Santa Barbara Airport
On the coast, at the door to Montecito and the wine country.
Santa Barbara's airport is on the coast, with the city, Montecito, and the wine country behind it. It is a small field, and it is the field for that stretch of the Central Coast, at either end of a trip.
Who flies here
SBA carries airlines and private traffic on a small field. It is a destination as much as a departure point. The coast and the wine country bring the private flying in, and the field is a runway beside the water.
On the field
As of mid-2026 the FBOs at Santa Barbara include Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation, 2 in all. The airport has been redeveloping its general-aviation facilities, and that side of the field is still changing shape.
Edwards & Plunkett
The municipal airport broke ground in 1941. Its Spanish Colonial terminal, commissioned by United Air Lines in 1942 and designed by Edwards & Plunkett, the architects behind much of Santa Barbara's signature look, is still one of the more beautiful places in California to board a flight.
FBO and history details were checked mid-2026 against the airport's and operators' own published information. Tenants change, so confirm the departure terminal with your operator.
Hear about empty legs out of SBA.
Join the list for an occasional email with notable empty legs and what private flights are really costing.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.