HER HIRING AS CITY MANAGER AROUND THE SAME TIME. MORE PEOPLE ARE FLYING OUT OF SACRAMENTO THAN EVER BEFORE. KCRA 3’S CORTEZ TELLS US WHAT’S DRIVING SOME OF THAT GROWTH, AND HOW THE AIRPORT IS PREPARING FOR WHAT’S NEXT. SO WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A YEARS LONG PROCESS WHERE WE SURVEYED PASSENGERS, WE SURVEYED FLIGHT CREWS. THAT PLANNING LEADING TO MORE FLIERS AS SAC INTERNATIONAL SAW NEARLY 14 MILLION PASSENGERS LAST YEAR, THE MOST IN SM HISTORY. WE RECAPTURED ABOUT 400,000 TRAVELERS WHO PREVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE CHOSEN A BAY AREA AIRPORT BECAUSE OF OUR OUR EXPANDED OFFERINGS HERE AT SMUD. KCRA THREE NEWS GETTING A FIRSTHAND LOOK TO THE NEW PROJECT SET TO OPEN THIS YEAR. POISED TO CONTINUE SMITH’S DIRECTION AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. WE NOT ONLY ADDED SIX NEW NONSTOPS, WHICH IS HUGE, ADDING NONSTOPS IS ALWAYS WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO, BUT WE ALSO ADDED MORE CAPACITY. A PART OF THAT CAPACITY OF 5000 PLUS TERMINAL B PARKING GARAGE, SLATED TO OPEN BY CHRISTMAS. EQUIPPED WITH A PARKING SYSTEM THAT SHOWS HOW MANY SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE. THIS IS JUST GOING TO HELP PEOPLE GET TO THEIR PARKING SPOT QUICKER, KNOW WHERE THEY CAN PARK, WHERE THERE’S PARKING AVAILABILITY, AND THEN ALSO WHEN OUR PARKING RESERVATIONS ROLL OUT. THAT’S GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS, FOR LEISURE TRAVELERS, PEOPLE COMING FROM NEAR AND FAR BECAUSE THEY WILL KNOW, WITH NO SURPRISE THAT THEY’LL HAVE A SPOT. AND JUST ADJACENT TO THAT STRUCTURE, A PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY SLATED TO OPEN IN THE SUMMER THAT WILL ALLOW TRAVELERS AN OPTION TO DIRECTLY WALK TO CONCOURSE B. NOW WE’RE OPENING RESTAURANTS, SO THAT’S VERY EXCITING. WE’VE GOT WEST COAST SOURDOUGH HERE IN TERMINAL A AND TERMINAL B, SIDEWALK JUICE. AND FOR THE QUICK BITE, MORE THAN A DOZEN NEW RESTAURANTS, BOTH MAJOR AND LOCALLY SOURCED, ARE BEING BUILT AT SMUD. KEEPING IT LOCAL HERE. AND IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO WHERE THE FARM TO FORK CAPITAL. WE REALLY WANTED TO CAPTURE THAT SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE CAME TO SF, THEY TASTED SACRAMENTO FROM SAC INTERNATIONAL CORTEZ KCRA THREE NEWS. THESE PROJECTS ARE ALL PART O
Record-breaking year at SMF prompts major upgrades for travelers
SMF expansion targets convenience as airport hits all-time high traffic
Updated: 8:04 PM PST Jan 28, 2026
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is expanding its facilities and surveying passengers and flight crews to improve services, after nearly 14 million people passed through last year — the most in the airport’s history.Lindsay Myers, a spokesperson with SMF, said the airport has attracted about 400,000 travelers who previously used Bay Area airports, thanks to its expanded flight offerings. Several new projects are set to open this year, reinforcing SMF’s status as one of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S.“We not only added six new nonstops, we’re constantly adding nonstops and more capacity,” Myers said.The expansion includes a new parking garage at Terminal B with more than 5,000 spaces, expected to open by Christmas. The garage will feature a system showing available parking spots.“This will help people find a parking spot faster and know availability in advance. When our parking reservations roll out, it’ll be a game changer for business and leisure travelers,” Myers said.A pedestrian walkway opening next summer will connect the garage directly to Concourse B. The airport is also adding more than a dozen new dining options in Terminals A and B, including both major chains and locally sourced restaurantsSee more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is expanding its facilities and surveying passengers and flight crews to improve services, after nearly 14 million people passed through last year — the most in the airport’s history.
Lindsay Myers, a spokesperson with SMF, said the airport has attracted about 400,000 travelers who previously used Bay Area airports, thanks to its expanded flight offerings. Several new projects are set to open this year, reinforcing SMF’s status as one of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S.
“We not only added six new nonstops, we’re constantly adding nonstops and more capacity,” Myers said.
The expansion includes a new parking garage at Terminal B with more than 5,000 spaces, expected to open by Christmas. The garage will feature a system showing available parking spots.
“This will help people find a parking spot faster and know availability in advance. When our parking reservations roll out, it’ll be a game changer for business and leisure travelers,” Myers said.
A pedestrian walkway opening next summer will connect the garage directly to Concourse B. The airport is also adding more than a dozen new dining options in Terminals A and B, including both major chains and locally sourced restaurants
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel