Meadows Field Airport

In September 1939, war broke out in Europe, prompting Congress to appropriate $40 million for Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND). Under DLAND, the secretaries of War, Commerce, and the Navy approved expenditures for airports. By 1941, the Army Air Corps had begun directing aid to Meadows Field for improvements to include operation of airport towers.

In late 1943, the United States Army Air Forces acquired usage rights to Meadows Field. It was placed under the jurisdiction of the IV Fighter Command. The 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (NFOTG) used the facility as part of the Army Air Forces Night Fighter School, which had transferred from Florida to Hammer Field, California. Meadows Field was used as an auxiliary training airfield and the school operated a combination of modified Douglas A-20 Havocs for night fighter operations, designated P-70, and brand-new prototype YP-61 Black Widow night fighters.

Between May 1 and July 12, 1944, the 427th Night Fighter Squadron trained at Meadows Field; the 549th Night Fighter Squadron trained there between July and October 1944. In addition, flights of P-61s from the 426th, 547th, 548th and 550th Night Fighter squadrons moved in and out of Meadows Field during 1944 as part of their training prior to being deployed to combat units, primarily in the Pacific and CBI theaters.

In December 1944, the 481st NFOTG was inactivated as part of an AAF reorganization. Meadows Field was placed on standby status and the airport was only used for emergency purposes, being under the control of Hammer Field.

With the end of the war, the base was declared excess to requirements and returned to civil control.

A U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainer is on display at the entrance to the old terminal at Skyway Drive and Hanger Way (not in use for passengers).

After the war, Meadows Field would return to being a commercial airport. In the mid-1950s, Kern County would modernize the airport. Land was purchased and new facilities were built; in 1957, a new terminal and control tower was built east of the runway. That year, the county renamed the airport Meadows Field (by a board of minute order on August 6, 1957), after Cecil Meadows.[7] He was the county's Director of Airports from 1935 to 1957, except during World War II when he was a pilot in the armed forces. He was also responsible for the county purchasing the airport and modernization efforts.

Airport diagrams for 1955 and 1965

Commercial airline service to Bakersfield dates back to 1927 when Pacific Air Transport operated a route from Los Angeles to Seattle stopping at Bakersfield, Fresno, San Francisco, Medford, and Portland. By 1934, Pacific Air Transport merged with three other carriers to become United Airlines. United continued serving Meadows Field until 1979 and again from 1984-1987. Since then, affiliate carriers operating as United Express have served Bakersfield on behalf of United. United flew a variety of prop aircraft, and from the late 1960's United flew Boeing 727's and Boeing 737-200's nonstop to Los Angeles and to San Francisco which made stops at Visalia, Fresno, Merced, Modesto, or Stockton. For a short time in 1933 and 1934, Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA) served the city on a San Francisco-Fresno-Bakersfield-Los Angeles route. Other carriers include Southwest Airways and successors Pacific Air Lines, Air West, and Hughes Airwest that served the airport from 1956 until 1979 with Fairchild F-27 and DC-9-10's. In 1966, Pacific Air Lines operated Boeing 727-100's nonstop to Los Angeles and Fresno and one-stop to San Francisco; this was the airport's first jet service. Pacific Express served the airport with BAC One-Elevens nonstop to San Francisco and Santa Barbara during the 1980's. Continental Airlines flew Boeing 737-200's to Denver from 1987-1988. America West Airlines operated mainline service to Las Vegas from 1990-1991 using the De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop. From 1984 until 1999, American Airlines operated Dallas/Fort Worth service using the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 which initially included a Santa Barbara stopover. From September 1994 through April 1995, American operated a Boeing 757-200 to John Wayne Airport and one-stop to Chicago-O'Hare which is believed to be the largest commercial jetliner to serve Bakersfield. Allegiant Air operated to Las Vegas from 2010-2011 using the McDonnell Douglas MD-80, and Frontier Airlines briefly flew Airbus A319's to Denver in 2014.[8]

From 2007 until 2008, Mexicana flew Airbus A318's non-stop to Guadalajara.

Since deregulation, a number of commuter and regional carriers have served the airport including Air Pacific, Air L.A., American Eagle Airlines, Aspen Airways, ExpressJet Airlines (initially operating as Continental Express and later independently), Imperial Airlines, Golden Gate Airlines, Golden West Airlines, Mesa Airlines (initially operating independently and later as America West Express and successor US Airways Express), SkyWest (initially operating independently and later as Western Express, Delta Connection and US Airways Express), Sun Aire, StatesWest Airlines (operating as USAir Express), Swift Aire Lines, WestAir (operating as United Express), and Wings West Airlines. Most of these airlines flew to Los Angeles and other points within California. At times there were more than 20 daily flights to Los Angeles, however by 2014, all had been discontinued. Nonstop regional jet flights to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport were operated by Continental Express from 2004 through 2007 followed by United Express from 2012 through 2016. Delta Connection operated regional jets to Salt Lake City from 2006 through 2008.[9]

The airport saw increased air service during the 1950s and 1960s; in 1975, annual enplanements would reach 97,000. The growth ended with airline deregulation in 1978. While other cities saw a decrease of prices and increase in service, almost all air service was eliminated from Meadows Field in favor of other airports such as LAX (about 120 miles (190 km) south). The City of Bakersfield and the County of Kern attempted to prevent a reduction in service by filing a joint lawsuit; however, the court sided with the federal government.[10] Annual enplanements fell 59%, from 147,866 in 1978 to 60,958 in 1981 (although the next year it would rebound to 90,000). Air service would eventually average 120,000 enplanements between 1980 and 2000.[11]

Service was expensive compared to nearby airports and normally ran during inconvenient times. Service was also inconsistent, with airlines frequently starting and ending routes. During the same time period, the region also saw a large growth in population. While the City of Bakersfield grew 134%, and the County of Kern grew 64%, the airport did not see an increase in service to match.[11][12][13] Except for the lengthening of the main runway in 1987 to accommodate wide-body jets, few improvements were done at Meadows Field during that period.

In the early 2000s, the county started an initiative to address the problems in air service. In 2002 it was estimated that about 400,000 people who lived in the service area of the airport chose to fly from a different location; 25% of those flew to destinations in Mexico.[14] Kern County started multiple projects to address the reluctance of airlines to use the airport. They included: installing centerline landing lights on the main runway, extending the second runway to 7,700 feet (the length most airplanes that use the airport would need), construction of a new terminal with jet bridges and inside baggage claim, and remodeling the existing terminal to accommodate international flights.[15] Most improvements were completed by 2006, with the international terminal completed in 2007.

Initial response was favorable. Four new airlines would start service at the airport, including international service to Mexico operated by Mexicana. This would also increase enplanements above the levels set in 1978.[16] However, high gas prices and the subsequent recession of 2008 would reduce service to 2002 levels, including the loss of the airport's international carrier. However, the US Customs house would remain open. In addition to serving international charter and unscheduled flights, it would process international cargo. Both the Tejon Industrial Complex (south of Bakersfield) and the International Trade and Transportation Center (in Shafter, west of Bakersfield) would lease warehouse space at the airport for use by their clients.[17]

At the beginning of 2020, Bakersfield is served by two regional airlines: American Eagle operated by Mesa Airlines and United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines. American Eagle provides nonstop flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, which began in 2019, and to Phoenix, which began in 1998 as America West Express and later US Airways Express. United Express provides nonstop flights to Denver, which began in 2007, and to San Francisco which traces back to one of United's original routes from the 1930's.[18]

William M. Thomas Terminal has five gates: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Gate 6 is on the ground level), and houses all commercial flights at the airport. The terminal also contains an Omni Goods gift shop and a Blimpie restaurant. Features of the terminal include a rotunda with compass point floor design and a scaled model of Spaceship One (which flew out of Mojave about 50 miles (80 km) east of Bakersfield). It is also constructed on a hill, which allows for all passenger services to be on the second level, while airport services are on the first. The terminal was constructed in 2006 at a cost of $33.8 million and designed by Odell Associates.[20]

Kern County Air Terminal was built in 1957 and previously handled all commercial flights until the William M. Thomas Terminal opened in 2006.

In 2006, the terminal underwent a $1 million renovation and an adjacent $7 million US Customs & Immigration facility was built.[21] The terminal was reopened in 2007 to handle both international departures and arrivals.

The terminal closed again in 2008 when its only air carrier, Mexicana, suspended service. As of December 2019, the terminal remains mothballed.

The terminal had an adjacent motel and restaurant complex known as "Skyway House". Both closed in 2001 following the airport's downturn after the September 11 attacks and were demolished in 2005.

The airport is located at the intersection of Merle Haggard Drive and Airport Drive, in Oildale (also called North Bakersfield). Access to the Domestic Terminal is from Merle Haggard Drive while access to the International Terminal is from Airport Drive. The primary signed route to the airport is via SR 99 (Golden State Freeway). Drivers traveling north exit at Porterville Highway (SR 65) while drivers traveling south exit at 7th Standard Road/Merle Haggard Drive. In both cases, drivers then turn east on Merle Haggard Drive, which leads to the airport. There is an alternate signed route via Golden State Highway (SR 204 Freeway). Drivers exit at Airport Drive, and travel north to the airport.

The Domestic Terminal provides fee parking for both short term, and long term parking. People can also park for free in the short term parking for a limited amount of time.[24] The International Terminal provides free parking for both short term, and long term parking.

Public transportation to the airport is provided exclusively by Golden Empire Transit (GET). Travel to/from the International Terminal is provided by Route 3 (Downtown), which runs between the Downtown Transit Center and North Bakersfield. The bus will only stop at the terminal when requested. There are no scheduled bus routes to the Domestic Terminal. Special express service is provided between the terminal and the Downtown Transit Center, if requested 24 hours in advance.[25]

Rental cars are only available at the Domestic Terminal. Currently four companies are located at the airport.[24] Rental car counter space is on the east side of the terminal, with the car lots directly outside the east exit.

Taxi stands are located outside the north entrance to the terminal, across the street. Taxis are typically available when flights are arriving at the airport. Meadows Field also lists two taxi companies on their website, which provide 24-hour pickup, if no taxis are available.[24]

The domestic terminal was constructed in anticipation of future expansion. Currently it has three sky bridges to connect passengers to airplanes. Without any new construction, two additional sky bridges can be added. The existing gate area can then be extended towards the runway for an additional seven gates. After that, a new concourse can be constructed on the west side of the terminal for 12 more gates. That puts the ultimate capacity for the terminal at 24 gates.[26]

Other facilities are planned to expand with these future changes to the terminal. The existing parking lot will grow both east and west. The rental car parking lots will be consolidated and relocated east of the terminal. Wings Way, the road that connects to the airport, will be extend to Airport Drive and connect to Day Avenue.[27]

Currently, all cargo operations are conducted out of a small facility, east of the international terminal. A new, expanded cargo facility is planned west of Merle Haggard Drive, north of the runway. Ultimate build out will contain 12 sortation buildings, 30,000 square feet (2,800 m²) each. A road will connect them to trucking/warehouse/distribution facilities west of the airport. That road will terminate at Porterville Highway (SR 65) and Merle Haggard Drive (at Wings Way). Other aviation-related structures are planned in the area.[27]

In addition, there is a long-term plan to construct a third parallel runway. Designated 13–31, it will be located north of the cargo facilities, as well as Merle Haggard Drive. The runway is planned to be 8,000 feet (2,400 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide. It will be widely spaced, which will allow for simultaneous Instrument Flight Rule (IFR).[28]

• Meadows Field, official site
•  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Maurer, Maurer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
• Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.