2026 SBA Route Updates

Santa Barbara Airport will see several updates to its commercial air service in 2026, beginning in January and rolling out through the spring and summer months.

One of the most anticipated additions is the return of United Airlines’ nonstop daily service to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) beginning March 29. Seasonal service to Chicago was previously offered by United in the summers of 2021 and 2022. This destination adds another key hub to the SBA network, expanding connectivity and providing travelers with access to hundreds of cities across the globe. Starting in February, United Airlines will also increase existing service to San Francisco (SFO) to five flights per day. 

The second major addition in 2026 is nonstop service to San Diego (SAN), which will be served by two airlines. Alaska Airlines will launch daily service on April 22, and Southwest Airlines will follow with daily service starting on August 4. Through San Diego International Airport, Santa Barbara travelers will have access to numerous destinations, including Hawaii, Mexico, and Europe. Nonstop service to SAN was previously offered by Alaska from June 2021 to September 2022. Alaska will also be adding a second daily flight to Portland (PDX) beginning in May.

Travelers will also see changes in service with Delta Air Lines. Effective January 21, the airline will discontinue nonstop flights to Atlanta (ATL). In its place, service to Salt Lake City (SLC) will be increased to as many as three daily departures. Through this additional frequency, passengers can still expect great connectivity across the country and globe through SLC. 

Between five airlines, 13 nonstop destinations, and approximately 27 flights daily, SBA is set to offer travelers more convenience and connectivity in 2026 than ever before.