The mission of Redding Army Air Field was advanced flight training of new airmen prior to their deployment overseas into the combat zones of the Pacific, China, Mediterranean or European Theaters. The USAAF 399th Fighter Squadron, 369th Fighter Group operated P-39 Airacobras from the airfield for that mission.
On November 1, 1944, control of Redding AAF was transferred from the Fourth Air Force to the Sacramento Area Command of the Army Air Forces' Air Technical Service Command headquartered at McClellan Field near Sacramento. The host unit was redesignated as the 4191st Army Air Force Base Unit. The mission was changed from training aircrews to being a refueling and maintenance facility for transient aircraft. Redding AAF was sporadically used by the Army Air Forces' Air Transport Command as a refueling and service stop.
On December 19, 1945, the military declared Redding AAF excess, and on November 18, 1946, it was turned over to the city for a civil airfield. The final transfer was in 1949, ending military ownership.
The City of Redding continues to operate the airport and has started a major commercial development.[7]
Southwest Airways was serving the airport during the late 1940s with Douglas DC-3 service with a roundtrip routing of San Francisco–Oakland–Vallejo/Napa–Sacramento–Marysville/Yuba City–Chico–Red Bluff–Redding–Yreka–Medford operated several times a day.[8] By 1959, Southwest Airways successor Pacific Air Lines had introduced new Fairchild F-27 turboprop flights operated on a daily roundtrip routing of Redding–Chico–Sacramento–San Francisco–San Jose–Bakersfield–Los Angeles and was also operating nonstop DC-3 service from Eureka/Arcata and Portland, OR.[9] Pacific Air Lines then merged with Bonanza Air Lines and West Coast Airlines to form Air West which in 1968 was operating all of its flights from the airport with Fairchild F-27 turboprops with direct service to San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Las Vegas, Portland, OR, Eureka/Arcata and Crescent City.[10][11] Air West was subsequently renamed Hughes Airwest following its acquisition by Howard Hughes and in 1970 was operating all of its flights from Redding with Fairchild F-27 turboprops with nonstop and direct flights to San Francisco, nonstop flights to Chico, Eureka/Arcata and Klamath Falls, and direct flights to Sacramento, Portland, OR, Seattle and Santa Barbara.[12]
On June 3, 2016, Donald Trump held a campaign rally on the airport tarmac.[17]
On June 25, 2024, Avelo Airlines announced it would end flights to and from Redding with its Redding-Burbank route after the ground handler that provides logistical operations for the airline pulled out of California altogether. Avelo's operations in Redding ended on August 26, 2024.[18]
Facilities
Redding Regional Airport covers 1,584 acres (641 ha) and has two asphaltrunways: 16/34, 7,003 x 150 ft (2,135 x 46 m) and 12/30, 5,067 x 150 ft (1,544 x 46 m).[1]
In 12 months through December 31, 2022, the airport had 60,902 aircraft operations, average 167 per day: 63% general aviation, 33% air taxi, 3% scheduled commercial and 1% military. At the airport were based 240 aircraft: 175 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 19 helicopter and 31 jet.[1]
Ground transportation
The airport is southeast of Redding along Airport Road at Knighton Road. Interstate 5 can be reached to the west via Knighton Road, and California State Route 44 can be reached to the north via Airport Road. Both long-term and short-term parking are available, as well as car rental and taxi services.[19]
Expansion plans
The City of Redding's remodel and expansion of the terminal building was complete as of November 11, 2014, when the grand opening took place. The project cost approximately $9.8 million, with the majority of funds coming from the FAA Airport Improvement Program. The terminal building was expanded from 20,000 sq. ft. to approximately 30,000 sq. ft. The secure passenger holding area increased its holding capacity from 70 passengers to over 200. The holding area now has restrooms, a convenience for passengers who previously had to leave the secure area if they needed to use the restroom.[20] This project was constructed by the general contractor Danco Builders Northwest, out of Arcata.
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