San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) — Los Angeles Region, California
San Bernardino International Airport (IATA: SBD, FAA: SBD) is a public airport located in San Bernardino, California, approximately 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the Inland Empire region. Situated at an elevation of 1,159 feet above sea level, SBD occupies the former Norton Air Force Base, which closed in 1994 and was subsequently redeveloped into a commercial and cargo aviation facility serving the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding Inland Empire communities.
The airport covers approximately 1,200 acres and features two primary runways: Runway 6/24 at 10,001 feet and Runway 12/30 at 5,000 feet. This substantial runway length makes SBD particularly well-suited for wide-body cargo aircraft and military operations, and the facility has attracted significant freight activity as a result. The airport is owned and operated by the San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA), a joint powers authority formed by the City and County of San Bernardino.
San Bernardino International Airport serves as a relieving gateway for air cargo traffic that would otherwise compete for capacity at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Ontario International Airport (ONT), both of which experience significant congestion. SBD's strategic position along the Interstate 10 corridor — the primary freight artery connecting Southern California to the rest of the United States — makes it an increasingly important node in regional logistics networks. Major cargo carriers including Amazon Air and FedEx have established or expanded operations at the facility in recent years.
Passenger service at SBD has seen activity over the years, with charter and seasonal operations serving leisure travelers from the Inland Empire. The terminal building, a modern facility capable of handling commercial passengers, stands ready to support scheduled airline service as the airport continues its development efforts. San Bernardino County has a population exceeding 2.2 million residents, representing a substantial underserved market for convenient local air access compared to driving to LAX or even ONT.
The airport's location provides excellent ground transportation access. Interstates 10 and 215 intersect nearby, and the facility is approximately 1.5 miles from the San Bernardino Transit Center, which connects to Metrolink commuter rail service into Los Angeles. This multimodal connectivity enhances SBD's appeal for both cargo shippers seeking efficient last-mile distribution and passengers seeking alternatives to more congested regional airports.
San Bernardino International Airport also maintains a strong general aviation component, hosting fixed-base operators (FBOs) and supporting private, corporate, and training aircraft. The surrounding Inland Empire business community relies on SBD for executive travel, with charter services providing connections to destinations throughout the western United States. The airport's tower operates on a full-time basis, providing air traffic control services to the mix of cargo, general aviation, and occasional commercial traffic that transits SBD daily.
Redevelopment of the former Norton AFB has been ongoing for decades, with the airport authority continuing to attract new tenants, invest in infrastructure, and market SBD's capacity advantages to airlines and logistics companies seeking cost-effective Southern California alternatives. Hangar space, ramp area, and industrial facilities on airport grounds support a growing aerospace and maintenance ecosystem, including aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations that employ hundreds of Inland Empire residents.
For travelers in the San Bernardino, Riverside, Redlands, Fontana, and Rialto areas, SBD represents a genuinely convenient local option, with free parking, minimal congestion, and a streamlined passenger experience compared to the scale of LAX or the distance to other regional airports. The airport authority continues to pursue air service development agreements and infrastructure improvements aimed at establishing regular scheduled commercial service for the region's 4+ million Inland Empire residents.