Yes, you can smoke at Ketchikan International Airport (KTN) — outdoors only, on the curbside in front of the terminal. KTN is a small single-terminal airport reached by ferry from Ketchikan town, and the entire terminal building is smoke-free, so step outside the entrance doors to light up.
How Ketchikan Airport Is Laid Out
KTN sits on Gravina Island, separated from Ketchikan by the Tongass Narrows, so the only way in is the short borough airport ferry across the channel — there is no road or bridge. The original terminal (built in 1973, a single-level building of about 30,000 square feet) has three gates and has long boarded passengers from ground-level ramps rather than jet bridges. A roughly $42 million expansion is under way through 2026, nearly doubling the building to around 56,000 square feet over two storeys, relocating and enlarging the security checkpoint, adding a second-floor holdroom, and fitting passenger boarding bridges — so the layout you encounter may be mid-construction.
Alaska Airlines flies the main jet service (Seattle plus the intra-Alaska “Milk Run” to Juneau, Wrangell and beyond), with Island Air Express and floatplane/charter operators covering smaller communities. Whatever you fly, there is no smoking once you pass the single checkpoint.
Where to Smoke at KTN
Smoke outdoors on the curbside footpath in front of the terminal, away from the entrance doors and pickup lanes. Because KTN has just one compact terminal, there is no dedicated enclosed smoking shelter — the open curb area is where travellers light up while waiting for the ferry, a ride, or their flight. Step well clear of the doors so smoke does not drift inside.
There is no smoking area past security. To smoke after you have checked in, you must leave the secure area, head to the curb, and then re-clear the TSA checkpoint before boarding. On a small island airport with limited screening hours — and the ferry to factor in — build in extra time so you are not rushed back through security.
The borough does not publish a detailed smoking policy or mark a specific designated outdoor zone, so treat the curb-and-step-clear-of-the-doors approach as the practical norm rather than a posted rule. If in doubt, ask staff where smoking is tolerated.
Alaska Setback Rule
Alaska’s Smokefree Workplace Law bans smoking inside public buildings and within a reasonable distance of entrances. Keep at least a few metres clear of the terminal doors and any air intakes when you light up on the curb.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
There is no KTN-specific vaping policy published, but e-cigarettes and vapes are treated like cigarettes under Alaska’s indoor-smoking law: not inside the terminal, and not airside. Vape outdoors, away from the doors and any air intakes, the same as you would smoke.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal building | No | Smoke-free indoors |
| Curbside / front of terminal | Yes | Outdoor area, keep clear of doors |
| After security | No | Exit and re-clear TSA to smoke |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.