Santa Barbara Airport Reports Record 1.49 Million Passengers in FY26
Preliminary figures show the busiest year in airport history, with revenues up even as insurance reimbursements lag.
Santa Barbara Airport served a record 1.49 million passengers in fiscal year 2026, the busiest year in the airport's history, according to preliminary figures Airport Business Manager Jonathan Abad presented to the Airport Commission on Aug. 18.
Revenues for the year came in at about $36.9 million, also a record, Abad told the commission, though insurance reimbursements have lagged behind expectations.
The record year caps a sustained recovery and growth run for the airport, which serves the South Coast and draws travelers from across Santa Barbara County and beyond. Passenger counts have climbed as airlines added and restored service in the years since the pandemic downturn.
Airport finances matter to the city's broader budget picture. The airport operates as an enterprise fund, separate from the general fund, but its performance feeds into the city's overall economic health and its ability to fund capital projects without drawing on taxpayer dollars.
The figures remain preliminary until the city's books close on the fiscal year. Final audited numbers will confirm whether the records hold.
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