Departure
96%
vs 95% ▲ 1
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Santa Fe Municipal Airport (KSAF), now also styled Santa Fe Regional Airport, sits in the high desert of northern New Mexico at 6,296 feet, making it one of the higher-elevation airports in the United States and a notable density-altitude consideration for visiting pilots. It combines scheduled regional jet service with a busy general aviation and private jet presence, and offers an ILS approach to its longest runway. The field's high desert setting and mountain backdrop make it a distinctive stop for simulator pilots exploring the American Southwest.
Santa Fe Municipal Airport, known in recent years as Santa Fe Regional Airport, serves the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is owned by the City of Santa Fe. It handles scheduled regional jet flights alongside a significant volume of general aviation and private jet traffic, including activity from operators such as NetJets. For a simulator pilot, the airport's appeal lies in its high elevation of 6,296 feet, its ILS-equipped main runway, and the striking high desert and mountain scenery surrounding the field.
The airport lies at coordinates 35.6171, -106.089 in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, near the city of Santa Fe. It is served by Albuquerque Center on 132.8 MHz for en-route and approach coordination, and has its own control tower on the field, indicating it sits within controlled airspace during tower hours.
Santa Fe Municipal has three physical runways, all hard-surfaced. Runway 02/20 is the longest at 8,361 feet, lit, and equipped with an ILS on runway 02. Runway 15/33 is 6,318 feet and lit. Runway 10/28 is 6,291 feet but is not listed as lit. Field elevation is 6,296 feet.
The airport broadcasts ATIS on 128.55 MHz. Tower and CTAF operate on 119.5 MHz, with Ground on 121.7 MHz. Albuquerque Radio is available on 122.2 MHz, and Albuquerque Center can be reached on 132.8 MHz. UNICOM is on 122.95 MHz. An ILS approach is available, aligned with runway 02.
The airport opened in 1941 as a military airfield as the United States entered the Second World War. After the war it was sold to the City of Santa Fe, and all commercial air activity was transferred to this site from the former Santa Fe Municipal Airport/Boyd Field, which had been located off Cerrillos Road between Rodeo Road and Jaguar Drive. The field was then known as Santa Fe County Municipal Airport until it was renamed Santa Fe Regional Airport in 2017-2018. The current terminal building dates from 1957 and was renovated in 1988 and 2004. In June 1972 Frontier and Texas International Airlines both abruptly withdrew scheduled service, citing unsafe runway conditions after aircraft suffered propeller damage from deteriorating asphalt; neither carrier returned, and the airport subsequently relied on smaller commuter operators. Airline service lapsed entirely at the end of 2007 before resuming in the summer of 2009 with regional jet flights, and passenger traffic grew substantially through the 2010s. A major terminal expansion approved in 2017 and begun in 2022 was completed in April 2024.
Santa Fe Municipal is currently served by American Eagle, with regional jet flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Chicago O'Hare, and by United Express with services to Denver and Houston. The field also sees considerable private jet activity, including operations by NetJets, and hosts two fixed base operators: Jet Center at Santa Fe, northeast of the terminal, and Signature Flight Support, based in the old terminal building south of the current one. The terminal underwent a major expansion completed in 2024, reflecting steadily increasing airline and general aviation traffic at this high-altitude field.