lower level.
The main passenger terminal, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, is named for the late County Supervisor who lobbied for the airport's expansion in the 1980s. The Thomas F. Riley Terminal is divided into two terminal areas, A and B, with temporary satellite buildings serving commuter flights. The Southern side of terminal B will be expanded to allow for six more bridged aircraft gates. Once complete the temporary satellite buildings will be removed and more permanent facilities for commuter flights will be in place. The improvements are allowed under amendments added in 2003 to the 1985 settlement agreement with the local community. Terminal A and B are both within the same Thomas F. Riley building and security screened passengers can move between both terminal areas. Security screening lanes exist in both terminal areas right next to check in. Both security screening areas also have a "Fast Track" lane for first class and elite frequent fliers. Both Terminal A and B host eateries, bars and shops, with a theme restaurant between the airside connecting area of both terminals. In the upper rotunda above the theme restaurant is an American Airlines Admirals Club (Terminal A) and a United Airlines Red Carpet Club (Terminal B). Four baggage claim belts are in the arrivals area, 2 on the terminal A side and 2 on the terminal B side. Immediately outside the baggage claim is the curbside arrivals pickup area. Rental car offices are in between both baggage claim areas with most rental agencies onsite in the lower levels of the parking facility across the arrivals pickup area. Across the roadway from the arrivals pickup area is an island for public transportation including taxis, buses and the Disneyland Resort Express.
Source: wikipedia