John Wayne Airport Posts September 2026 Statistics

(SANTA ANA, CA) - Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport decreased in September 2026 as compared to September 2025. In September 2026, the Airport served 940,884 passengers, a decrease of 2.1% when compared with the September 2025 passenger traffic count of 961,137.

Commercial aircraft operations in September 2026 of 7,796 increased 0.3%, and commuter aircraft operations of 812 increased 4.9% when compared with 2025 levels. 

Total aircraft operations decreased in September 2026 as compared with the same month in 2025. In September 2026, there were 24,025 total aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings), a 15.9% decrease compared to 28,555 total aircraft operations in September 2025.

General aviation activity of 15,402 accounted for 64.1% of the total aircraft operations during September 2026 and decreased 23.0% compared with September 2025.

The top three airlines in September 2026, based on passenger count, were Southwest Airlines (273,007), United Airlines (166,697), and American Airlines (153,963). 

 

John Wayne Airport
Monthly Airport Statistics - September 2026

 

 

September

2026

September

2025

 % Change

Year-To-Date

2026

Year-To-Date

2025

 % Change
Total passengers 940,884 961,137 -2.1% 8,460,845 8,489,420 -0.3%
Enplaned passengers 467,257 476,265 -1.9% 4,215,507 4,233,594 -0.4%
Deplaned passengers 473,627 484,872 -2.3% 4,245,338 4,255,826 -0.2%
Total Aircraft Operations 24,025 28,555 -15.9% 256,736 242,460 5.9%
General Aviation 15,402 19,997 -23.0% 179,173 165,627 8.2%
Commercial 7,796 7,770 0.3% 70,756 70,549 0.3%
Commuter 1 812 774 4.9% 6,627 6,130 8.1%
Military 15 14 7.1% 180 154 16.9%
Air Cargo Tons 2 1,317 1,201 9.7% 11,760 11,326 3.8%
International Statistics 3 (included in totals above)
 

September

2026

September

2025

 % Change

Year-To-Date

2026

Year-To-Date

2025

 % Change
Total Passengers 15,412 22,649 -32.0% 157,238 227,218 -30.8%
Enplaned passengers 7,726 11,387 -32.2% 78,602 114,511 -31.4%
Deplaned passengers 7,686 11,262 -31.8% 78,636 112,707 -30.2%
Total Aircraft Operations 136 196 -30.6% 1,337 1,952 -31.5%

  1. Aircraft used for regularly scheduled air service, configured with not more than seventy (70) seats, and operating at weights not more than ninety thousand (90,000) pounds.

  2. All-Cargo Carriers:
    1,239 tons
    Passenger Carriers (incidental belly cargo):
    78 tons
    Current cargo tonnage figures in this report are for:
    August 2026

  3. Includes all Canada and Mexico Commercial passengers and operations.

-###-

The award-winning John Wayne Airport (SNA) is owned by the County of Orange and is operated as a self-supporting enterprise that receives no general fund tax revenue. The Airport serves more than 11.3 million passengers annually and reaches more than 50 nonstop destinations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. More information can be found at www.ocair.com. Like us on facebook.com/johnwayneairport, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @johnwayneair and Instagram @johnwayneair.

To receive John Wayne Airport news releases automatically, go to www.ocair.com and click Subscribe.