2/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Long-term parking is $21 per day, which feels reasonable considering how easy the whole experience is.”
Elysia Guillen5★ on Google
Airports / California / SBA
Medium airport · SBA
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.
Santa Barbara, California · 13 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
4.6/5
Google rating
1,335 ratings
1
Operators based
13
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Santa Barbara, CaliforniaELEV 13 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.6
Google rating
1,335
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
Based operators
charter operators on the field
2
FBOs on field
ramp, fuel and handling
13
Field elevation
feet above sea level
Field standing
#36 / 152
California airports by Google rating
4.6★ across 1335 Google ratings , ranked against 152 rated CA fields.
34 nm
To the nearest alternate
Oxnard Airport (OXR), 5 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (KSBA / SBA) sits in Santa Barbara, California, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 13 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
For charter flyers, SBA is a home base: Santa Barbara Aviation, Inc operates from the field. The closest alternate fields are Oxnard Airport (OXR, 34 nm), Camarillo International Airport (KCMA, 39 nm), and Point Mugu Naval Air Station (Naval Base Ventura Co) (NTD, 40 nm). The field has 3 runways, the longest 6,037-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Charter travelers heading this way can start with the Santa Barbara, CA destination guide for route and aircraft recommendations. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from SBA to plan your flight.
2 FBOs serve KSBA. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Atlantic Aviation Santa Barbara
Your FBO? Claim it, freeLocated right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Aviation SBA promises to meet your every need. In addition to our standard aircraft services, we also provide 24-hour surveillance and security, security screening and much more.
- Fuel
- Hangar
- Mon-Sun: 0600-2200
- Unicom 122.95
- Executive lounge
- Conference room
- Wi-Fi
- Cafe
- Shuttle
- Car rental
- Hotel help
- Hangar
- +9 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Signature Flight Support Santa Barbara
Your FBO? Claim it, freeSanta Barbara sits between the mountains and the beach along California’s Central coast. Its Beautiful scenery is matched by a vigorous economy made up of high-technology manufacturing, tourism, education and many professional services. Whether your plans include business or pleasure, Signature-Santa Barbara offers the best in executive aviation services.
- Fuel
- Mon-Sun 0600-2200
- Unicom 122.95
- Conference room
- Wi-Fi
- Cafe
- Vending
- Car rental
- Taxi
- Wheelchair access
- Restrooms
- +16 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Overall, it’s easy to navigate, low stress, and actually kind of pleasant.”
Elysia Guillen5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KSBA
IATA
SBA
FAA / Local
SBA
Elevation
13 ft
Coordinates
34.4262° N · 119.8400° W
Airspace
C · CharlieClass C, CharlieRadar-controlled airspace around mid-size hubs. Aircraft must be in two-way radio contact and squawking a transponder while approach control sequences arrivals.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At 13 ft, SBA sits lower than 90% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 6,037 ft
- 07/256,037 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 15L/33R4,190 ft × 75 ftAsphaltUnlit
- 15R/33L4,190 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,037 ft
SBA's 6,037 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators1
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 34nmOXROxnard AirportOxnard
- 39nmKCMACamarillo International AirportCamarillo
- 40nmNTDPoint Mugu Naval Air Station (Naval Base Ventura Co)Point Mugu
- 41nmVBGVandenberg Space Force BaseLompoc
- 42nmSMXSanta Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria
- 63nmSBPSan Luis County Regional AirportSan Luis Obispo
Destinations served
Location
Open the full mapKSBA · Santa Barbara Municipal Airport · Santa Barbara, CA
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SBA on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (SFO) | 228 nm | 56m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 250 nm | 59m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 397 nm | 1h 19m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 534 nm | 1h 39m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 686 nm | 2h 0m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 693 nm | 2h 1m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 695 nm | 2h 1m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 790 nm | 2h 14m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SBA?
- Santa Barbara Municipal Airport's longest paved runway is 6,037 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at SBA?
- Santa Barbara Municipal Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 6,037 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at SBA?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list Santa Barbara Municipal Airport as a home base, including Santa Barbara Aviation, Inc. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- Which FBOs are at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport?
- 2 FBOs serve SBA: Atlantic Aviation Santa Barbara and Signature Flight Support Santa Barbara. Phone, website, hours, unicom and services for each are listed on this page. Call ahead for fuel, ramp space, and ground handling.
- What is the nearest major airport to SBA?
- The closest alternate is Oxnard Airport (OXR), about 34 nm away, followed by Camarillo International Airport (KCMA) at 39 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SBA to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: San Francisco about 56m (228 nm), Las Vegas about 59m (250 nm), Scottsdale about 1h 19m (397 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.