California's Airports: A Comprehensive Overview

California is a large state with a significant number of airports catering to both domestic and international travel. The state is home to 27 primary commercial airports, including some of the world's busiest, such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). These airports not only serve as hubs for travel within the United States but also offer international flights to various destinations worldwide. In addition to these major airports, California has numerous other airports, both public and military, that serve the diverse travel needs of its residents and visitors.

Airports in California

International airports in California

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

The two prime international airports are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). LAX is the busiest and largest of California's airports, with around 88 million passengers per year, while SFO is the second busiest, with around 57 million. Both airports are hubs for several major airlines and offer a range of domestic and international routes.

Other major international airports in California include:

• Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK)
• San Diego International Airport (SAN)
• San Jose International Airport (SJC)
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
• Santa Ana John Wayne Airport (SNA)
• Ontario International Airport (ONT)
• Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
• Long Beach Airport (LGB)
• Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
• Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)

These airports offer a mix of domestic and international routes, with some focusing more on domestic connections. They are spread across the state, providing convenient access to various cities and attractions.

Commercial airports in California

California is served by several commercial airports, including major airports like Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and San Diego International Airport. These airports offer scheduled passenger services and handle a large volume of passenger traffic each year.

Primary Commercial Airports

Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and San Diego International Airport are the prominent primary commercial airports in California. These airports are publicly owned and record more than 10,000 passenger boardings annually.

Other primary commercial airports in the state include:

• Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport
• Metropolitan Oakland International Airport
• Sacramento International Airport
• John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport
• Ontario International Airport
• Long Beach/Daugherty Field Airport
• Palm Springs International Airport
• Fresno Yosemite International Airport
• Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
• San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport
• Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport
• Monterey Regional Airport
• Meadows Field Airport
• Stockton Metropolitan Airport
• California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport
• Redding Municipal Airport
• Mammoth Yosemite Airport
• Santa Maria Public/Capt G Allan Hancock Field Airport
• Buchanan Field Airport

Commercial Service Airports

Commercial service airports in California include:

• Merced Regional/Macready Field Airport
• Imperial County Airport
• Jack McNamara Field Airport
• McClellan-Palomar Airport
• Reliever Airports, such as Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport and Livermore Municipal Airport

Military airports in California

California is home to several military airports, many of which are located near the coast. These airports serve a variety of functions, from providing support for military operations to facilitating training and research. Here is a detailed overview of some of the notable military airports in the state:

Camp Roberts / San Miguel

Camp Roberts is a California National Guard base located in San Luis Obispo County. It serves as a training facility for the California Army National Guard and the US Army Reserve, offering a range of training programs for military personnel. The airport facilities at Camp Roberts support military aviation operations and provide a strategic location for military aircraft.

Camp San Luis Obispo

Camp San Luis Obispo, also known as Camp SLO, is a California Army National Guard base located in San Luis Obispo. It is home to the 40th Infantry Division of the California Army National Guard. The airport facilities at Camp SLO cater to military aircraft and support the training and operational needs of the National Guard units stationed there.

NAWS China Lake (Armitage Field)

NAWS China Lake, or Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, is a US Navy military facility located in the Mojave Desert. It is a vast and remote installation primarily used for the development, testing, and evaluation of naval weapons and systems. Armitage Field, the military airport within NAWS China Lake, supports a variety of military aircraft, including those used for test flights and weapons evaluation.

Travis Air Force Base

Travis Air Force Base is a major military airbase located in Solano County, California. It is home to the 60th Air Mobility Wing of the US Air Force and plays a crucial role in global air mobility and strategic airlift operations. The base has a long runway capable of accommodating large military aircraft, such as the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III.

Vandenberg Air Force Base

Vandenberg Air Force Base is a US Air Force installation located on the central coast of California, northwest of Los Angeles. It is operated by the 30th Space Wing and is primarily known for its space launch activities, supporting both government and commercial space missions. The base also has a military airport that facilitates the rapid deployment of personnel and equipment worldwide.

Los Alamitos Army Airfield

Los Alamitos Army Airfield, also known as Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, is a military airfield located in Orange County, California. It serves as a joint training facility for various military branches, including the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The airfield supports a range of military aircraft and provides a strategic location for military operations and training on the West Coast.

California's military airports play a vital role in supporting the state's diverse military presence, contributing to national defence, and facilitating training, research, and operational readiness. These airports are integral to the state's strategic importance in the US military's operations and global reach.

Private-use airports in California

California has a plethora of private-use airports, some of which are notable for previously being public-use airports, having commercial enplanements recorded by the FAA, or being assigned an IATA airport code. Here is a list of some of the notable private-use airports in California:

• W. R. Byron Airport (Gary Field)
• Borges–Clarksburg Airport: A former public-use airport, previously assigned the FAA code C14.
• Ranchaero Airport: A former public-use airport, previously assigned the FAA code O23.
• Desert Center Airport: A former public-use airport, previously assigned the FAA code L64.
• LAPD Hooper Heliport
• Grey Butte Field (General Atomics Aeronautical Systems): Previously assigned the FAA code 04CA.
• Paradise Skypark: A former public-use airport, previously assigned the FAA code L24.
• Torrey Pines Gliderport
• Catalina Air-Sea Terminal Heliport
• Monterey Bay Academy Airport

In addition to the notable private-use airports, there are also several private-use airports in California that are not as well-known. These airports may be smaller or serve a more limited number of aircraft and passengers.

Former airports in California

California has a plethora of airports, both public and private, and several former airports too. Here is a list of some of the notable former airports in California:

Naval Air Station Alameda

This airport was decommissioned in 1997.

Alum Rock Airport

Alum Rock Airport closed down in approximately 1936.

Grand Central Airport

This airport was closed in 1959.

Meadowlark Airport

The Meadowlark Airport ceased operations in 1989.

Hamilton Air Force Base

This airport was closed in 1988.

Pixley Airport (Harmon Field)

This airport is no longer operational.

Rialto Municipal Airport (Miro Field)

Rialto Municipal Airport was closed in 2014.

Crissy Field

Crissy Field was closed to aviation activities in 1974.

MCAS El Toro

This airport was decommissioned in 1999.

Santa Cruz Sky Park

Santa Cruz Sky Park ceased operations in 1983.

Shingletown Airport

Shingletown Airport was closed in 2002.

Gardner Army Airfield

This airport opened in 1941 but is no longer operational.

Mare Island Naval Shipyard Airfield

Del Mar Municipal Airport

Dos Palos Emergency Field

Griffith Park Aerodrome

Hughes Airport

Lockheed Air Terminal

Los Angeles Motordrome

Marine Corps Air Station Tustin

Monrovia Airport

Rancho del Otay Airfield

Santa Ana Army Air Base

Souza Auxiliary Field

Strathmore Auxiliary Field

Trescony Auxiliary Field

Vail Airport, Montebello

Victory Field Auxiliary Field

Allen Field

Athlone Auxiliary Field

Benard Auxiliary Field

Canal Field Auxiliary Field

Carmel Valley Airfield

Chico Army Airfield auxiliary fields

Dunlap Auxiliary Field

Hawes Auxiliary Airfield

Helendale Auxiliary Airfield

Howard Auxiliary Field

Kirkwood Auxiliary Field

Merced Army Airfield auxiliary fields

Oroville Auxiliary Field

Parker Field

Pond Auxiliary Field

Potter Auxiliary Field

Semitropic Auxiliary Field

Summerville auxiliary field

Sutterville Auxiliary Field

Victorville Army Airfield auxiliary fields

Vina Auxiliary Field

Frequently asked questions