"A public airport in Southern California that only serves two commercial routes - including dirt cheap flights to San Francisco International Airport - is capping off a strong year without the boost from travelers. The San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) was recently awarded a federal grant worth about $7.4 million for runway improvements. In response, its director of aviation told the Center Square that it "had a record year in aircraft activity in 2025.""
"With just a single runway, SBD is as busy as it's ever been since transitioning from an Air Force base over 30 years ago. However, its success is not tied to passenger traffic as it had once hoped. Annual passenger numbers hit nearly 55,000 in 2023 before dropping to about 40,000 the following year as SBD has struggled to hold onto commercial routes to cities throughout the West."
"SBD sees a fraction of the passenger and freight volumes compared to its neighbor Ontario International Airport, but the two growing airports are repeatedly supported by their congressional representatives. On Dec. 12, U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that the Federal Aviation Administration was earmarking the $7 million grant for SBD to fund runway repair and to reconstruct a portion of the taxiway."
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) served only two commercial routes but recorded a record year in aircraft activity in 2025. Passenger numbers declined from nearly 55,000 in 2023 to about 40,000 in 2024 as the airport lost commercial routes across the West. SBD shifted focus to air freight and became the West Coast cargo hub for Amazon, operating a 650,000-square-foot cargo building that is the second-largest Amazon Air hub nationwide while also serving FedEx and UPS. SBD received a roughly $7.4 million FAA grant to repair the runway and reconstruct part of a taxiway, with federal representatives citing safety and economic growth benefits.
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