Sonoma County airport to add wine tasting, more food options as passenger numbers jump in March

Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, in the midst of its $40 million construction project, has announced the addition of two concessionary businesses that are expected to open in May, pending final approvals.

Vintage Wine Estates will open the Flight Deck Lounge, a wine-tasting room and wine-packaging shop, and Salt Lake City-based Apple Spice’s Petaluma establishment will open a satellite operation, according to Airport Manager Jon Stout.

The Flight Deck Lounge will be located next door to Costeaux On The Go, just south of the main terminal, he said.

Mary Ann Vangrin, vice president of communications and social media at Santa Rosa-based Vintage Wine Estates, confirmed the news to the Business Journal Monday afternoon.

Vangrin said the original Flight Deck Lounge was located in Healdsburg, but was closed about a year ago in favor of moving to the airport, which she described as being an ideal fit.

Apple Spice is set to open a grab-and-go operation from Gate 2 that will sell sandwiches, salads and a variety of snacks and drinks to airport passengers and personnel, said Waseem Khan, franchise owner of the Petaluma operation.

The company operates nearly 50 locations across the country, with four in Northern California: Petaluma, Fremont, Modesto and the forthcoming airport spot.

Apple Spice specializes in business and corporate lunches, and makes its bread from scratch every day, Khan noted. He said the airport establishment will expand its menu when it moves to the main terminal upon completion of the airport’s remodel and expansion project.

Stout said the construction project is anticipated to wrap between February and April of 2023, depending on current building schedules and supply issues.

Meanwhile, total passenger numbers at the regional airport increased in March compared to the month prior, according to figures released Thursday.

United Airlines, which has repeatedly delayed the restart of its Denver service out of the regional facility, has again pushed the date back, from June 24 to Sept. 6, Stout said.

United Airlines is one of four commercial air carriers servicing the Sonoma County airport. The others are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Avelo Airlines.

In March, they collectively flew 50,089 passengers through the facility, up 262.4% from a year earlier. The carriers flew 36,550 passengers through the airport in February.

Alaska Airlines in March flew 27,791 passengers through Santa Rosa, up 156.4% from a year earlier, and 5,655 more than January. The airline’s load factor — the measure of how full airplanes are on average — was 83%.

Avelo Airlines last month flew 12,249 passengers through the airport, adding more than 3,000 passengers since February. Avelo’s load factor was 64%. The air carrier on April 28 will mark one year of service at the Sonoma County airport.

American Airlines last month flew 7,908 passengers through the regional airport, up 165.2% from a year earlier and nearly 4,300 more passengers from February. American’s load factor in March was 87%.

United Airlines last month flew 2,141 passengers compared to 1,751 passengers the month prior. Its load factor last month was 69%. United’s service at the airport at this time in 2021 was suspended. It restarted its San Francisco flights in August 2021.

This story has been updated to include input from Vintage Wine Estates.