Santa Barbara Airport Master Plan

The Santa Barbara Airport Master Plan is a comprehensive 15 to 20 year guidance framework managed by the City of Santa Barbara to oversee the development, maintenance, and operation of the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. The project focuses on accommodating existing and forecast passenger demands through a series of phased improvements targeting short-term, intermediate-term (2022), and long-term (2032) activity levels. Key airfield enhancements include the extension of Taxiway H, the restriping of paved areas, and the relocation of taxiway entrances and exits. Landside improvements involve consolidating general aviation operations into two Fixed Base Operator lease areas and relocating the Airport Maintenance Yard. A primary focus of the current project is the Terminal Improvement Project, which includes expanding the John T. Rickard Airline Terminal by 16,500 square feet and redeveloping approximately 20,400 square yards of the terminal and overflow apron. Other terminal area upgrades include the construction of a new long-term parking lot with 1,315 spaces and the demolition of Building 122 to facilitate parking expansion. The project adheres to Federal Aviation Administration standards and California Environmental Quality Act requirements, with a design life intended to mitigate sea level rise hazards over 75 years. The project was formally approved on June 30, 2026, following a CEQA addendum to the original 2017 Master Plan.