A short drive away from Fresno, California, lies Yosemite National Park, situated within the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range. Renowned worldwide for its stunning landscapes, Yosemite boasts breathtaking cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, and towering sequoia trees that make visitors feel tiny. Nearly ninety-five percent of the park is classified as wilderness, making it one of the rare locations on our planet where you can imagine how the earth appeared long before human presence.
To reach your destination, you should book a flight into
Fresno-Yosemite International Airport
. Located right next to the city, FAT is the most convenient way to get to the famed national park, and the airport is well-connected to the rest of the country. It sees flights from
eight
passenger airlines
And even gets support from Mexico. Despite experiencing unprecedented growth annually, FAT is managing this expansion effectively. How exactly is it handling this increase?
The Most Recent Updates From Fresno
On April 23, 2025, Fresno Yosemite International Airport unveiled plans for its recently enlarged security screening zone. With an unprecedented surge in travelers, the present infrastructure has become insufficient. This expansion forms part of a broader redevelopment strategy with the aim to enhance FAT’s new security space and accommodate more passengers.
8,000 square feet (approximately 743 square meters)
And provide enough room for five concurrent screening lanes. In the past, security lines often became so lengthy that travelers sometimes had to wait in the lobby. However, those days are gone now.
Besides offering practical advantages, the development has enhanced the aesthetic appeal of Fresno’s region. Given that airport security often proves monotonous and frustrating, the expanded section now includes eye-catching wall murals along with refreshed interior elements. Additionally, the installation of new carpets and an increased variety of seating choices was introduced within the lobby space. Across this modernized zone, improved Flight Information Display systems have been implemented as well.
In 2023, FAT initiated construction for an extension of its terminal facilities. This comprehensive project includes redesigning the whole airport layout, incorporating a brand-new Federal Inspection Station (FIS), establishing a spacious welcome area for incoming international travelers, and revamping the retail zones within. Additionally, two extra boarding gates will be constructed, along with expanding the current holding spaces at each gate.
The Condition of the Terminal Expansion
In 2023, FAT gained approval for the redesign of its solo passenger terminal, renaming it as FATforward. This project had an estimated price tag exceeding $126 million; however, around $85 million was expected to be injected into the city’s economy due to numerous job opportunities and broader economic impacts. Additionally, this expansion would bring about more financial advantages because of the increased size of the facility. A key feature of these enhancements includes constructing a new Concourse B with two extra terminals designed specifically for handling international travel.
In December 2024, Fresno marked the initial landmark as they set the last beam for the expansion project into place. By November, the roofing work had been finished, ensuring full protection from the elements by January 2025. Shortly thereafter, internal construction commenced, starting with the completion of the new security zone.
Altogether, the expansion at the airport will increase its size by
96,500 square feet (8,965 square meters).
The construction is anticipated to wrap up by this autumn and will feature a customs zone thrice as large as the present one, along with revamped visuals and enhanced passenger services. The incorporation of new wood elements and additional foliage aims to create an atmosphere inspired by nature and organics. Additionally, a bigger parking structure has been brought into service, and FAT plans to renovate Runway 11L/29R, which is scheduled for completion by 2027.
The Present Condition of Fresno Airport
In 2014, Fresno handled more than 1.3 million passengers. By 2024, FAT had logged over
2.6
a million travelers set a new record. Fresno has consistently expanded each year. In comparison to 2023, the number of passengers increased significantly.
9%
. 2023 saw
12%
growth relative to 2022. In 2022, we observed
12%
More passengers have been recorded this year as compared to 2021. Over the years, Fresno has experienced an unprecedented increase in the number of travelers passing through, with no indication that this trend will slow down anytime soon.
The terminal underwent its most recent expansion in 2002 and received local praise for its groundbreaking design. The present customs area was launched in 2006, after which international services quickly commenced.
Mexicana
The airline announced new services starting from Mexico City with a layover in Guadalajara. In the meantime, domestic operations have grown as carriers introduce routes to additional hub cities and progressively upgrade their fleets from regional jets to larger mainline aircraft.
Alaska Airlines
Even declared winter seasonal service to Guadalajara in 2024, making it the inaugural US airline to offer such a route.
Currently, there are 10 functional gates at the airport. It regularly handles flights for Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 airplanes, connecting to 13 different locations across the U.S. This year,
Southwest Airlines
will be
adding service in San Diego
, while extending its services to Las Vegas. Allegiant Air plans to launch flights to Portland, and Delta will introduce an additional flight to Salt Lake City run by
SkyWest Airlines
.
Fresno’s Current Air Service
Eight airlines provide planned passenger services inside the United States as well as to Mexico, according to information from the
Department of Transportation
, SkyWest Airlines is the largest carrier at the airport, followed by
American Airlines
,
Southwest Airlines
,
Allegiant Air
, and
Alaska Airlines
SkyWest manages regional routes for all three primary U.S. airlines from both Fresno and Alaska. Additionally, the company stations crew members here and runs a significant maintenance facility in the area.
Even though the majority of Alaska’s flights are handled by SkyWest, trips to Seattle and Guadalajara utilize Boeing 737 aircraft. For Delta’s routes to Salt Lake City, they operate under their Delta Connection brand; however, their daily journey to Atlanta employs a Boeing 737-800. American Airlines deploys both Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s for numerous departures heading to Dallas-Fort Worth, whereas their services to Phoenix alternate between mainline planes and smaller regional jets. In summertime, United sends a Boeing 737 toward Chicago, but Los Angeles and San Francisco receive traffic via regional jet operations. Denver receives some air traffic through A319 models alongside mainline support.
Along with serving passenger airlines, Fresno also hosts cargo flights. Ameriflight, which is the biggest Part 135 freight carrier in the U.S., operates routes to three destinations within California. Additionally, Fresno benefits from services provided by various carriers.
FedEx
and
UPS
, with both flying wide-body aircraft, being the sole operators to do so. Additionally, Fresno also serves as a hub for
General Aviation
, where a substantial fleet of aircraft is stationed at the airport.
A Short Account of Fresno-Yosemite
The Fresno Airport was built in 1942, not long following the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor. Initially called Hammer Field, it served as a facility for training novice Army Air Force aviators. Once World War II concluded, the municipality opted to convert this airstrip into one accessible for public aviation since Chandler Field closeby would fail to accommodate escalating passenger needs. Renamed as Fresno Air Terminal, it commenced operations commercially in 1948 through services initiated by United Airlines and TWA.
In 1966, the airport introduced jet services for the first time when Pacific Southwest Airlines started utilizing Boeing 727-100 aircraft to run PS42 out of Los Angeles. United swiftly became dominant, deploying 727s, 737s, and DC-8s to serve three distinct destinations during the 1970s. Nevertheless, this situation did not persist due to the significant disruption caused by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 within the U.S. aviation sector. Major carriers such as United and Delta scaled back their operations, reducing services and cutting several routes, leaving American’s MD-80 route to Dallas as essentially the sole primary flight operation at Fresno Airport towards the conclusion of the century.
In the late 1990s, the airport changed its identity to Fresno-Yosemite. Despite dropping the “Fresno Air Terminal” moniker, it kept the FAT acronym for brand recognition. Throughout much of the 20th century, the airport experienced considerable cuts in services; however, Fresno underwent something of a revival recently. Both United and Delta brought back their mainline aircraft here, and flights coming from Mexico seem particularly thriving. In 2021, Southwest started operations at this location, with American also routinely deploying Airbus A321 planes to cater to the growing demand.
The Overview of Fresno Airport
Fresno isn’t considered a major metropolis; it ranks as merely the fifth biggest city in California. However, when comparing it to cities such as Portland, it experiences relatively less demand. Despite this, over recent years, there has been a significant surge in the number of passengers passing through. As visitor numbers increase, so does the necessity for the airport to evolve. What once was an air hub facing gradual decline over many decades is now experiencing growth, offering increased flight options to various locations without showing any indications of deceleration.
The U.S. has witnessed
countless airports redesigning and reconstructing their airport terminals
Initially deemed outdated, confined, and unappealing, recent constructions such as those found in New Orleans and at LaGuardia have received global recognition. Similarly, Fresno’s latest developments feature captivating art installations, contemporary architectural touches, and ample natural surroundings reminiscent of national parks. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these expanded terminals will efficiently accommodate the steady stream of tourists arriving continuously.
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