THE AIRPORTS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SANTA BARBARA
SBA
| Serving the small resort city of Santa Barbara located along the central coast of California, Santa Barbara is a quaint, but popular tourist destination located along the western California coast about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The city has been coined the "American Rivera" due to its beaches, climate and vistas. The small, regional Santa Barbara Airport has hosted a variety of airlines both large and small to cater to this popular year-round destination. |
| July 1967 Pacific Air Lines predecessor, Southwest Airways was one of the first scheduled carriers to start service into Santa Barbara in December 1946. When Southwest Airways became Pacific Air Lines in 1958, Santa Barbara continued to be served as part of the "coastal route" between Los Angeles and San Francisco using Douglas DC-3s. When Pacific Air Lines received their first pure jet aircraft, the Boeing 727 in 1965, the planes were to be used on more popular and busy routes. Within a year, the Boeing 727 was placed on Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-Monterey-San Francisco service three times a day and introducing Santa Barbara to "jet" service for the first time. In an era before "clean" engines, N898PC, a Boeing 727-123, pulls away from the terminal ramp for an afternoon departure. |
| May 1968 United Air Lines was one of the first airlines to start commercial service into Santa Barbara in 1936. The airlines initial route was the "coastal" sector Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-Del Monte (Monterey)-San Francisco using the Boeing 247. Over the next twenty years the equipment was upgraded to Douglas DC-3s, Convair 340, and Douglas DC-4s. United introduced Boeing 727 "jet" service to Santa Barbara in 1968, however the venerable piston-engined workhorses still plied the route until they were retired soon after that. Parked on the ramp during a shirt turn-around is N37516, a Douglas DC-6, retired from the fleet just a few months later in October 1968. |
| May 1968 Just after the merger between Bonanza Air Lines, Pacific Air Lines and West Coast Airlines in April 1968 a new "Fiesta" color scheme was introduced and one of the first airframes to be painted was N2772R, a Fairchild F-27A originally with Pacific Air Lines. Wearing the lime green and blue colors representing the Pacific Northwest, the Fairchild F-27s were used to supplement the Boeing 727 service from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Monterey as this example shows awaiting boarding at the ramp area for mid-morning departure. |
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1975 After the purchase of AirWest by Howard Hughes to become Hughes Airwest in April 1970, the newly rebranded airline continued to provide service to Santa Barbara with jet aircraft. Daily flights on the "Yellow Bananas" connected with Bakersfield, Santa Maria, and San Francisco. Seen taxing toward the thermal after having landing on an overcast afternoon is N9352, a Douglas DC-9-15RC, originally delivered to Continental Air Lines in 1967 and purchased by Hughes Airwest in March 1975. |
| July 1978 Evergreen International Airlines was started in 1975, to provide contract charter and cargo operations, with heavy emphasis on military charters. Parked on the ramp during a charter flight is N7136C, a Lockheed L-188 Electra-A, originally delivered to Western Airlines in October 1959, and purchased by Evergreen on October 31, 1975. |
| June 1980 Santa Barbara's own hometown airline, Apollo Airways started operations as an air taxi operator based in Santa Barbara in 1969. During 1975, Apollo purchased the British made Handley-Page turboprop Jetstream to start scheduled commuter services. By 1980, the airline was serving nine destinations in California and Nevada from Santa Barbara including flights to Fresno, Las Vegas, San Jose, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Only a year later did financial issues result in the airline filing for bankruptcy in September 1981. Parked on the ramp and being loaded for an afternoon departure is N2209, a Handley-Page HP.137 Jetstream Mk I. |
| June 1981 Although San Luis Obispo based Swift Aire had been flying along the central California coast since 1969, Santa Barbara was not added to the airlines route map until April 1981 when service was started to Los Angeles. During that same month, Golden Gate Airlines purchased the assets of Swift Aire yet continued to operate the airline as a separate entity. Within a year, Golden Gate had grown to become one of the largest commuter airlines in the United States, however rapid expansion and financial troubles caused the airline to shut down in August 1981. Seen preparing to taxi away from the terminal for a quick flight to Los Angeles and wearing the new Golden Gate colors is N417SA, a Nord 262A-14, originally delivered to Japan Domestic Airlines in February 1966, and purchased by Swift Aire in September 1976. |
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July 1981 Golden West Airlines was the original commuter operator into Santa Barbara, before the small carrier based in Van Nuys was merged with Aero Commuter, Skymark Airlines, and Cable Commuter Airlines (yet still retaining the operating name Golden West Airlines). Service was started in 1969, with an extension of flights from Oxnard. By 1975, non-stop flights were started between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara using the de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter. When new de Havilland DHC-7 "Dash 7" turboprops were delivered in 1980, they were used extensively on flights to Santa Barbara until the airline filed for bankruptcy in April 1983. Seen parked at the terminal during a afternoon turn is N701GW, a de Havilland DHC-7 delivered to the airline on March 28, 1980. |
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April 1983 A charter operator based in Reno, Nevada, Great American Airways started operations in 1979, and was heavily involved in gambling charters, as well as contract tour and passenger group flights. Due to its location and resort status, Santa Barbara would host many charter flights including the occasional visit by Great American Airways. Parked at the terminal ramp during a passenger charter layover is N1068T,a Douglas DC-9-15 originally delivered to Trans World Airlines (TWA) as can be seen from paint scheme. |
| July 1983 Air Resorts Airlines started as a charter operator based in Carlsbad, California in 1975. After deregulation, the airline started scheduled passenger service in 1982 from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara using Convair 440 Metropolitans. The passenger flights continued through 1984, when the airline focused its efforts on charter operations. Parked on the terminal ramp and awaiting passengers for an afternoon departure to Los Angeles is N44828, a Convair 440-62 Metropolitan delivered to Air Resorts in November 1982. |
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August 1984 Santa Barbara's own hometown airline, Connect Air was formed to provide passenger air service from Santa Barbara to points in California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Flights started in April 1984 using a pair of leased Fokker F-27 turboprop aircraft. Due to poor passenger numbers and struggling finances, the airline survived only a few months and shut down operations in August 1984. Caught over the numbers for landing on Runway 25 is N1823L, a Fokker F-27A. |
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March 1985 American Airlines was one of the few airlines that operated into Santa Barbara with main-line jet aircraft. American started service to Santa Barbara in October 1984, from both Burbank and Bakersfield (continuing on to Dallas) using the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft. This was during a time when American Airlines was expanding service into secondary cities while establishing its mega-hub-and-spoke operation from Dallas-Ft. Worth. The Santa Barbara market wasn't sufficient enough early on to warrant non-stop routing hence the intermediate stops in neighboring "secondary" market cities, Burbank and Bakersfield. During 1988, American started daily, non-stop service to Dallas-Ft. Worth from Santa Barbara which became quite popular with tourists seeking the mild climate and sandy beaches. Parked at the terminal ramp during a morning turn-around is N245AA, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82), delivered new to the airline in August 1984. |
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July 1985 Carlsbad (just north of San Diego) based Imperial Airlines started operations in 1964, however limited its flights in Southern California from Los Angeles south to San Diego and El Centro/Imperial. In the post deregulation environment, Imperial sought expansion and with larger turboprop aircraft added to the fleet was able to compete with both commuter and regional airlines on secondary city routes. In 1984, Imperial Airlines started service to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles using their "wide-body" Shorts 360 turboprop airplanes until the airline filed bankruptcy in January 1986. Taxiing outbound from the terminal to the runway for an afternoon departure is N701A, a Short SD-360-100, delivered new to Imperial Airlines on December 4, 1983. |
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June 1988 Skywest Airlines assumed operations into Santa Barbara Airport in 1984, with the purchase of regional commuter carrier Sun Aire. Skywest continued to serve Santa Barbara and sought to expanded service where by 1988, had numerous flights daily into the airport from nine cities including, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Sacramento. Skywest Airlines became the largest carrier from Santa Barbara and sought to fill the void of other airlines that had vacated the route. Seen being refueled during a afternoon turn-around is N3114G, a Fairchild SA-227AC, Metro III. |
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October 1988 United Airlines was the first U.S. launch customer of the popular Boeing 737 aircraft with the first being delivered in December 1967. When Boeing introduced an upgraded version of the best-selling airliner in 1984, designated the series 300, United waited a few years before making a decision to buy the more fuel-efficient airplane. United eventually purchased over one-hundred 737-300 series aircraft and they were used to replace the Boeing 737-200 and 727 on short to medium range routes, including the flights to Santa Barbara. Holding in position for takeoff is N301UA, a Boeing 737-322, which was the first example delivered to the airline on November 12, 1986. |
| October 1988 Although San Luis Obispo based Wings West Airlines was started in 1979, and started service into Santa Barbara in 1985. Wings West became an American Eagle partner in 1986, and repainted their fleet of Metroliners to provide connecting services to American Airlines flights at both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Taxiing out to Runway 25 for an afternoon departure is N343AE, a Swearingen Fairchild SA-227AC Metro III. |
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March 1989 Although Northwest Airlines did not have regular service to Santa Barbara, the airline occasionally provided aircraft for tour group and travel charters to the coastal city. Rolling out on Runway 7 is N982US, a Douglas DC-9-32, delivered new to Northwest Airlines on November 22, 1988. |
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October 1989 San Francisco based WestAir Airlines, became an "express" carrier for United Airlines in 1986, for commuter connections through the airlines San Francisco hub. Commuter services on behalf of United Express were flown into Santa Barbara from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Jose using a variety of turboprop aircraft. Taxiing out to Runway 25 for an afternoon departure is N271UE, a Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, delivered new to WestAir in January 1987. |
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December 1989 America West Airlines established its own "commuter" service in 1987, using the de Havilland DHC-8 turboprop to feed passengers in from secondary regional cities into the airline's Phoenix and Las Vegas hubs. Santa Barbara was added on October 1, 1989, with flights to Las Vegas and a few months later to Phoenix. Although passengers were fed into the airlines two hubs, service to Santa Barbara was suspended just a year later. Taxiing out for an evening departure to Las Vegas, Nevada is N804AW, a de Havilland DHC-8-100, delivered new to America West in June 1987. |
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January 1989 The Embraer Bandeirante was one of the first turboprop aircraft operated by San Francisco based WestAir commuter. By 1989, the 19-passenger airplane was still being used on some routes but was quickly being replaced by the new generation Embraer 120 Brasilia and British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31. Seen taxiing toward Runway 25 for an evening departure is N614KC, an Embraer EMB-110P2 Bandeirante. |
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May 1990 StatesWest Airlines was established in 1986 and started operations from a Phoenix, Arizona base with commuter flights to Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Over the next few years, StatesWest expanded operations flying to over eight cities with numerous flights daily. Santa Barbara was added to the network in May 1990 with non-stop service to Los Angeles. The flights under the StateWest name lasted only a few months when an agreement was signed with USAir to become a USAir Express carrier and repainting its aircraft in the USAir colors. Taxiing outbound for a quick flight south to Los Angeles is N15539, a Beechcraft 1900-C, delivered new to StatesWest in March 1990. |
| May 1990 Although San Francisco based WestAir, flying as a United Express carrier, also had a fleet of the 19-passenger British Aerospace BAe J-31 Jetstream aircraft. With a smaller passenger capacity then the Embraer Brasilia's, the Jetstream was placed on the shorter route segments including the Los Angeles-Santa Barbara route which had multiple daily flights. Taxiing outbound for takeoff is N426UE, a British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3101, delivered to WestAir in October 1989. |
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July 1990 Phoenix based StatesWest Airlines signed an agreement with USAir in June 1990 to provide commuter services under the USAir Express Banner. The airline was to provide feeder operations from secondary West Coast airports into USAir flights at San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Santa Barbara continued its service started with StatesWest and had two daily flights into Los Angeles using Beechcraft 1900 turboprops. Taxiing outbound for takeoff is N31134, a Beechcraft 1900-C, delivered new to StatesWest in October 1988. |
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August 1990 Federal Express FedEx established a "feeder" service for overnight package delivery to smaller secondary cities using contract cargo operators. Many of these operators used Cessna 208 Caravan type equipment with larger turboprop aircraft for busier stations. Flights "fed" into FedEx mini-hubs located throughout the U.S. for delivery to larger aircraft. Santa Barbara was one such city that couldn't justify FedEx's regular jet aircraft but had a high enough package volume to operate the larger feeder aircraft. Parked on the cargo ramp and awaiting a delivery for an evening flight back to Ontario, California is N721FE, a Fokker F-27-500. |
| February 1991 During the late 1970s, United Airlines extended flights into Santa Barbara to include first-time, non-stop service to Denver, followed by non-stop service to Chicago in the early 1980s. Boeing 737s replaced the 727 on services to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver during the 1980s. United continued to serve Santa Barbara until 1992, when service was replaced by United Express flights from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. At the threshold for Runway 25 and awaiting take-off clearance is N979UA, a Boeing 737-291. |
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March 1991 After American Airlines parent corporation AMR Corp., purchased the Wings West American Eagle affiliate in 1987, flights were expanded at both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Santa Barbara service was initially flown with "Eagle Flight" Swearingen Metroliners and were replaced with the the SAAB SF-340 turboprop commuter. By 1991, American Eagle had daily flights to San Luis Obispo as well as multiple flights to the airlines hub operations at both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Taxiing outbound for takeoff is N231LN, a SAAB 340-B, having just been delivered new to the airline a few weeks earlier. |
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March 1992 American Airlines continued to serve Santa Barbara with its MD-80s until May 1995 when the airline dropped the city during its corporate route re-alignment strategy. Service was replaced by more frequent operations with its American Eagle affiliate operating between Los Angeles, which allowed more convenient connections to American's numerous flights from LAX. Parked on the ramp and awaiting passengers for an afternoon flight is N7509, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82). |
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December 2002 During 1997, Skywest Airlines signed an agreement to become a United Express carrier from that parent company's hubs at Los Angeles airport. Skywest used the 30-passenger Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia for the flights providing no less then fifteen daily flights between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Eventually in 2000, United Airlines replaced its 737 flights between Santa Barbara and San Francisco with Skywest turboprop service. Wearing the "new" United colors and taxiing outbound to Runway 25 for an afternoon departure is N560SW, an Embraer EMB-120ER, delivered new to Skywest in March 1998. |
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December 2002 During 1996, United Airlines transferred its main-line jet service between Denver, Colorado, and Santa Barbara to United Express partner Air Wisconsin. The new United Express carrier placed the British Aerospace BAe 146 on the route with one flight daily, replacing the Boeing 737 that United Airlines had been serving Santa Barbara with. With the introduction of the smaller, more efficient regional jets in the late 1990s, Air Wisconsin was one of the first airlines to order and take delivery of the first generation of RJs. Four Canadair Regional Jets (CRJ) were ordered in June 1998, with the first two being delivered in December of that year. In early 1999, Air Wisconsin replaced its BAe 146 flights to Santa Barbara with its new 50-passenger CRJs. With a published range of 1229 miles, the CRJ flew the 971-mile route between Denver and Santa Barbara non-stop, making it the longest RJ sector at that time. Seen taxiing toward Runway 25 for an afternoon departure to Denver is N404AW, a Canadair CRJ-200ER. |
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