Fly Santa Fe News:

The Santa Fe Regional Airport recently reached a major milestone in its multi-year modernization plan. With Phase I of the terminal expansion complete, the airport now offers a modern alternative to the 200-mile round trip to the Albuquerque Sunport.

For the scientists, engineers, and professionals at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)—for whom time is a valuable commodity—a closer commercial hub means more efficient travel, while facilitating the high-level collaboration and federal oversight essential to the county’s national mission.

Beyond its professional importance, the airport is also a gateway for families on the Hill. Los Alamos’ unique geography can occasionally feel isolating, but connections to Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago and Phoenix keep residents connected to the rest of the country.

Convenient air travel is especially important for attracting and retaining top talent—the ability to visit family or host out-of-town colleagues makes high-desert living more sustainable for those relocating from larger metro areas.

In early 2026, the focus shifted to Phase II which will add:

• A restaurant;
• Improved baggage handling;
• Three new gates; and
• Approximately 44,000 square feet of terminal space.

Also, a new access road will connect N.M. 599 directly to the airport parking area. Additional parking is being added now, and a parking structure is under early consideration.

This modernization and expansion of the Santa Fe Airport represents a shared regional investment in the economic future. As road improvements continue to streamline the Santa Fe–Los Alamos corridor, the airport’s role in the regional economy continues to grow. It provides a reliable logistical backbone that supports not just the federal missions at the Laboratory, but also the tourism and local businesses that keep Los Alamos and Northern New Mexico thriving.