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Long Beach Airport celebrates a century as California's oldest

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Long Beach Airport celebrates a century as California's oldest
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Long Beach Airport | Official Website

On September 17, 1911, Calbraith Perry Rodgers embarked on a historic journey from Sheepshead Bay, New York, aiming to complete the first-ever transcontinental flight across the United States. After numerous stops and crashes, Rodgers landed on the beaches of Long Beach, California, 49 days later. These beaches soon became favored locations for early aviators.

Earl S. Daugherty, a well-known barnstormer, leased land near these beaches and opened one of the world's first flight schools. In 1923, an agreement was reached with the city of Long Beach to establish a municipal airport, officially opening Long Beach Airport on December 20, 1924.

Long Beach Airport attracted notable figures like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh and also became significant to the US military, which set up facilities in the late 1920s. The 1930s were marked by clashes between the airport and the military as airline traffic increased and the Douglas Aircraft Company began manufacturing there.

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In 1941, significant developments were underway, including a new passenger terminal and a production plant for Douglas Aircraft. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, altered focus, transforming the US into a wartime economy, and Long Beach played a role in military aviation efforts.

Despite a new passenger terminal in 1942, Long Beach was characterized by military activity during World War II, hosting a Naval Auxiliary Air Station and an Army Air Forces training base. Once WWII ended, military operations ceased, and the airport became a hub for general aviation.

Douglas Aircraft continued producing airliners, rolling out the first DC-8 in 1958, and later merging with McDonnell Aircraft to form McDonnell Douglas in 1967. The Long Beach assembly plant produced the C-17 Globemaster until 2015.

Today, Long Beach maintains scheduled services from Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Southwest, the largest carrier, accounted for 90% of the market in December 2024, serving cities like Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Oakland.

JetBlue, once a major presence, withdrew due to operational and demand issues, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic shifting its focus to Los Angeles International Airport.

Long Beach faces challenges, including noise pollution concerns and flight caps, limiting commercial operations. Nonetheless, it remains a busy general aviation airport with a rich history and a Cultural Heritage Landmark status since 1990.

Despite fierce competition from other Los Angeles airports, Long Beach continues to adapt, with Southwest expanding its network post-JetBlue. The historical significance and legacy of Long Beach Airport endure, celebrated through its centennial anniversary in 2023.

Organizations Included in this History
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