Stockton California: Airport Or No Airport?

Stockton, California, is served by the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, a joint civil-military airport located three miles southeast of downtown Stockton. The airport is easily accessible from both Highway 99 and Interstate 5 and is a great alternative to the Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose Airports.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport's location

Stockton Metropolitan Airport (IATA: SCK, ICAO: KSCK, FAA LID: SCK) is located three miles southeast of downtown Stockton, California. The airport is owned by the County of San Joaquin and categorised as a primary commercial service airport by the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport is situated at 5000 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. The airport can be contacted by phone at 209-468-4700 or via its website, www.flystockton.com.

The airport was previously known as Stockton Municipal Airport, which was jointly operated by the City of Stockton and the County of San Joaquin from December 16, 1946, onwards. On July 11, 1964, the airport was renamed Stockton Metropolitan Airport to reflect its transition into a civil airport.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport has a rich history, particularly in relation to military activity. In the lead-up to World War II, the U.S. Army entered into a lease agreement with the City of Stockton to establish an Army training facility at the airport. During the war, the airport, then known as Stockton Field, served as a training installation under the West Coast Training Center. The U.S. Army retained a presence at the airport until January 31, 1948, when the City of Stockton and the County of San Joaquin jointly assumed administration. The airport continues to have a military presence today, with ground and Army Aviation activities of the California Army National Guard.

Airport history and previous names

Stockton, California, is served by the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, a joint civil-military airport located three miles southeast of downtown Stockton, in San Joaquin County. The airport is owned by the County of San Joaquin and is categorised as a primary commercial service airport.

In the months preceding World War II, the U.S. Army entered into a lease agreement with the City of Stockton to build and operate an Army training facility at Stockton Municipal Airport. The Stockton Army Airfield was initially garrisoned by the 68th Air Base Group (Special) under the Air Corps Advanced Flying School. Between 1940 and 1945, the airfield served as a training installation under the West Coast Training Center (later the Western Flying Training Command).

After World War II, the City of Stockton and the County of San Joaquin resumed operating the airport under a joint (interim) licence. On December 16, 1946, the City of Stockton and the County of San Joaquin officially took over operations of the former Stockton Municipal Airport.

In 1948, the Stockton General Depot Field Annex, located adjacent to the southwest portion of the current Stockton Metropolitan Airport, was renamed the Sharpe General Depot Field Annex when the Stockton General Depot was redesignated as the Sharpe General Depot. The U.S. Army, except for the Sharpe General Depot Field Annex, left Stockton Field by January 31, 1948.

During the Korean War, the Sharpe General Depot Field Annex was used primarily for family housing, recreational activities, and other support facilities for the Sharpe General Depot. In 1952, a new National Guard Armory was built on state-owned land south of the site.

In 1958, the Sharpe General Depot received a Fourth Echelon Air Maintenance Support mission for U.S. Army aircraft within the Sixth U.S. Army Area. The site provided maintenance support to U.S. Army rotary and fixed-wing liaison aircraft. During 1959 and 1960, construction of a new airstrip, hangar, and shop at the Sharpe Army Depot curtailed the military's use of Stockton Airport. In June 1961, the Aircraft Field Maintenance Activity was transferred to Fort Ord, California.

United Airlines served Stockton from 1946 until 1980 and operated the city's first jet flights in late 1968. Today, the Stockton Metropolitan Airport continues to have a military presence with both ground and Army Aviation activities of the California Army National Guard.

Airlines that serve the airport

Stockton, California is served by Stockton Metropolitan Airport (IATA: SCK, ICAO: KSCK, FAA LID: SCK), a joint civil-military airport located three miles southeast of downtown Stockton. The airport is owned by the County of San Joaquin and categorised as a primary commercial service airport by the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport is served by Allegiant Airlines, which operates non-stop flights to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Denver. Allegiant Airlines is a low-cost carrier that offers affordable and convenient travel options for passengers.

Historically, United Airlines served Stockton from 1946 until 1980 and operated the airport's first jet flights in late 1968. The airport also has a history of military aviation, with the U.S. Army utilising the site for training and aircraft maintenance during World War II and the Korean War.

Today, the airport continues to have a military presence with the California Army National Guard, which operates CH-47 Chinook and UH-72 Lakota helicopters from the facility.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport provides a convenient alternative to nearby airports in Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. It offers easy accessibility, with Highway 99 and Interstate 5 nearby, and affordable daily parking rates of $10 per day.

Passenger statistics

Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) is a small regional airport located in San Joaquin County, California, serving the county and its surrounding areas. The airport has historically focused more on cargo, general aviation, and military aviation than commercial passenger services, but it does offer some commercial flights. The airport is a convenient alternative to Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK), San Francisco (SFO), and San Jose (SJC) Airports.

The airport's passenger volume is significantly lower than that of major airports in California, making it a less crowded and more convenient option for travellers. Allegiant Air, a low-cost carrier, offers flights to destinations such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Diego. Allegiant's load factors for flights from Stockton are reported to be about 90%, indicating high demand for their services. The airline has also offered seasonal flights to various destinations, such as Phoenix–Mesa and San Diego, but has since discontinued these routes.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport provides a range of amenities to enhance the travel experience for its passengers. These include convenient parking options, car rental services, a comfortable passenger terminal with seating areas, free Wi-Fi, and vending machines for snacks and beverages. The airport also features a full-service restaurant and bar, as well as a Subway. The terminal building covers 44,355 square feet and can accommodate almost 400 passengers in its hold room, as well as up to five aircraft at a time once apron upgrades are complete.

Military presence at the airport

Stockton, California, does have an airport, known as Stockton Metropolitan Airport (IATA: SCK, ICAO: KSCK, FAA LID: SCK). It is located three miles southeast of downtown Stockton, in San Joaquin County, California.

Stockton Metropolitan Airport is a joint civil-military airport. The U.S. Army has had a presence at the airport since before World War II when, on August 15, 1940, the City of Stockton entered into a lease agreement with the U.S. Army to build and operate an Army training facility at Stockton Municipal Airport. The airport was renamed Stockton Field and served as a training installation under the West Coast Training Center. The 68th Air Base Group (Special) was the first to be garrisoned at the airfield under the Air Corps Advanced Flying School.

During the Korean War, the site was used for family housing, recreational activities, and other support facilities for the Sharpe General Depot. The 164th Field Artillery Battalion of the California Army National Guard occupied a small part of the Sharpe General Depot Troop Field Annex until a new National Guard Armory was built on state-owned land south of the site in 1952.

In 1958, the Sharpe General Depot received a mission to provide maintenance support to U.S. Army aircraft within the Sixth U.S. Army Area. This support continued into the Vietnam War, with the Depot becoming the Army's key west coast installation and the chief provider of supplies for U.S. military personnel in Vietnam.

In the early 1970s, the need for soldiers at the Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex decreased as military positions were converted to civil service roles. The U.S. Army vacated the field in 1973, and the land and buildings reverted to the County.

Today, the California Army National Guard maintains a presence at the airport, with facilities including a National Guard Armory, Field and Combined Support Maintenance Shops, and an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) located just south of the former Field Annex site. The main aviation units operating at the airport are the Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Company A of the 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, which operate the CH-47 Chinook and the UH-72 Lakota.

Frequently asked questions