Santa Barbara Airport: A Compact Aviation Hub

Santa Barbara Airport, also known as Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, is located about 10 miles from downtown Santa Barbara, California. The airport is owned and operated by the City and has been in operation since 1941. It is the busiest commercial service airport on the California coast between San Jose and Burbank, serving as an integral part of the National Air Transportation System. The airport covers 942 acres, including 400 acres of wetlands and 87 acres of commercial/industrial property. Santa Barbara Airport has been recognised for its environmental sustainability and was nominated for Best Small Airport in the 2025 Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards.

Runways and terminal buildings

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) is located 7 miles west of Santa Barbara, California, and covers 948 acres of land. The airport has three runways in use: 7/25 and two parallel runways 15/33. The airport originally had an additional runway, 3/21, but this was removed due to the development of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the construction of hangars for the Aero Spacelines Super Guppy.

The terminal building at Santa Barbara Airport is a Spanish Colonial Revival-style structure that was designed to reflect the local culture and sense of place of Santa Barbara. The terminal is a safe and beautiful space for passengers, offering a variety of amenities such as free Wi-Fi, dining options, locally-owned shopping, a lactation pod, family restrooms, and unique artwork. The terminal is also registered as a "Safe Space" for the LGBTQI+ community through the Safe Space Alliance.

The original Spanish-style terminal building was commissioned by United Airlines in 1942 and designed by the architectural team of William Edwards and Joseph Plunkett. In 1967 and 1976, additions were made to the historic terminal, but these were later removed, and the original building was restored and raised to meet modern flood plain regulations. The terminal was then incorporated into the new terminal building, which was completed in 2011.

The new terminal building is a sustainable structure that is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The $63 million project included a new aircraft parking ramp, a new terminal building, site preparation, soil stabilization, and a reconfigured short-term parking lot. The terminal building is 72,000 square feet, with 60,000 square feet of new construction and 7,000 square feet of the historic terminal.

Location and transport links

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (IATA: SBA, ICAO: KSBA, FAA LID: SBA) is located 7 miles (6 nmi or 11 km) west of downtown Santa Barbara, California, United States. The airport is situated off State Route 217 at the Sandspit Road exit and can also be reached from US 101 by taking State Route 217 or exiting off Fairview Avenue. The airfield covers 948 acres (384 ha) of land and is placed near the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the city of Goleta. It is mostly 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 4.6 m) above sea level and borders a wetland area, the Goleta Slough.

The airport is accessible by car, with short-term and long-term parking available at the terminal, and an economy parking lot located near Lopez Road and Hollister Avenue, north of the airport. For those travelling by bus, the Santa Barbara MTD Route 11 stops on Moffett Road across from the terminals, connecting to the MTD Transit Center, which is approximately one mile from the Santa Barbara station served by Amtrak. Taxis and private shuttles are also available from designated zones outside the terminal.

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport offers multiple daily nonstop flights to and from various destinations, including LAX, SFO, SEA, PDX, DEN, PHX, DFW, ATL, and SLC. Southwest Airlines, which began operating flights to Santa Barbara in 2021, provides daily nonstop flights to Las Vegas (LAS), Oakland (OAK), Denver (DEN), and Sacramento (SMF). Additionally, Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), located about 85 miles southeast of Santa Barbara, offers flights on several domestic carriers.

The airport has a rich history, with aviation in the area dating back to 1914 when Lincoln J. Beachey flew an airplane across Goleta Valley. In 1928, Gordon Sackett and Royce Stetson established a flight school after landing a Hisso-powered airplane in a cow pasture near the corner of Hollister and Fairview Avenues. This first airstrip marked the beginning of what would become the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. During World War II, the airport became MCAS Santa Barbara, serving as an aviator training base for the U.S. Marines. It reverted to a civilian airport in 1946.

History and ownership

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (IATA: SBA, ICAO: KSBA, FAA LID: SBA) is located 7 miles (6 nmi; 11 km) west of downtown Santa Barbara, California, United States. The airfield covers 948 acres (384 ha) of land and has three runways.

Aviation in the Santa Barbara area began in 1914 when Lincoln J. Beachey flew an airplane across Goleta Valley. Two years later, the Loughead brothers, who later changed their name to Lockheed, established a seaplane factory on State Street (Alco Hydro-Aeroplane Company) and constructed a wooden ramp on West Beach to launch their planes. In 1928, Gordon Sackett and Royce Stetson landed a Hisso-powered airplane in a cow pasture near the corner of Hollister and Fairview Avenues and set up a flight school. This first airstrip marked the beginning of what was to become the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.

As airplane manufacturing grew in the late 1930s, the airstrip developed into an airfield. Western General set up shop and began producing Meteor airplanes, while Santa Barbara Airways' founder Frederick Stearns II built two additional runways and two large hangars. Stearns also installed the first radio equipment at the airfield.

In 1939, the United States Government established a program to build 250 airports across the country on a cost-sharing basis with local governments. Thomas M. Storke secured Santa Barbara's enrollment in the program, and in 1941, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.

With the outbreak of World War II, the airport became MCAS Santa Barbara (Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara) in 1942, an aviator training base for the U.S. Marines. It was expanded further with the addition of many hangars and other buildings and served as a vital base for military aircraft.

After the war, in 1946, the airport reverted to civilian use. The original Spanish-style terminal building, commissioned by United Airlines in 1942, was designed by William Edwards and Joseph Plunkett, an architectural team whose work helped shape the Mediterranean style of the city.

In the 1980s, Santa Barbara-based Apollo Airways, a commuter airline that later changed its name to Pacific Coast Airlines, operated nonstop flights to several destinations in California. Another locally-based airline, Connectair, also operated non-stop flights to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Jose, California.

In 2019, the airport was categorized as a small hub primary airport by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with 510,141 enplanements. As of 2024, the airport is served by several major airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

Santa Barbara Airport has been recognised for its convenience, coastal charm, and seamless travel experiences. It was nominated for the 2025 Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards for Best Small Airport and received an award from the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce in 2025.

Environmental impact

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, located about 10 miles from downtown Santa Barbara, is a "small hub" airport recognised as one of the busiest commercial service airports on the California coast. The airport, owned and operated by the city, spans 942 acres, including 400 acres of wetlands and 87 acres of commercial/industrial property.

The Santa Barbara Airport has been actively working on environmental initiatives and implementing the largest environmental restoration project on the south-central coast since 2000. Approximately half of the airport property, about 430 acres, is dedicated to the Goleta Slough State Marine Park, a coastal wetland recognised as one of the few remaining saltmarsh habitats in California. The airport is committed to the stewardship of the Slough, managing 55 acres of the Park through planting, maintenance, and monitoring as part of its restoration efforts.

The airport's Master Plan Update (MPU) aims to provide guidance for future development that is compatible with the environment. It involves evaluating the environmental impact of proposed projects and incorporating sustainable practices to minimise negative consequences. This includes addressing noise concerns by working with airlines, Fixed Base Operators (FBOs), and flight schools to ensure agreed-upon take-off and landing paths are respected.

In the past, the airport has had to use PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)-containing foams for firefighting and equipment testing due to federal regulations. However, PFAS are highly durable and resistant to natural degradation, leading to their accumulation in the environment. In 2022, Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop a plan for airports to transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams, prioritising environmental and health concerns.

The airport's new terminal building, constructed in 2011, incorporates environmentally sustainable elements and is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Airlines and destinations

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, located about 10 miles from downtown Santa Barbara, offers 23 daily nonstop flights to 12 major destinations. The airport serves as a hub for Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines.

Southwest Airlines, which began operating flights to Santa Barbara in April 2021, offers daily nonstop flights to Las Vegas, Oakland, Denver, and Sacramento. These services are operated using Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, and Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

In the 1980s, Santa Barbara-based Apollo Airways (later renamed Pacific Coast Airlines) offered nonstop flights to various destinations in California, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Jose, Monterey, Fresno, and Bakersfield. Additionally, they provided direct flights to Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. By the spring of 1982, Pacific Coast Airlines had expanded its services to include nonstop flights to Ontario, CA, and Santa Maria.

Another local airline, Connectair, operated Fairchild F-27J turboprops with nonstop flights to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Jose, California.

The airport is easily accessible by road, with connections to State Route 217 and US 101. It also offers parking options, including short-term, long-term, and economy lots, providing convenience for travellers.

Frequently asked questions