Madeline Bryce/Daily Nexus

Amidst budget cuts due to the ongoing government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration announced this morning that Santa Barbara Airport will permanently suspend commercial flight operations. This was the Federal Aviation Administration’s most recent announcement following a mandatory 10% national flight reduction at major hubs under the newest safety mandate. Local airlines confirmed that all incoming and outgoing commercial service will end as of 11:59 p.m. Friday, with diverted flights now routed through Los Angeles or San Francisco.

The director of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained their reasoning for shutting down the airport in a post on X.

“In an effort to maintain flights in more important hubs, we decided to shut down that ruddy little small-time wannabe airport in order to keep the heavy hitters like LAX up and running,” Bryan Bedford posted. “After all, who actually uses the Santa Barbara Airport? UCSB students? Yeah, those college bums can take Caltrain.”

Many locals and UC Santa Barbara students were frustrated with the announcement, and are being forced to change travel plans last minute to get home for winter. Sarah Haras, one of many out-of-state students attending the public university, expressed her frustration in an interview.

“It was small and cute. I’m going to really miss it,” she said. “Now, I have to book a new flight and then suffer through LA traffic just to get home. Why can’t our stupid country just agree on a budget instead of shutting down public facilities?”

In early December, the small airport will be completely bulldozed. Plans for a fast food restaurant will likely be built, according to local officials.

Many, like Professor Bob, an architecture professor at UCSB, felt these actions were extreme and destructive to the city’s historical heritage.

 “The Santa Barbara Airport was created in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, built all the way back in 1941 as a Marine Corps Air Station during World War II. This is a work of art being destroyed, for what? A McDonald’s? God help us.”

Though Santa Barbara Airport will soon be leveled, it will always live on in our hearts.

The Gentle Giant is dreading to ride Caltrain.