From left, Penny Lilburn, Highland Mayor and San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA) secretary, Michele Kaufusi, Provo Mayor, Utah, Frank Navarro, Colton Mayor and SBIAA president, and Tom Doxey, Breeze Airways president, spray champagne at the nose of a Breeze Airways aircraft during a celebration of the inaugural flight out of San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
When Valentine Perea needed a flight to San Francisco for the Crunchyroll Expo this weekend, he booked a cheap ticket out of San Bernardino International Airport.
Unbeknownst to the 22-year-old until walking through security Thursday, Aug. 4, he would be part of history.
“I’m going to take a cookie,” Perea said Thursday while waiting to board. “Some cake, too.”
Ryan Gabuyo, 27, of San Francisco, right, the first passenger to deplane from the Breeze Airways flight from San Francisco, shakes hands with San Bernardino International Airport CEO Michael Burrows as he arrives to the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Passengers a silhouetted as they wait in line to board the Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Breeze Airways aircraft inaugural flight from San Francisco gets a water salute as it lands at the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Breeze Airways aircraft inaugural flight from San Francisco lands at the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Passengers arrive from Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino mayor John Valdivia gives thumbs as he and daughter, Abigail, 7, son, Andrew, 10, and wife, Beth, ride up the escalator before departing to San Francisco on the Breeze Airways’ first scheduled passenger flight out of San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Ken Huang, of San Bernardino, have his photo taken by Linge Ge, after landing from the first scheduled passenger flight at San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Spencer Perkins, of Utah, and son, Jose, have their tickets scan as they board the Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, left, former San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, center, and Highland Mayor Penny Lilburn pose for a photo during the inaugural flight of passenger service celebration at San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Breeze Airways aircraft inaugural flight from San Francisco lands at the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Passengers board the Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Passengers board the Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Pat Diaz, of San Bernardino, hugs an inflatable Otto Pilot, before boarding the Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tom Doxey, President of Breeze Airways, speaks before the inaugural flight departing from San Bernardino to San Francisco at the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Passengers are greeted after landing from the first scheduled passenger flight at San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Passengers prepare to board the Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Former San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, shows her boarding pass as she boards the Breeze Airways first passenger flight out of the San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
From left, Penny Lilburn, Highland Mayor and San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA) secretary, Michele Kaufusi, Provo Mayor, Utah, Frank Navarro, Colton Mayor and SBIAA president, and Tom Doxey, Breeze Airways president, spray champagne at the nose of a Breeze Airways aircraft during a celebration of the inaugural flight out of San Bernardino International Airport in San Bernardino on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The San Bernardino airport and Breeze Airways, which in March announced their partnership, spared no expense celebrating the occasion.
Arriving travelers on Flight 603 out of San Francisco touched down shortly before noon and received a hero’s welcome inside the Leland Norton Terminal. All guests received a goodie bag with various airplane trinkets, as well as sweets.
A DJ spun Europe’s “The Final Countdown” and other songs befitting of the moment.
Dozens of local dignitaries partook in the festivities.
Sergio Rosales, a 29-year-old by way of Provo, Utah, booked seats for he and his wife on the inaugural flight out of the Beehive State into San Francisco, then into San Bernardino.
The two plan to spend the weekend in Big Bear with family.
Rosales, one of the first through Gate 3 Thursday, commended the Breeze flight staff and overall experience.
“A real nice, easy flight,” he said.
Less than two hours later, departing Flight 602 set out for the Bay Area.
“This is a big boon for the community,” San Bernardino Mayor John Valdivia, who bought four tickets for the inaugural departing flight for he and his family, said before takeoff.
Currently, many residents in the San Bernardino Valley must make their way east to the Palm Springs International Airport or west to Ontario International Airport for their air travel needs.
In an interview Thursday, Colton Mayor Frank Navarro, president of the San Bernardino International Airport Authority, welcomed all those in the area who want a more convenient option.
“This is a dream and a vision and a plan coming to fruition,” he said. “This is a day where the airport is open to the communities of San Bernardino, Redlands, Highland, Loma Linda, Colton, Rialto, Fontana, Yucaipa, giving them another option to travel. Convenient. In your backyard, in your neighborhood.
“You can take Breeze to San Francisco, then the world is open to you.”
SBIAA officials have been working for years to bring commercial passenger service to the airport.
While flights between San Bernardino and Mexico were slated for summer 2017, those plans never took off.
Breeze, however, could not be a better fit for the airport, said Michael Burrows, executive director of the airport authority.
“As others see how Breeze works at SBD,” he added, “hopefully they’ll come join us as well. That’s what this whole thing is about. Convenient, cost-effective but friendly travel options for this community that’s waited so long to have air service.”
Thursday, Burrows, one of many local officials and leaders to fly on the inaugural departing flight, reflected on the moves and decisions made by airport authority board members to make such a milestone possible.
“This is the Leland Norton Terminal, and every stick and stone and bone of it has been built and rebuilt and preserved for this day,” he said. “It’s really special for me. I’ve seen every seismic retrofit, every rebuild. Now, years later seeing everything come together, the TSA team, our team, the operations team, everybody working in one direction to make this happen, it’s just exciting.”
With floor-to-ceiling windows and a café, the terminal seats hundreds and has four gates. Those waiting for flights have a picturesque view of the San Bernardino Mountains, as well as arriving cargo flights taxiing around the airfield.
Daily flights begin in Provo and land in San Francisco at around 10:10 a.m. The bird then departs and lands in San Bernardino about 90 minutes later.
Departing flights leave San Bernardino at around 1:55 p.m. and stop in San Francisco before heading to Provo.
It is unclear at the moment whether Breeze will add other destinations out of San Bernardino. Airport officials have said they want to see how these first flights to San Francisco do before discussing possible additions.
“I’m super excited to see the response we get from the community,” said Mark Gibbs, the airport’s aviation director and another traveler on maiden Flight 602. “It has been a warm welcome to Breeze and we’re excited to see these planes start to fill up.”
