Travel On the Upswing at Santa Barbara Airport

Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), the gateway to the American Rivera, is now serving seven direct service destinations: Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle, with a total of 21 daily departures. Why? Because more and more travelers are using SBA and as a result, more and more direct flights are being created.
Last month, American Airlines began non-stop service from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. American Airlines last operated the DFW-SBA route in 2009. Dallas/Fort Worth is the second largest U.S. airport hub. These new direct flights mark the seventh major city with non-stop service to and from Santa Barbara. Flights depart daily from DFW to SBA at 10:50 a.m.
In the years 1927-28, Charles Lindbergh, arguably is the most famous aviator in history, visited friends in Santa Barbara, landing at the Chadbourne-Donze airfield in Carpinteria, located at the present-day intersection of Carpinteria Avenue and Dump Road. The original hanger still stands today. Lindbergh also utilized Earle Ovington’s airfield, Casa Loma, located where the Santa Barbara Golf Club, off Las Positas Road. On one visit, Lindbergh eschewed both the Carpinteria and Santa Barbara fields and simply used the grounds of Cima del Mundo, an 80-plus-acre Montecito estate, as a landing strip.
SBA is rich in history dating back to 1914 when Lincoln Beachey flew an airplane across Goleta Valley. Two years later the Loughead brothers (later known as the Lockheed brothers), established a seaplane factory on State Street 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 on the spot. That first airstrip marked the beginning of what was to become the Santa Barbara Airport.
As airplane manufacturing grew in the late 1930’s, that simple 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.
Commercial service began in 1932 with Pacific Seaboard Airlines, and United Airlines inaugurated service from Santa Barbara/Goleta in 1936.
In 1941, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Santa Barbara Airport. William Edwards and Joseph Plunkett, an architectural team whose work includes the Arlington Theatre and the National Armory, designed the Spanish-style terminal building. They helped shape the Mediterranean style of our city.
With our perfect Mediterranean weather, our beautiful beaches, amazing architecture, and healthy lifestyle, it’s no wonder more people want to fly in and out of the Santa Barbara Airport. If you decide to take this trend one step further and move here, please take a look at my current listings. I’m sure you’ll see something you like and will be happy to arrange a private tour. Selling your home? Call me at 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com to discuss your situation and we can come up with a winning strategy to sell your home. Be sure to check out my website and like me on Facebook.