Santa Barbara Airport Celebrates Launch of Nonstop Service to Chicago
Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) celebrated the launch of nonstop service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on United Airlines, marking the return of one of the community’s most requested routes.
The service, which began April 6, 2026, operates daily and is served by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with 166 seats. The route provides Central Coast travelers with direct access to the Midwest, along with convenient connections through Chicago to destinations across the East Coast and beyond. The outbound inaugural flight departed Santa Barbara at near capacity, reflecting strong early demand for the service. This route previously operated at SBA in the summers of 2021 and 2022 as a seasonal offering.
Airport officials, community partners, and airline representatives gathered at the SBA terminal Monday morning to welcome the inaugural flight. Arriving passengers were greeted with decorations and complimentary gifts, followed by a brief program with remarks by Chris Hastert, Santa Barbara Airport Director, and Kathy Janega-Dykes, CEO of Visit Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce also welcomed passengers with a pop-up visitor booth.
“SBA is thrilled to welcome back nonstop service to Chicago”, said Chris Hastert, Santa Barbara Airport Director. “This has been one of the most requested routes from our community, and we’re grateful to United Airlines for helping meet that demand. Restoring this direct connection to a key Midwest hub offers travelers additional options for travel across the country and beyond.”
“Visit Santa Barbara is delighted to welcome the return of United Airlines’ nonstop service from Chicago to Santa Barbara,” said Kathy Janega-Dykes, President & CEO of Visit Santa Barbara. “Chicago is a vital Midwest hub for both leisure and business travel. This new service offers a convenient way for visitors to experience Santa Barbara’s extraordinary coastal beauty, vibrant food and wine scene, and myriad attractions. It also provides opportunities for local businesses and residents who will benefit from strong connectivity to the heart of the country. We deeply appreciate United Airlines and the Santa Barbara Airport team for their continued commitment to enhancing our region’s air service and supporting our local hospitality economy.”
The addition further enhances SBA’s growing network of nonstop destinations, which now includes 13 nonstop destinations with approximately 26 daily departures. Additional service growth is on the horizon, with nonstop service to San Diego scheduled to begin April 22 on Alaska Airlines.
For more information about SBA’s routes and services, visit Santa Barbara Airport (FlySBA.com).
About Santa Barbara Airport
Santa Barbara Airport, owned and operated by the City of Santa Barbara, has provided commercial and general aviation services to the Tri-County region for over 90 years. SBA is served by five major airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, and United. These airlines offer daily nonstop flights to 13 domestic destinations (including Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle), and one-stop connections to thousands more destinations around the world. SBA serves more than 1.4 million passengers each year, providing essential transportation service for both residents and visitors alike.