Small California airport service affluent region sees another year of passenger growth

Additionally, the airport ranked fourth Best Small Airport in the U.S. by Newsweek readers.Photo byAnna GruonUnsplash

Sonoma County Airport continues to experience steady growth, according to a report presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Passenger traffic increased by 4 percent from 2022 to 2023, and so far in 2024, it is up by 15 percent. In total, 641,178 passengers flew through the airport in 2023, with 82,710 commercial and general flights reported.

The annual update, presented by the Department of Public Infrastructure, highlighted several accomplishments, including the completion of a $40 million terminal modernization project, the establishment of an Avelo crew base adding 45 local jobs, and a significant boost in advertising revenue, up 500 percent to $300,000 annually. Additionally, the airport ranked fourth Best Small Airport in the U.S. by Newsweek readers.

Key projects such as a wildlife exclusion fence, community outreach for noise mitigation, and the purchase of an all-electric tractor for safety area maintenance were also noted. The Board approved two new Airport Operations Specialist positions, set to begin in July 2025, to support the growing passenger numbers and ensure operational resilience.