California's Commercial Airports: How Many Are There?

California has a significant number of international airports. With 9 large and medium hub airports and more than a dozen smaller ones, it is one of the best-covered states in the USA in terms of air traffic. The state has 27 primary commercial airports, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and San Diego International Airport (SAN). LAX is the busiest and largest airport in California, serving about one-third of the state's total passenger traffic.

California's busiest airports

California has 24 to 27 primary commercial airports, including several that offer international flights. The state's airports are grouped into three categories: international, domestic, and regional. International airports can process customs and immigration and have flights to and from other countries, as well as domestic flights. Domestic airports schedule flights within the country, and regional airports are a type of domestic airport that serves a limited geographic area and handles fewer flights annually than other domestic or international airports.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is California's largest and busiest airport, serving about one-third of the state's total passenger traffic. It is a hub for several airlines, including American, Delta, United, and Air New Zealand, and it offers unmatched global connectivity. LAX is located about 30 km southwest of downtown LA and can be accessed by public transportation, airport shuttles, taxis, and car rentals.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

SFO is California's second busiest airport and one of the busiest in the US. It is a major gateway to Asia and Europe and is located about 20 km south of downtown San Francisco. SFO is a hub for United and Alaska Airlines, and popular domestic destinations include LA and Seattle. Internationally, it serves London and Hong Kong.

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

SAN is a major US airport located 5 km north of the city, serving mostly domestic routes with some connections to Europe, Mexico, Canada, and Japan. It is a hub for several airlines, including Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Delta, and United. Popular domestic destinations include West Coast cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and San Jose.

San Jose International Airport (SJC)

SJC serves the city of San Jose in the Bay Area. It is located about 5 km north of downtown and offers a tech-forward travel experience in the heart of Silicon Valley. Guadalajara is its top international connection, while LA and San Diego are leading domestic routes. Southwest Airlines, Alaska, and Delta are the top carriers at this airport.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Oakland Airport is the second-largest airport in the SF Bay Area, handling mostly domestic routes and flights to Mexico. With 13 airlines and over 50 destinations, it is among California's busiest airports. Popular domestic destinations include Las Vegas, LA, and San Diego, while Barcelona and London are top international connections.

Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Sacramento Airport is the main gateway to Sacramento and is located about 15 km north of the city. It is known for its convenience and serves destinations beyond the capital region, including Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite National Park. San Diego and LA are its top US destinations, and Southwest Airlines is the main carrier.

John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)

John Wayne Airport, named after the famous actor, is located within 10 km of Santa Ana, Irvine, Newport Beach, and Irvine. It provides easy access to Southern California's beaches and attractions, with a focus on domestic connections, mainly served by Southwest Airlines, United, Delta, and American Airlines.

Ontario International Airport (ONT)

Ontario International Airport is located in Southern California, 3 km east of Central Ontario and 65 km east of Downtown LA. It serves other cities in San Bernardino County and offers domestic and international options. Phoenix and Dallas are its busiest routes, and Southwest Airlines and low-cost Frontier are among the carriers operating here.

Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)

Burbank Airport, also known as Bob Hope Airport, is located in the greater LA area, about 25 km north of the city. It serves several cities, including Burbank, Pasadena, and Glendale, and offers mostly domestic connections. JetBlue, JSX, and Southwest Airlines are some of the airlines operating from this airport.

LAX: California's largest airport

California is served by 25 major airports, including 4 top international airports. LAX, or Los Angeles International Airport, is California's largest airport and the eighth busiest in the world. In 2024, it served 76,587,980 passengers, a 2.04% increase from 2023.

LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles southwest of downtown LA. It covers 3,500 acres of land and has four parallel runways. The airport is operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a branch of the Los Angeles city government. LAX is the closest airport to the Westside and the South Bay.

LAX is a major international gateway for the US, serving as a connection point for passengers travelling to and from East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America. It is the only airport to rank among the top five US airports for both passenger and cargo traffic. The airport is served by all major US airlines and most transoceanic and North American international carriers.

LAX has 161 gates across nine passenger terminals, arranged in the shape of a U or horseshoe. The distinctive Theme Building, built in 1961, resembles a flying saucer and features a restaurant suspended beneath two arches that form the legs. The building was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1992.

LAX is currently undergoing a major expansion, with all terminals being refurbished and new facilities being added, including a new LAX/Metro Transit Centre station and a Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility. These projects are expected to cost $30 billion and will bring LAX's total gates from 146 to 182.

SFO: California's second-busiest airport

California has 25 major airports, including two large international airports, and 27 primary commercial airports. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the second-busiest airport in California, after Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

SFO is the primary international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area and is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. It is located 12-14 miles southeast of San Francisco, in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County. SFO is the largest airport in the Bay Area and has four runways.

The airport has four terminals (1, 2, 3, and International) and seven concourses with a total of 120 gates. Terminal 1 is also known as the Harvey Milk Terminal, named after the gay rights activist and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Terminal 2 was the main airport terminal when it opened in 1954. Terminal 3 is used for United Airlines' domestic flights. The International Terminal is the largest international terminal in North America and is a common-use facility, with all gates and ticketing areas shared among international and some domestic carriers.

SFO is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. In 2010, United Airlines (including SkyWest Airlines/United Express) handled 39.7% of the total enplaned passengers at the airport. In 2023, SFO was ranked as the 14th-busiest airport in the United States and 29th-busiest in the world by passenger traffic.

SAN: California's third-busiest airport

California has a significant number of international airports. With 9 large and medium hub airports and more than a dozen smaller ones, it is one of the best-covered states in the USA in terms of air traffic.

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

San Diego International Airport, also known as Lindbergh Field, is California's third-busiest airport, serving around 25 million passengers each year. The airport is located just 5 kilometres north of San Diego and is a hub for several airlines, including Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Delta, and United.

SAN airport has two large terminals and serves mostly domestic routes, with a few international connections to Europe, Mexico, Canada, and Japan. Most of the domestic traffic comes from West Coast cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and San Jose.

Getting to and from the airport is convenient, with various transport options available, including public transportation (bus route 992), Amtrak intercity train, commuter train, trolleys, taxis, and shuttles.

SAN airport is also fairly close to other cities like Escondido and Tijuana, making it a convenient option for travellers in the region.

Other Notable California Airports

In addition to SAN, here are some other notable airports in California:

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): California's largest and busiest airport, located about 30 kilometres southwest of downtown LA. It serves as a hub for several major airlines and handles a wide range of domestic and international destinations.
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): California's second-busiest airport, located about 20 kilometres south of downtown San Francisco. It is a hub for United and Alaska Airlines and offers connections to domestic and international destinations.
• Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC): Serving the city of San Jose in the Bay Area, this airport is located about 5 kilometres north of the city centre. It offers both domestic and international routes, with Guadalajara as its top international connection.
• Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK): The second-largest airport in the SF Bay Area, focusing mostly on domestic routes and flights to Mexico. It is located about 25 kilometres southeast of San Francisco and 13 kilometres from Oakland, with various transport options available.
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF): The main airport for Sacramento, located about 15 kilometres north of the city. It is a convenient gateway for travellers visiting attractions like Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, or Yosemite National Park.

California's international airports

California has 27 primary commercial airports, several of which offer international flights. The two major international airports in California are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). LAX is California's largest airport, serving about one-third of the state's total passenger traffic. It is also one of the busiest airports in the world. SFO is the closest airport to downtown San Francisco and is the main hub for United Airlines.

In addition to these two major airports, there are several other international airports in California, including:

• Metropolitan Oakland International Airport
• Palm Springs International Airport
• Fresno Yosemite International Airport
• San Diego International Airport
• San Jose International Airport
• Sacramento International Airport
• Ontario International Airport
• San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport
• Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
• Santa Maria Public Airport
• John Wayne Airport-Orange County
• Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport

These airports offer a range of international destinations, including Europe, Asia, North America, Mexico, Canada, the Middle East, and South America.

Frequently asked questions