CDVmedium airport

Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport

Cordova, United States

Explore Cordova city guide Navigate to this airport

Routes out

Destinations

ICAO

PACV

Elevation

54 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport

CDV

Location

Cordova · AK · United States

Connectivity

3 routes · 2 destinations

Position

60.492°, -145.478° · 54 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

Visa Waiver Program (ESTA), B-1/B-2 Visitor VisasOfficial

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A closer look

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TravelerPulse profile

Remote Alaska gateway serving the Copper River Delta region.

Location

Cordova, United States

Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport is a public airport serving Cordova, Alaska, a small coastal community located in Prince William Sound. The airport is named after Merle K. Smith, a pioneering Alaska bush pilot known by the nickname 'Mudhole,' who played a significant role in developing aviation in the region. Because Cordova is not connected to the Alaska road system, the airport is a critical lifeline for residents, providing access to essential goods, medical services, and connections to larger Alaskan cities. The airport handles scheduled passenger service as well as cargo and charter flights. The facility is owned by the State of Alaska and operates amid challenging weather conditions typical of coastal Alaska, including fog, precipitation, and strong winds that can affect flight operations.

Terminals

The airport has a single small terminal building suited to the low passenger volumes of a remote Alaskan community.

Getting to & from

Ground transportation options are limited, primarily consisting of taxis and private vehicles, as Cordova lacks a road connection to the broader Alaska highway system.

Airlines here

Alaska Airlines subsidiary Ravn Alaska has historically served the airport, with Era Alaska and other regional carriers providing scheduled service over the years.

Notable facts

›Named after legendary Alaska bush pilot Merle 'Mudhole' Smith, a co-founder of Cordova Airlines.
›Cordova is inaccessible by road, making the airport the primary connection to the outside world.
›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 54 feet above sea level near the Copper River Delta.
›IATA code CDV and ICAO code PACV identify this facility in aviation systems.
›Coastal weather, including frequent fog and precipitation, regularly challenges flight operations.

Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (2 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Era Alaska

Alaska Airlines

Routes

CDV → ANC7H · BE1

CDV → ANCAS · 73Q

CDV → YAKAS · 73Q

Aircraft operating here

73Q2 routes BE11 routes

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City & Place Guide

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via CDV? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for United States from official government sources.

United States visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →

Latest news

The Cordova Times· 10/6/2025

Mudhole Smith helped feed Cordova in 1946

Read at The Cordova Times

tsa.gov· 8/26/2020

Alaska officers support their communities

Read at tsa.gov

AOPA· 10/22/2025

No such thing as a little ice

Read at AOPA

FlyTeam· 6/24/2025

Cordova (CDV) to Anchorage (ANC) Flight Schedule

Read at FlyTeam

Alaska's News Source· 3/9/2021

14 airports across Alaska looking to hire 170 plus TSA Officers, $1,000 recruitment Incentive offered

Read at Alaska's News Source

nationalguard.mil· 3/13/2024

Alaska, Maine Guard Conduct Disaster Preparation Exercise

Read at nationalguard.mil

About on Wikipedia

Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport

Airport

Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located 11 nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Cordova, a city in the Chugach Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska which has no road access to the outside world. Airline service is subsidized by the…

Read on Wikipedia

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA. May be out of date — verify important details.