Anonymous
Source: Santa Barbara Airport
The week of this Memorial Day holiday will herald the beginning of the summer travel season at Santa Barbara Airport (SBA). To mark the kick off of summer, Minneapolis-based airline Sun Country Airlines will resume its seasonal direct service from Minneapolis to Santa Barbara tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22. Due to the popularity of this route in 2018, the airline is doubling its number of weekly direct flights to four mid-day arrivals/departures through August.
The popularity of Santa Barbara Airport’s increased air service extends to every airline now serving the greater Santa Barbara region with direct service to major destinations. Passenger traffic has grown nearly 20% in the first four months of 2019, and Delta Air Lines will join the roster of airlines on August 13 with three times daily service to Salt Lake City. The number of annual passengers in 2019 is expected to return to levels reached prior to the 2009 economic recession. With more passenger service, travelers should be careful to plan enough time to arrive, check-in and be at the gate in time for boarding. Every airline has its own guidelines, however, arriving at the gate a minimum of 40 minutes prior to boarding is recommended.
With the increased service, long-term parking at the terminal is feeling the squeeze. During peak times, parking near the terminal has filled to capacity on numerous occasions this spring. As a result, SBA is re-opening its long-term parking lot located on Hollister Avenue and Lopez Road (just west of the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Hollister Avenue) on Wednesday, May 22. If terminal parking is full, passengers will be directed to the Hollister Avenue lot and shuttled to the Airport. Shuttles depart every fifteen minutes for the 4-minute ride to the terminal. The Hollister lot is a “credit card in and out” lot that allows travelers to enter with a credit card, and pay upon exit with the same card. Rates for parking in the Hollister lot are $10 per day, or $3 less than in terminal parking.
Also during the first few weeks of reliable summer weather, the City of Santa Barbara will be repaving the roadways leading to and from the Airport. The paving project will extend from Fairview Avenue along Fowler Road in front of the Airport and just beyond on Moffett Place toward CA Highway 217. The repaving project is underway and should be complete by June 13. Travelers can expect minor delays from redirected traffic during this time frame.
On Friday, May 24, wreaths will be placed at both World War II Memorials in remembrance of the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
