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    1. Airports

    What’s New at Sacramento International Airport?

    March 5, 2021
    Related To: Sacramento County Department of Airports

    As destinations begin to open up, Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is announcing several new nonstop flights to make weekend getaways and Spring Break trips easier than ever. Additionally, passengers traveling to Hawaii have a convenient on-airport option for testing that meets the state’s entry requirements.

    Sunseekers have several options to escape the winter chill. Frontier brings four-times per week service to Phoenix (PHX), which started last week. The desert city has gorgeous spring weather, with temperatures hovering in the high 70s/low 80s, tempting visitors with days by the pool, world-class golfing, museums, nightlife and dozens of parks and preserves for hiking and biking.

    In March, JetBlue begins nonstop service to Cancún (CUN), an incredible place to relax or play. 

    • A Volaris nonstop, that launched last fall, brings Mexico City even closer. 
    • Two new options make it easier to get to popular southern California destinations as well. Spirit begins daily nonstop flights to Orange County (SNA) in April. 
    • Alaska Airlines is reinstating its four daily nonstop flights to San Diego (SAN), California’s second city, in April. 
    • Frontier’s new nonstop to Ontario (ONT) adds four flights a week to the Inland Empire. 

    “We’re excited to see our airline partners expanding their schedules and routes, giving our passengers a growing number of options for great destinations in Mexico, California and throughout the west,” said Cindy Nichol, Sacramento County Department of Airports director.

    SMF has partnered with CityHealth Urgent Care to offer free COVID-19 testing to travelers. Testing takes place daily at one of the airport’s parking lots.

    For those traveling to Hawaii, the state has implemented a safe travel program due to increased COVID-19 cases. To comply with state requirements, CityHealth Urgent Care will provide COVID-19 test recipients with an official declaration of their results. Travelers must provide written confirmation of a negative test result within 72 hours of travel to the islands to receive the quarantine exemption. SMF has a number of options to get travelers to several islands with direct flights on Hawaiian, Alaska and Southwest Airlines. For more on what travelers need to know before visiting the Aloha State, visit the Hawaii State Department of Health’s website.

    The CDC is now requiring all arriving international passengers, including U.S. citizens, to have a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to their flight home. For flights originating in Mexico or Canada, travelers should check with their airline for testing documentation requirements.

    The CLEAR trusted traveler program will be coming to SMF in March. The CLEAR system uses biometric technology to identify passengers through fingerprints and iris image scans allowing users to head straight to the security metal detectors and bag scanners without waiting in line. CLEAR is another option to make travelers trip through SMF easy and efficient.

    As we gear up for the spring travel season, Sacramento International Airport continues to put the health and safety of passengers first. Not only has the airport changed the way we prepare the terminal for travelers, but the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also has rolled out new rules to reduce the spread of coronavirus. A few things to keep in mind before arriving at SMF that will make traveling easier:

    • Parking: The East Economy at $10/day is open with shuttles running to both Terminals. Additionally, both the Garage, $18/day, and the Daily Lot, $10/day are open, and the Hourly Lot pricing is still $29/day.
    • Self-Scanning: passengers will scan their own boarding passes and not hand them over to TSA employees.
    • Liquids: liquids still must be in 3.4 ounce or smaller containers with the exception of hand sanitizer, which can be in a 12-ounce container. It must be removed from baggage before it goes through the X-ray and will be screened separately.
    • Food: if passengers bring meals on their flights, they should be placed in a clear plastic bag, in a separate tray from their luggage, for scanning.
    • Personal Items: TSA recommends that all personal items (keys, phones, wallets, etc.) should be placed in carry-on bags instead of directly in the bins, to avoid contamination.

    Beyond the security screening area, passengers should minimize touchpoints and are encouraged to use touchless options, like online check-in, mobile boarding passes, prepayment of bag fees, etc. SMF reminds everyone to travel safely and take extra precautions when at the airport. Anyone in a public space is required to wear a face covering. The airport has installed social distancing signage not only inside the airport but also in areas where passengers wait for pick-up, taxis, rental car shuttles and ride-hailing apps. As always, it is recommended travelers arrive early in anticipation of additional security screenings.