1948
Congress approves $13,000,000 to fund two "international type" airports in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Anchorage soon constructs an 8,400-foot east/west runway and a 5,000-foot north/south runway. 1951 Airfield operations begin in December.

1950
The 1950s marked an American aviation milestone with the 1953 opening of Anchorage International Airport, destined to become the "Air Crossroads of the World." In the early fifties, the Anchorage Airport was essential to Alaska with an estimated 90% of Alaska's passenger traffic and 65% of its mail transported by Anchorage-based airlines.

1952
Construction of the first terminal for Anchorage International Airport begins.

1953
A ceremony officially opens the first Airport terminal.

1955
At Lake Hood, the floatplane complex is enlarged and aircraft parking is expanded.

1957
Europe to Asia "over the pole" commercial traffic begins to transit Anchorage.

1959
On January 3, Alaska becomes the 49th State, and the U.S. transfers ownership of Anchorage International Airport to the new state at an estimated value of $11,650,000.

In the 1960s
Anchorage established itself as the "Air Crossroads of the World." Seven international carriers used the Airport as a regular stop-over on routes between Europe, Asia, and the Eastern U.S., increasing business at the Airport. Jet service grew, requiring larger, re-engineered runways.

1960
As the decade opens, the Airport's original east/west runway is extended from 8,400 to 10,600 feet.

1964
North America's largest earthquake (Magnitude 9.2) rocks Southcentral Alaska. Airport damage includes the collapse of the main control tower. The Lake Hood tower is functional and provides air traffic service for the Anchorage Airport until a temporary tower can be built.

1965
The temporary control tower, east of Concourse A, comes on line and is used until the existing tower is completed in 1977.

1966
The International Hexagon Terminal, called "the Hex," comes on line.

1969
Concourse B, the ticket lobby, and baggage claim are constructed. This space will become the South Terminal.

In the 1970s
North Slope oil and the eight-billion-dollar trans-Alaska Pipeline, brought substantial business to Anchorage and commercial opportunities to the entire state. In this decade, international passenger traffic increased dramatically.

1970
The International Hexagon Terminal is attached to the rest of the South Terminal.

1975
Another channel is dredged between Lake Hood and Lake Spenard. The first dredged channel connected the lakes in 1938. Five tie-down channels (called "The Fingers") are constructed.

1977
The Lake Hood tower is decommissioned as all traffic control moves to the new Anchorage tower.

1978
Construction begins for the international satellite terminal, later to be called the North Terminal.

1978
President Jimmy Carter signs the Airline Deregulation Act, deregulating the domestic airline industry. The Act spurs growth in passenger travel and industry consolidation.

The 1980s
Began as a prosperous decade thanks to oil royalties. Then, oil prices began sliding, causing major cuts in state budgets. Local property values and domestic traffic at the Airport dropped. International passenger traffic steadily increased throughout most of the 1980s. In 1989 Russian airspace was opened allowing alternate routes for international flights.

1980
A new 10,496-foot north/south runway is completed. The North International Terminal is completed.

1986
Mt. Augustine erupts, bringing air traffic to a temporary halt.

1987
A parking garage with 1,200 parking spaces is built for the South Terminal.

1989-1990
FedEx and UPS begin major transpacific sorting hubs in Anchorage.

1989
Russian airspace opens.

As the Millennium drew to a close, the airline industry in Alaska continued to evolve. While international passenger traffic dropped off in the early 1990s due to alternative routes, other sectors flourished. The 1990s saw numerous expansion projects at the Airport for both the public and private sectors. Air cargo operators began or expanded hubs in Anchorage and domestic passenger traffic increased.

1990
International passenger traffic continues to drop as larger, longer-range jets come on-line.

1994
International passenger traffic decline bottoms out and begins to increase.

1995-1996
The north/south runway was extended more than 1,000 feet to 11,584 feet.

1999
The South Terminal undergoes major renovation and construction begins on a new 440,000 square foot concourse. Parking lots and road access are improved.

2000
In honor of Alaska's Senior U.S. Senator, the Airport is renamed-Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

2001
Terrorists hijack four commercial passenger jets on September 11, using three to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The fourth goes down in a Pennsylvania field. For the first time in U.S. aviation history, the Federal Aviation Administration closes U.S. air space for three full days.

2000-2004
Construction continues on the 440,000 square foot C Concourse.

2003
The Airport strengthens and reconstructs its north/south runway, and adds a new north/south taxiway that parallels the reconstructed runway.

2005
The Airport opens it's new 115,755-square-foot airside Field Maintenance Facility, housing heavy equipment, snow graders, and other Airport maintenance vehicles.

2007
The Anchorage Rental Car Center opens July 18, 2007. This new, first-class facility is located on a five-acre site immediately east of the Airport. It is the 14th center in the nation where all on-airport car rental concessionaires are located in one building with all of their quick turnaround services. The facility connects to the Airport by means of a tunnel from the Airport's south terminal. More information here.

2007-2009
The Airport began the South Terminal Seismic and Security Retrofit Project in the fall of 2007. Over the course of the project, portions of the B Concourse were closed down for major renovation including seismic enhancements, relocation and increased capacity of the security screening area, and a complete redesign of the ticketing lobby and gate area.

2010
During the summer of 2010, the Airport reconstructs the east half of the southerly east/west runway (Runway 7R/25L). The runway was reopened for full operations in the fall of 2010.

2011
October 2011 celebrated the opening of the new Badging and Dispatch Offices in the old North Terminal staff offices. The reconstruction and lengthening (1,500 feet) of the west half of the southerly east/west runway (Runway 7R/25L) was completed in the fall of 2011.