Fresno Yosemite Airport: Size, Scale, And Significance

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is a joint military-public airport in Fresno, California, United States. The airport is located in the heart of California's Central Valley and is the primary commercial airport for the San Joaquin Valley and three national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. The airport operates two runways on a property spanning 1,728 acres (699 ha).

The airport spans 1,728 acres

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is a joint military–public airport in Fresno, California, United States. The airport spans 1,728 acres (699 hectares) and is the primary commercial airport for the San Joaquin Valley and three national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon.

The airport's history dates back to 1942 when it opened as Hammer Field, a military airfield during World War II. In 1946, the city of Fresno acquired the property and began constructing a passenger terminal, which opened in 1948 as the Fresno Air Terminal (FAT). The terminal building, which cost $1.5 million, featured long walls of glass for baggage claim and ticketing areas, with a central lobby of solid masonry block adorned with a venetian glass mosaic, "Sky and Ground," by Raymond Rice. Passengers used a tunnel to reach the open-air concourse for boarding.

The current air traffic control tower was built around the same time as the original terminal and opened in 1961. The airport has undergone renovations over the years, and the original terminal building still functions today alongside newer expansions. In 1996, the airport's name was changed to Fresno Yosemite International Airport to attract out-of-state and international visitors to Yosemite National Park.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport offers non-stop flights to several major cities and serves as a hub for various airlines. The airport is also home to several military, law enforcement, firefighting, and medical air units due to its central location within California. The Fresno Air National Guard Base, located on the southeast corner of the airport, is home to the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard.

It has two runways

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is a joint military-public airport in Fresno, California, United States. It is the primary commercial airport for the San Joaquin Valley and three national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. The airport operates two runways on a property spanning 1,728 acres (699 hectares).

The history of the airport dates back to the opening of Chandler Field in November 1929, located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of downtown Fresno. However, it became evident that the small runway at Chandler Field would not be able to accommodate larger airliners in the future. With the onset of World War II, Hammer Field was established as a military airfield in June 1942, just six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war, Hammer Field was inactivated, and the city of Fresno saw the opportunity to repurpose the site for a much-needed larger commercial airport.

In 1946, the War Assets Administration transferred the property to the city, and construction of a passenger terminal began immediately. Two years later, in 1948, the newly renamed Fresno Air Terminal (FAT) opened its doors, welcoming flights from major airlines such as Trans World Airlines (TWA) and United Airlines. These airlines operated routes to San Francisco/Oakland and Los Angeles, transitioning from the smaller Chandler Field to the new airport. The original terminal building, which opened in 1962, featured a unique design with long walls of glass for baggage claim and ticketing areas, flanking a central lobby of solid masonry. This central lobby led to a tunnel that connected to an open-air, remote concourse for boarding. The terminal received recognition from the architectural community, receiving an award from the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Today, the airport continues to serve as a vital transportation hub, offering scheduled passenger flights to major airline hubs within the United States and international service to Mexico. The airport has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic, with double-digit increases almost every year since 2018, excluding 2020 due to the pandemic. To accommodate this growth, the airport is undergoing a major expansion project, including enhancing security screening areas, adding new gates, and constructing a new international arrivals facility.

It's a joint military-public airport

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is a joint military-public airport in Fresno, California, United States. It is the primary commercial airport for the San Joaquin Valley and three national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. The airport is owned and operated by the city of Fresno and operates two runways on a property spanning 1,728 acres (699 ha).

The airport opened in June 1942 as Hammer Field, a military airfield. It was renamed Fresno Air Terminal (FAT) in 1948, and the airport code "FAT" still stands for this former name. In 1996, the airport's name was changed again to Fresno Yosemite International Airport to attract out-of-state and international visitors to Yosemite National Park.

Due to its central location within California, the airport is home to several military, law enforcement, firefighting, and medical air units. The Fresno Air National Guard Base, located on the southeast corner of the airport, is home to the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard. The Fresno Air Attack Base on the eastern side of the airport supports aerial firefighting aircraft. Other government and military operators with facilities at the airport include the California Army National Guard, the California Highway Patrol, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, and the Fresno Police Department.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport has seen significant growth in passenger traffic in recent years, with 2.1 million passengers passing through in 2022, an 11% increase from the previous year. The airport offers scheduled passenger flights to several major airline hubs in the United States and international service to Mexico. As of 2024, the airport is undergoing a major expansion project to expand the security screening area, add new gates, and build a new international arrivals facility.

It's the primary commercial airport for the San Joaquin Valley

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (IATA: FAT, ICAO: KFAT, FAA LID: FAT) is the primary commercial airport for the San Joaquin Valley. It is located in Fresno, California, United States, and is owned and operated by the city of Fresno. The airport spans 1,728 acres (699 hectares) and features two runways.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport has a long history, dating back to its opening as Hammer Field, a military airfield, in June 1942, just six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. After World War II, Hammer Field was inactivated, and the city of Fresno saw the potential to transform it into a commercial airport, much larger than the existing Chandler Field, which had opened in 1929 but could not accommodate larger airliners. In 1946, the War Assets Administration transferred the property to the city, and construction of a passenger terminal began immediately. Two years later, in 1948, the newly renamed Fresno Air Terminal (FAT) opened, with flights to San Francisco/Oakland and Los Angeles operated by Trans World Airlines (TWA) and United Airlines.

The airport's current terminal opened on March 28, 1962, featuring a design that included long walls of glass for baggage claim and ticketing areas, bookending a central lobby of solid masonry. The original terminal building is still in use today, having undergone renovations while preserving its original functions. The air traffic control tower, built around the same time, opened in 1961.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport offers scheduled passenger flights to several major airline hubs within the United States and international service to Mexico. The airport has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic, with double-digit increases almost every year since 2018, excluding 2020 due to the pandemic. As of 2024, the airport is undergoing a major expansion project to enhance security screening, add new gates, and construct a new international arrivals facility.

It's located in Fresno, California

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is located in Fresno, California. It is a joint military-public airport, owned and operated by the city of Fresno. The airport is situated on a property spanning 1,728 acres (699 ha) and operates two runways. Fresno is known for its year-round sunshine and abundance of outdoor activities, including golfing, hiking, snowboarding, skiing, whitewater rafting, boating, and rock climbing. It is also known for its agriculture and wine, as part of the top agricultural region in the United States.

The airport opened in June 1942 as Hammer Field, a military airfield, during World War II. After the war, Hammer Field was inactivated, and the city of Fresno transformed it into a commercial airport. In 1948, the airport opened as the Fresno Air Terminal (FAT), with a $1.5 million terminal featuring long walls of glass for baggage claim and ticketing areas. The original terminal building is still in use today, having undergone renovations.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the primary commercial airport for the San Joaquin Valley and three national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. It offers scheduled passenger flights to major airline hubs in the United States and international service to Mexico. The airport has seen significant growth in passenger traffic in recent years, prompting an expansion project to enhance security screening, add new gates, and build a new international arrivals facility.

The airport's code, FAT, originally stood for Fresno Air Terminal but was changed to Fresno Yosemite International Airport in 1996 to attract out-of-state and international visitors to Yosemite National Park. Fresno is a convenient location for several military, law enforcement, firefighting, and medical air units due to its central location within California. The airport accommodates various government and military operators, including the California Air National Guard and the Fresno Police Department.

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