Santa Fe Airport: A Small Hub With Big Plans

Santa Fe Regional Airport is a public airport in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It is located 10 miles (16 km) southwest of the city centre and is the second busiest commercial airport in New Mexico. The airport covers 2,128 acres (861 ha) and is one of the highest in elevation in the US at 6,348 feet (1,935 m) above sea level. Santa Fe Regional Airport first opened in 1941 as a military airfield during World War II and has since expanded to include three asphalt runways, with the latest expansion completed in April 2024. The airport offers regional jet flights to various destinations, including Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Denver, and Houston, and also sees a significant amount of private jet activity.

Santa Fe Regional Airport covers 2,128 acres at an elevation of 6,348 feet

Santa Fe Regional Airport is a public airport in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It is located 10 miles (or 16 kilometres) southwest of the city centre and serves the greater Santa Fe and Los Alamos areas. The airport is one of the highest in elevation in the United States, sitting at 6,348 feet (1,935 metres) above sea level. Covering 2,128 acres (or 861 hectares), it is the second busiest commercial airport in New Mexico, behind Albuquerque International Sunport.

Santa Fe Regional Airport first opened in 1941 as a military airfield during World War II. After the war, the airport was sold to the city, and all commercial activity was moved from the former Santa Fe Municipal Airport. The airport has since undergone several expansions and renovations, with a recent expansion completed in April 2024, which included a 7,500-foot addition to the terminal and a remodelling of the entire terminal building.

The airport has three asphalt runways, the longest of which is Runway 2/20, measuring 8,366 feet by 150 feet (2,550 metres by 46 metres). In the 12 months ending December 31, 2021, the airport recorded 57,300 aircraft operations, averaging 157 per day. Of these, 83% were general aviation, 6% military, 6% commercial, and 5% air taxi.

Santa Fe Regional Airport is served by major airlines such as American Eagle and United Express, offering regional jet flights to destinations like Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Denver, and Houston. The airport also sees a significant amount of private jet activity and is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility for the New Mexico Army National Guard.

It is one of the highest airports in the US

Santa Fe Regional Airport in New Mexico is one of the highest airports in the US, with an elevation of 6348 feet (1935 m) above sea level. This makes it the second busiest commercial airport in New Mexico, behind Albuquerque International Sunport. Santa Fe Regional Airport covers 2,128 acres (861 ha) and has three asphalt runways. The airport first opened in 1941 as a military airfield as the United States entered World War II. After the war, the airport was sold to the city, and all commercial activity was moved from the former Santa Fe Municipal Airport.

Since 2009, the airport has seen a significant increase in airline activity, with regional jet services introduced by major airlines. The expansion included a 7500-foot addition to the north side of the terminal and a remodelling of the entire terminal. The parking area was also rebuilt, with the addition of three new long-term lots. As of 2024, the airport offers flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Denver, and Houston. The airport also sees a considerable amount of private jet activity.

The airport is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) for the New Mexico Army National Guard, with Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters based there. Santa Fe Regional Airport is a full-service international airport, offering a cost-effective, time-efficient, and accessible option for residents and tourists alike. The shorter time to the gate and more affordable parking compared to other nearby airports make it a popular choice.

The airport has three asphalt runways

Santa Fe Regional Airport (IATA: SAF, ICAO: KSAF, FAA LID: SAF) is a public airport in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It is located 10 miles (16 km) southwest of the city centre and is one of the highest airports in elevation in the country at 6348 feet (1935 metres) above sea level.

Santa Fe Regional Airport covers 2128 acres (861 hectares) and is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) for the New Mexico Army National Guard. The airport serves the greater Santa Fe and Los Alamos areas and is the second busiest commercial airport in New Mexico. It offers regional jet flights to destinations such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Denver, and Houston.

The airport has undergone expansion, with a 7500-foot addition to the north side of the terminal and a remodelled terminal. A second phase of expansion is planned, which includes a 13000-foot addition to the south side, providing a new departure gate and a restaurant.

It is a full-service international airport

Santa Fe Regional Airport (IATA: SAF, ICAO: KSAF, FAA LID: SAF) is a full-service international airport. It is located in Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States, about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of the city centre. The airport serves the greater Santa Fe and Los Alamos areas.

Santa Fe Airport is the second busiest commercial airport in New Mexico, behind the Albuquerque International Sunport. It is one of the highest in elevation in the United States, at 6348 feet (1935 metres) above sea level. The airport is currently served by American Eagle, with regional jet flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix, as well as by United Express, with regional jets to Denver and Houston. The airport also sees a significant amount of private jet activity by NetJets and other companies.

As a full-service international airport, Santa Fe Airport offers a range of facilities and services to meet the needs of both passengers and aircraft. The airport has three asphalt runways, capable of accommodating various aircraft types, including regional jets and private jets. The airport also has a terminal building that provides the usual amenities, such as gates, ticketing, baggage claim, and restaurants.

In addition to commercial and private aviation, Santa Fe Airport also supports general aviation, military operations, and air taxi services. The airport is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) for the New Mexico Army National Guard, which operates Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. The airport also has a variety of based aircraft, including single-engine and multi-engine airplanes, jet aircraft, and helicopters.

Santa Fe Airport has recently undergone expansion and renovation. The first phase of the project, completed in April 2024, included a 7500-foot addition to the north side of the terminal, remodelling of the entire terminal, and the rebuilding of the parking area with three new long-term lots. The second phase of the expansion will add 13,000 feet to the south side of the terminal, including a new departure gate area and a restaurant.

Santa Fe Airport has seen an increase in airline activity since 2009

Santa Fe Regional Airport (IATA: SAF, ICAO: KSAF, FAA LID: SAF) is a public airport in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States, located about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of the city centre. The airport serves the greater Santa Fe and Los Alamos areas and is the second busiest commercial airport in New Mexico. It is one of the highest in elevation in the United States at 6348 feet above sea level.

Santa Fe Airport has indeed seen an increase in airline activity since 2009. The airport first opened in 1941 as a military airfield during World War II. After the war, the airport was sold to the city, and commercial activity shifted to what was then called Santa Fe Municipal Airport. In 2007, the airport lost all airline service, but it resumed in 2009 with the introduction of its first major airline code-share flights using regional jets. Since then, the airport has experienced a significant increase in passenger boardings, growing from 43,329 in 2011 to 142,057 in 2019. This increase in activity led to the airport being reclassified as a "commercial service - primary nonhub airport" in the 2019-2023 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).

The resumption of services in 2009 was preceded by negotiations between the city's government and airlines, who agreed to share the cost of upgrades to allow regional jet flights. In 2007, Delta Air Lines and American Eagle announced new regional jet services, but these were suspended pending federal approval of an environmental assessment. American Eagle was the first to resume services in June 2009, with daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). By 2010, American Eagle had added two more flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, and a fourth by 2011.

To accommodate the growing number of passengers, the airport has undergone several expansions and renovations. In 2016, the terminal was remodelled to create more gate space, and the airport manager's office was converted into a baggage claim room. In 2017, the Santa Fe City Council approved a significant expansion plan, which included expanding the terminal, adding a new baggage claim area and rental car facilities, and constructing a new parking lot with 750 spaces. The expansion work began in 2022 and was completed in April 2024, with a 7500-foot addition to the north side of the terminal and a complete rebuild of the parking area. A second phase of expansion is planned, which will include a 13,000-foot addition to the south side of the terminal, providing a new departure gate area and a restaurant.

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