Airports in San Bernardino County, California
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| Airports in San Bernardino County, California | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Bernardino County Airports |
| State | California |
| Country | United States |
| Largest city | San Bernardino, California |
| Area | 20,105 sq mi |
| Population | 2,000,000+ |
| Notable airports | Ontario International Airport, Palm Springs International Airport, Southern California Logistics Airport |
Airports in San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County contains a diverse network of airports serving commercial, cargo, general aviation, and military roles across the California Inland Empire, Mojave Desert, and Coachella Valley. The county’s aviation infrastructure connects hubs such as Ontario International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport with reliever fields like Chino Airport and strategic facilities including Southern California Logistics Airport, integrating with regional corridors like Interstate 10 and Interstate 15. Airports here interact with institutions such as the Federal Aviation Administration, California Department of Transportation, and private operators including Los Angeles World Airports and logistics firms like FedEx Express and United Parcel Service.
Overview
San Bernardino County spans from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Mojave National Preserve and encompasses airports that support passenger travel, cargo distribution, aerospace testing, and flight training. Major population centers—San Bernardino, California, Ontario, California, Riverside, California, Victorville, California, and Fontana, California—use county airports for access to hubs like Los Angeles International Airport and John Wayne Airport. Aviation facilities coordinate with airspace management authorities such as the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center and with regional planning bodies like the Southern California Association of Governments.
Major airports
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the county’s principal commercial gateway, offering scheduled service operated by carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and low-cost airlines including Southwest Airlines. ONT also supports cargo operations by FedEx Express and Amazon Air and has intermodal links to the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway. Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) in the Coachella Valley serves passenger carriers including JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, and seasonal flights linked to tourism in Palm Springs, California and Joshua Tree National Park. Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV), formerly George Air Force Base, is a major cargo and aerospace center attracting freight operators, defense contractors, and firms such as NASA contractors and private space companies.
General aviation and reliever airports
Chino Airport (CNO) functions as a busy reliever supporting flight training organizations affiliated with institutions like Cypress College aviation programs and private fixed-base operators. Apple Valley Airport and Cable Airport provide basing for recreational aviation, skydiving companies, and aerial firefighting support that coordinate with agencies such as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Needles Airport and Baker Airport serve remote communities and cross-desert general aviation needs for operators including air ambulance services and agricultural aviation firms. Smaller fields such as Barstow-Daggett Airport provide maintenance, helicopter operations linked to Chevron and other energy companies, and access to California State University, San Bernardino field programs.
Military and government airfields
The county includes facilities with historical and ongoing government aviation roles, including former George Air Force Base (now VCV) and nearby training ranges used by United States Air Force and contractor teams for aerospace testing. Edwards Air Force Base sits adjacent in Kern County but operational airspace and ranges overlap with county airports for test missions involving contractors like Northrop Grumman and Boeing. Municipal and county-owned airports support law enforcement aviation units from San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and emergency medical services partnering with organizations such as American Medical Response.
Airport facilities and services
Terminals at ONT and PSP include passenger processing, security screening managed by the Transportation Security Administration, rental car centers operated by national companies like Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz, and fixed-base operators providing fuel, maintenance, and avionics from vendors including Signature Flight Support. Cargo areas feature cold storage and bond facilities utilized by logistics firms such as DHL and cold-chain providers servicing produce from Coachella Valley and manufactured goods from industrial centers in Fontana and Rialto. Air traffic services include control towers, instrument landing systems, and ground support meeting standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Economic and transportation impact
Airports in the county underpin freight corridors that feed the Southern California ports complex, linking with the San Pedro Bay Port Complex via truck and rail and supporting warehouses and distribution centers operated by companies like Amazon.com, Inc. and Walmart. Aviation-related employment spans carriers, ground handling, airframe maintenance organizations such as StandardAero, and aerospace manufacturing for contractors like Raytheon Technologies. Tourism generated by PSP supports hospitality in Palm Springs, California and events at venues like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, while ONT’s connectivity stimulates business travel for logistics firms in Ontario, California and technology companies in the Inland Empire.
History and development of aviation in the county
Early airfields in the region trace to airmail routes and training fields of the World War II era, with George Air Force Base playing a key role in Cold War operations and later conversion to civilian use as VCV. Ontario Airport evolved from a municipal field to an international gateway influenced by postwar industrial growth and regional aviation planning involving Los Angeles World Airports and county authorities. The rise of cargo-focused infrastructure at Southern California Logistics Airport reflects broader shifts toward intermodal logistics and partnerships with freight carriers and military surplus conversion projects. Recent developments include terminal modernizations, community debates over noise and land use involving groups such as local chambers of commerce and environmental organizations, and investments tied to federal infrastructure programs administered through agencies like the United States Department of Transportation.