Southwest Airlines will expand its nonstop service between Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa and Denver International Airport to daily flights starting March 11, 2027. The airline began weekly nonstop flights to Denver on April 7, 2026, and plans to increase frequency through a gradual ramp-up, beginning with five weekly flights (Thursday–Monday) in August and September 2026. Near daily service is planned around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Strong Passenger Growth at Sonoma County Airport
The airport handled 92,759 passengers in June 2026, marking a 24.5% increase from June 2025 and a 27.2% rise compared to June 2019. Passenger traffic through June 2026 totaled
409,425, a 7.6% year-over-year growth and 29% increase from the same period in 2019. Jon Stout, Airport Manager at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, said the airport is on pace to accommodate between 950,000 and 1 million passengers by the end of 2026.
Alaska and Delta Expand Service
Alaska Airlines saw a 21% growth in passenger traffic during the first half of 2026, carrying 303,673 travelers. The airline resumed its seasonal Palm Springs flights on September 10, 2026, starting earlier than in 2025. Delta Air Lines announced plans to launch twice-daily nonstop flights to Salt Lake City from Sonoma County on October 6, 2026.
Fly Quiet Program and Noise Concerns
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proposed noise-reduction initiative called Fly Quiet will be presented to the Sonoma County Aviation Commission on August 20, 2026, with recommendations subsequently going to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The program aims to address escalating community noise complaints. The county is reviewing voluntary programs including airline noise-performance report cards and carrier rating systems, with debate ongoing about how assertively to enforce public accountability for noise levels. Airport Manager Jon Stout questioned the extent to which the county should pursue public “shaming” of airlines with lower ratings.
Passenger Loads and Market Competition
Southwest carried 53,899 passengers through June 2026, with an average load factor of
67% in June and 66% for the first half of the year. Load factors remain below peak, reflecting the airline’s development phase on new routes. Avelo Airlines ceased service from Sonoma County in May 2025, which had contributed to passenger declines in early 2025 before Southwest’s market entry. Alaska Airlines carried 58,934 passengers in June 2026 with a load factor of 79%, down from 83% in June 2025. American Airlines transported 13,748 passengers in June 2026, up 4.3% year-over-year, and improved its load factor to 86% by deploying smaller Embraer E175 regional jets instead of Airbus A319s.
Competition is intensifying
on routes such as San Diego and Las Vegas. Both Alaska and Southwest Airlines operate nonstop flights to San Diego from Sonoma County, potentially totaling as many as five daily flights. The airport is monitoring route performance monthly to ensure strong carrier presence and schedule reliability.
Southwest Airlines spokesperson Chris Perry said, “We intentionally started small with our new service at (Sonoma County airport) (as we do with all new destinations), and we’re now maturing that service.” Airport Manager Jon Stout emphasized the importance of sustaining strong carriers, stating, “Now that we actually have more competition, we’ll be looking at
that on a monthly basis as well, because we want to make sure all of our carriers are strong.”
Proposed changes to flight departure procedures remain under FAA review, and community concerns have been raised. The airport awaits FAA engagement on these proposals, which are expected to be submitted for online review soon.
