Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, March 2015
IATA:SBA ICAO:KSBA FAALID:SBA
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	City of Santa Barbara
Operator	Santa Barbara Airport Department
Serves	Santa Barbara County, California
Location	Santa Barbara, California, United States
Elevation AMSL	13 ft / 4 m
Coordinates	34°25′34″N119°50′25″W / 34.42611°N 119.84028°W /34.42611; -119.84028
Website	flysba.santabarbaraca.gov
Maps
FAA airport diagram
Interactive map of Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 7/25 6,052 1,845 Asphalt 15L/33R 4,180 1,274 Asphalt 15R/33L 4,184 1,275 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Aircraft operations 102,666 Total Passengers 1,418,996
Source:Federal Aviation Administration[1][2][3]

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport^[4] (IATA:SBA,ICAO:KSBA,FAALID:SBA) is 7 miles (6 nmi; 11 km) west of downtownSanta Barbara, California, United States. The airfield covers 948 acres (384 ha) of land and has three runways.^[1][5]

It is adjacent to the campus of theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara and close to the city ofGoleta. The airport was annexed to the city of Santa Barbara by a 7-mile-long (11 km), 300-foot-wide (91 m) corridor, mostly under the Pacific Ocean (ashoestring annexation). Most of the airport is 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 4.6 m) above sea level and borders awetland area, theGoleta Slough.^[6]

In 2024, the airport wascategorized as asmall hub primary airport by theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA), with 696,396 enplanements.^[7] As of December 2024, the airport is served byAlaska Airlines,American Airlines,Delta Airlines,Southwest Airlines andUnited Airlines.

Aviation in the area began in 1914 whenLincoln J. Beachey flew an airplane acrossGoleta Valley. Two years later the Loughead brothers, who later changed their name toLockheed, 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. That 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.^[8]

As war approached 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 WWII the airport becameMCAS 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 reverted to a civilian airport in 1946.^[9]

The original Spanish-style terminal building, commissioned by United Airlines in 1942 was designed byWilliam Edwards and Joseph Plunkett, an architectural team whose work, including theArlington Theatre and the National Armory, helped shape the Mediterranean style of the city.

In 1947 the Santa Barbara Flying Club was formed to promote general aviation in the region.^[10]

Three runways are in use: 7/25 and two parallel runways 15/33. The airport originally had an additional strip: runway 3/21. The development of theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara (to the southwest) and the construction of hangars in support of production of theAero Spacelines Super Guppy (to the northeast) were factors in the removal of this runway. The Aero Spacelines hangars were later occupied by Tracor Aviation^[11], a company that modified airliners.

Additions to the historic terminal made in 1967 and 1976 were removed and the original building was restored. It then was raised to meet modern flood plain regulations, and moved and incorporated into the new terminal. The aircraft parking ramp was redesigned, and a new loop road and short term parking lot were constructed. The new terminal building features many environmentally sustainable elements and is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). It was originally designed to feature four glass passenger boarding bridges and four hardstands, but due to decreased flight activity, three jetbridges were constructed with five hardstands.^[12]

An Airport Master Plan was prepared in 2017.^[13] In late 2019, the fourth boarding bridge was installed to replace a hardstand to help the airport cope with increased flight activity and upgauging. Relocation of the car rental lot also allowed all four jetbridges to accommodate mainline aircraft, up from two previously.^{[citation needed]}

Airline flights began in 1932 on Pacific Seaboard Air Lines. In 1933, Pacific Seaboard was operating two daily round trip flights with single engineBellanca CH-300s Los Angeles–Santa Barbara–Santa Maria–San Luis Obispo–Paso Robles–Monterey–Salinas–San Jose–San Francisco.^[14] Pacific Seaboard later moved its entire operation to the eastern U.S. and becameChicago and Southern Air Lines, a large domestic and international airline acquired by and merged intoDelta Air Lines in 1953.^[15]United Airlines began flights from Santa Barbara/Goleta in 1936.

Until 2002, Santa Barbara Airport was on a jet route to San Francisco and Los Angeles. The airport was served bySouthwest AirwaysDouglas DC-3s andMartin 4-0-4s and by successorsPacific Air Lines,Air West andHughes Airwest withFairchild F-27s andBoeing 727-100,Douglas DC-9-10 andMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets. The Southwest March 1, 1947, timetable lists two round tripDouglas DC-3s flying Los Angeles–Oxnard–Santa Barbara–Santa Maria–San Luis Obispo–Coalinga–Monterey–Santa Cruz/Watsonville–San Jose–San Francisco. Pacific Air Lines operated the first jet service into Santa Barbara in 1966 withBoeing 727-100s; the January 4, 1967, timetable lists 727s flying San Francisco–Monterey–Santa Barbara–Los Angeles. Air West served the airport with the B727-100s formerly operated by Pacific Air Lines while Hughes Airwest served Santa Barbara withDouglas DC-9-10s andMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s.^[16]

TheUnited Airlines timetable dated February 1, 1937, listed a daily service operated with aDouglas DC-3 on a routing of Los Angeles–Santa Barbara–San Francisco–Oakland and back. By 1972 the United timetable listed directBoeing 727-100s to New York/Newark viaLAX and Milwaukee.^[17] The primary United routes from Santa Barbara were nonstops to Los Angeles and San Francisco with some continuing to other cities. The first nonstop flights beyond California were UnitedBoeing 727^[18]s to Denver in 1979 and to Chicago O'Hare in 1980. United ceased mainline jet service to SBA in 1990.Shuttle by United, a division of United Airlines (later renamedUnited Shuttle) flewBoeing 737-300s and737-500s to San Francisco in the 1990s and early 2000s. United then turned all service over toSkyWest Airlines, which now operates asUnited Express. Service was originally operated withEmbraer EMB-120 Brasilia commuter propjets to SFO and LAX andCRJ200 regional jets to Denver. This was later turned over to a mix of SkyWest CRJ200,CRJ700, andE175 regional jet aircraft. On June 8, 2017, United resumed seasonal mainline service to San Francisco and Denver. United is set to return daily service to Chicago O'Hare on April 6, 2026.

American AirlinesMcDonnell Douglas MD-80s started flying toDallas/Fort Worth in 1984^[19], some on a triangle route DFW–Burbank–SBA–DFW or DFW–Bakersfield–SBA–DFW. American also flew MD-80s toChicago O'Hare via Ontario. After American Airlines dropped mainline service to SBA,American Eagle Airlines, its affiliate, began flyingSaab 340Bs and laterEmbraer ERJ-140s between SBA and LAX. American Eagle flewCanadair CRJ-700s between SBA and DFW until April 2009. The airline flew SBA–LAX until November 14, 2012, whenSkyWest Airlines (American Eagle) took over withCanadair CRJ-200s.American Eagle suspended its flights to Los Angeles on March 31, 2014, ending American Airlines service at the airport. With the merger ofUS Airways and American,American Airlines returned to SBA with nonstopAmerican Eagle regional jet service to Phoenix. In June 2016 American Eagle relaunched nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) onMesa AirlinesCanadair CRJ-900s.^[20] On April 4, 2017,American Airlines began a seasonal mainlineAirbus A319 flight to DFW, the first mainline service since 2015, whenFrontier Airlines left Santa Barbara. In September 2019, the DFW flights have been replaced with once daily Boeing 737s.

Alaska-owned regional airlineHorizon Air was the firstAlaska Airlines affiliate to connect SBA with Seattle and Portland, flyingCanadair CRJ-700s. From 2008 to 2010, Horizon also connected Santa Barbara non-stop to Sacramento and direct to Portland and/or Seattle. In 2011SkyWest Airlines took over the HorizonCanadair CRJ-700 jets and later replaced them withEmbraer E175s, replacing Horizon for all Alaska-branded flying into Santa Barbara and continues to operate flights via a capacity purchase agreement with Alaska Airlines. From June 15, 2017, to August 26, 2017, Horizon returned to Santa Barbara by taking over the Seattle route from SkyWest with its own Embraer E-175s. On August 27, 2017, Alaska Airlines began mainline service to Santa Barbara for the first time when it took over the Seattle route from Horizon with its own Boeing 737s. Currently, Alaska Airlines serves Seattle twice daily withEmbraer E-175s andBoeing 737s. Alaska Airlines is planning to return service toSan Diego twice a day, with Embraer E175s. The return is set for April 22nd, 2026.

Sun Country Airlines was serving Santa Barbara twice weekly in 2018 between August and December to Minneapolis–St. Paul withBoeing 737s. Service began on August 16, 2018, and ended on December 9, 2018. On May 22, 2019, Sun Country resumed seasonal service with an increase to four times a week for the 2019 season. At the end of the 2019 season, Sun Country indicated that it did not plan to return.

Frontier Airlines flew to Denver until 2015 with theEmbraer 190 as well asAirbus A319 andAirbus A320 jets. After a multi-year hiatus, Frontier resumed service on August 21, 2018, with three times a week year-round service to Denver with the Airbus A320. In November 2019, they went seasonal and planned to return in 2020. However, due toCOVID-19, no new date has been announced for the resumption of their service.

Contour Airlines began service on October 16, 2018. They flew daily to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport and ten times a week to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport with 30-seatEmbraer 135 regional jets. Contour then announced an expansion of Santa Barbara as a focus city, and added a flight to Sacramento International Airport in April 2019. However, Contour then ended all service on March 31, 2020, and terminated all contracts with employees and the airport.^[21][22]

Delta Air Lines began three daily flights to Salt Lake City International Airport in August 2019, viaDelta Connection partnerSkyWest Airlines. The flights were operated withEmbraer 175 aircraft.^[23] However, because of COVID-19, the airline then suspended service indefinitely on July 8, 2020.^[24] On September 15, 2023, it was announced Delta Air Lines would return to Santa Barbara with twice daily service to Salt Lake City and once-daily service to Atlanta in summer 2024 on A220-300 aircraft. That service started on June 7, 2024.^[25]

Southwest Airlines started operating flights into Santa Barbara on April 12, 2021, and has daily nonstop flights to the following airports:Las Vegas (LAS),Oakland (OAK),Denver (DEN),and Sacramento (SMF). Service is operated withBoeing 737-700,Boeing 737-800, andBoeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.^[26] Service toPhoenix was added on August 5th, 2025, with a non stop flight every Sunday.

In the 1980s Santa Barbara–based Apollo Airways^[27], a commuter airline which subsequently changed its name to Pacific Coast Airlines^[28], flewHandley Page HP.137 Jetstream propjets from the airport with nonstop service to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Monterey, Fresno and Bakersfield with direct flights to Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.^[29] By the spring of 1982, Pacific Coast was operating nonstop service between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Oakland, Ontario (CA), San Jose (CA), Sacramento, Bakersfield and Santa Maria.^[30] Another locally based airline was Connectair^[31] operatingFairchild F-27J turboprops with nonstop flights to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Jose, California.^[32] Both Connectair and Pacific Coast are no longer in existence.

Pacific Air Lines flewBoeing 727-100s to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Monterey.Continental AirlinesBoeing 737-300s flew nonstop to Denver (some flights stopped at Bakersfield enroute from SBA). Air West (later renamedHughes Airwest)Boeing 727-100s,Douglas DC-9-10s, andMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s flew to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and other cities.Allegiant AirMcDonnell Douglas MD-80s flew to Las Vegas.Pacific ExpressBAC One-Elevens flew to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Bakersfield.Air Wisconsin (United Express)BAe 146-200s andBAe 146-300s flew to Denver, andExpressJet flewEmbraer ERJ-145s nonstop to Sacramento and San Diego.

A number of commuter air carriers served Santa Barbara over the years primarily with turboprop aircraft. In 1968, Cable Commuter Airlines was operatingde Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter service toLAX.^[33] Cable Commuter was then acquired byGolden West Airlines^[34] which in turn began operating high frequency shuttle service toLAX withde Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter,de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 andShort 330 aircraft.^[35] According to theOfficial Airline Guide (OAG), by 1981 Golden West was the only airline operating scheduled service between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles with fourteen round trip flights on weekdays. Other commuter air carriers that served SBA with turboprop aircraft in later years includedAmerica West Express,American Eagle operated byWings West, Dash Air^[36],Delta Connection operated bySkyWest Airlines,Imperial Airlines,Sun Aire Lines^[37],United Express operated byWest Air and later bySkyWest Airlines,USAir Express and successorUS Airways Express operated byTrans States Airlines andStatesWest Airlines.^[38] According to theOAG, turboprop aircraft operated into SBA by these commuter airlines included theBeechcraft 1900C,British AerospaceBAe Jetstream 31,de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8,Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante,Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia,Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner (Metro II and Metro III models),Saab 340B andShort 360. In addition, Air Resorts operatedConvair 440 prop aircraft on flights toLAX in 1983.^[39][40]

Alaska Airlines serves Seattle and Portland with SkyWest and Horizon E-175s. Seattle also sees service on Boeing 737s.

American Airlines serves Phoenix and Dallas with AmericanAirbuses, SkyWestCRJ-700s,E-175s, andBoeing 737s.

Delta Airlines serves Salt Lake City withAirbus 220-100 and Embraer E175s. Delta serves Atlanta using the AirbusA220-300 aircraft

Southwest Airlines serves Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland, and Sacramento withBoeing 737s.^[41]

United Airlines serves Los Angeles with Embraer E-175s. United serves San Francisco and Denver with a mix of E-175s, United Airbuses and Boeing 737s.

The airport is located off ofState Route 217 at the Sandspit Road exit. It can also be reached fromUS 101 by taking State Route 217 or exiting off of Fairview Avenue. Short-term and long-term parking are available at the terminal, while the economy parking lot is located near Lopez Road and Hollister Avenue, north of the airport.^[51]

Santa Barbara MTD Route 11 stops on Moffett Road across from the terminals and connects to the MTD Transit Center, which is approximately one mile from theSanta Barbara station, served by Amtrak.^[52][53]

Taxis and private shuttles depart from designated zones outside the terminal.^[52]

• April 8, 1985: Thenon-instrument-rated pilot of aCessna P210N,aircraft registrationN6099P, was killed when the aircraft crashed into the ocean about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the airport after departing in low visibility. TheNational Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the accident tospatial disorientation and the pilot's decision to continue flying undervisual flight rules intoinstrument meteorological conditions (continued VFR into IMC).^[54]
• July 23, 1985: A student pilot and a passenger in aCessna 150L,N11490, were killed when the aircraft crashed on Runway 25 and was consumed by fire following a late-night takeoff. The accident was attributed to a failure to maintainairspeed, an inadvertentstall, and the pilot'salcohol intoxication. The pilot also had not received any formal instruction in night flying, and his "lack of recent experience in type operation" and "overconfidence in personal ability" were cited by the NTSB as contributing factors.^[55]
• October 30, 1986: The two pilots of aFairchild Swearingen SA-226TC Metroliner,N6099P, operated byWings West Airlines on a scheduled commuter flight forAmerican Eagle carrying 12 passengers, performed agear-up landing after intentionally disabling thelanding gear warning horn and subsequently neglecting to lower the landing gear. As the aircraft struck the runway, fragments of the starboard propeller punctured the passenger cabin, causing serious injuries to one passenger and minor injuries to another; an additional passenger suffered unspecified minor injuries. The NTSB attributed the accident to the crew's failure to follow proper procedures, their disabling of the landing gear warning system, and thecaptain's inadequate supervision of thefirst officer, who was flying the aircraft at the time.^[56]
• May 17, 1990: ACessna 150H,N7156S, disappeared over the ocean during nighttouch-and-go landing practice. A pair ofwheel chocks bearing the aircraft's number were among the few items recovered; the pilot and passenger were presumed dead. The NTSB attributed the accident to "[t]he pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. Factors which contributed to the accident were the dark night and the pilot's lack of night flying experience."^[57]
• October 21, 1990: ACessna 172M,N13670, descended steeply and crashed while maneuvering in theairfield traffic pattern. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, the other passenger was killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB attributed the accident to "[t]he pilot's failure to maintain properglidepath while on final approach. A contributing factor was sunglare."^[58]
• June 28, 1991: The 4 occupants of aMitsubishi MU-2B-36A,N2CJ, were killed when the aircraft crashed into the ocean in low visibility while maneuvering to maintain spacing from another aircraft that was on anInstrument Landing System (ILS) approach. The NTSB attributed the accident to "[t]he pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after becoming spatially disoriented. Factors related to the accident were: darkness, low overcast cloud condition, the pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in a near collision with another aircraft, his self induced pressure and diversion of attention, while coping with the situation that he had encountered."^[59]
• June 7, 1996: APiper PA-32R-300,N4303X, crashed into the ocean during an ILS approach to Runway 7 in fog; the two pilots were killed. The NTSB attributed the accident to "failure of the flying pilot to maintain control of the airplane, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with the water. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of recent instrument experience by the flying pilot and the lack of monitoring (and/or remedial action) by the other pilot."^[60]
• November 20, 1996: ABeechcraft 95-B55 Baron,N210WW,crashed into rising terrain during an ILS approach to Runway 7 in low visibility; the pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed. The pilot had not been responding properly to controllers' instructions and had failed his last instrument proficiency review. The NTSB attributed the accident to "failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during an instrument approach, due to spatial disorientation, and/or his failure to maintain proper altitude. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's delay (or failure) to initiate amissed approach, and his lack of instrument competency."^[61]
• December 6, 2016: AnAirborne Windsports Edge XT-912-L,N188M, descended and crashed near the airport. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed. The NTSB attributed the accident to "[t]he pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering in the traffic pattern."^[62]
• August 25, 2019: A privateLockheed C-130A, N119TG, was badly damaged in arunway excursion. After departing fromSanta Maria Public Airport, passengers heard a "loud bang," the cabin began to fill with smoke and misting hydraulic fluid, and the aircraft began having engine and hydraulic system problems. The pilots shut down the outer right-hand engine and made an emergency landing on Runway 7 at Santa Barbara, but they could not maintain directional control, prompting the captain to initiate aground loop to avoid plowing into buildings and parked aircraft. The seven people on board were not injured, butairport lighting and signage were damaged, halting all flight operations for 19 hours. The NTSB attributed the accident to corrosion-related breakage of the number 3bleed air duct, which blew hot air towards nearby wiring and hydraulic lines.^[63][64]
• January 29, 2025: ACirrus SR22,N124LZ, crashed in a field north of the Storke Road-U.S. Route 101 interchange inGoleta after aCAPS parachute descent, critically injuring the two pilots. The Cirrus had departed from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport 25 minutes earlier and was believed to be returning to land. An intense fire destroyed the wreckage and started a small wildfire, but it was unclear whether the fire started before or after the crash. There were no passengers on board. The FAA and NTSB launched investigations.^[65]

In the 1951 war filmFlying Leathernecks,John Wayne's character was stationed in Goleta. The movie references the airbase as being in Goleta because, during World War II, the airbase had not yet been annexed by Santa Barbara. The movie has a short clip of the airport and surrounding area.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSanta Barbara Airport.

• Santa Barbara Airport (official site)
• FAA Airport Form 5010 for SBAPDF
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective October 30, 2025

• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNavairport information for KSBA
  • ASNaccident history for SBA
  • FlightAwareairport information andlive flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations:current,past three days
  • SkyVectoraeronautical chart for KSBA
  • FAAcurrent SBA delay information

• Airports in Santa Barbara County, California
• Airports established in 1928
• Santa Barbara, California
• Public transportation in Santa Barbara County, California
• 1928 establishments in California

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