History

Historic photo of United Airlines plane with passengers and crew

Ever since the dashing French aviator René Simon completed the area’s first recorded airplane flight in 1911, our region has played an exciting and often pivotal role in aviation history. In 1929, South Bend International Airport saw its beginnings when Vincent Bendix, founder of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, purchased 610 acres northwest of South Bend, IN.

The airport has had many names throughout its long history, beginning with Bendix Municipal Airport, followed by Bendix Field – St. Joseph County Airport, Michiana Regional Airport, Michiana Regional Transportation Center, South Bend Regional Airport and finally South Bend International Airport.

Speaking of names, our airport has welcomed many famous people over the years, including Amelia Earhart in 1936 when she landed her Lockheed Electra aircraft at Bendix field. Many United States Presidents have also landed in South Bend, including Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.

When the airport first opened, flights were logged on a chalkboard posted outdoors, near a dirt runway. Today, SBN serves hundreds of thousands of air and rail passengers every year. And, of course, our runway is paved!

A lot has happened at SBN since its early days. Here is a collection of some of the biggest moments in our history:

Historic plane in field

1911

French aviator, René Simon, completes the first successful flight in South Bend before a crowd of 30,000 excited onlookers.

1919

U.S. Army Lieutenants Leigh S. Sellers and George McCabe “barnstorm” the area performing sensational aerial stunts. They also offer the region’s first commercial air service.

1928

Pilots gather for the St. Joe Valley Aviation Air Show to compete for the coveted Studebaker loving cup.

1929

A German Dirigible, the Graf Zeppelin, flies over St. Joseph County on its world tour.

1929

Vincent Bendix, founder of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, purchases 610 acres northwest of South Bend on which to build an airport.

1931

The inaugural Bendix Trophy airplane race from Los Angeles to Cleveland is won by Major James H. Doolittle. His average speed is 223 miles per hour.

1933

In a ceremony attended by more than 20,000 spectators, Vincent Bendix christens the airport “Bendix Municipal Airport.”

Amelia Earheart standing with Lockheed Electra plane at Bendix Field

1936

Amelia Earhart lands her Lockheed Electra at Bendix Field just a few months before her aircraft disappeared in an attempted around-the-world flight.

1936

The city purchases Bendix Field from Vincent Bendix for $198,000. The field is renamed Bendix Field-St. Joseph County Airport after ownership is transferred to the County.

Historic administrative building

1941

The airport’s administration building has arrivals and departures posted outside.

1942–1945

Homer Stockert serves as chief test pilot for the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane. Stockert operated the Stockert Flying Service for 42 years at the airport, teaching more than 1,000 men and women to fly.

1949

A new terminal and control tower is completed at the airport.

1957

A wildly cheering crowd of 3,000 welcomes home the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team after a 23-21 victory over Army.

President Eisenhower exiting Air Force 1 at South Bend International Airport

1960

President Eisenhower arrives at the airport. Every president since has landed at South Bend International Airport.

1962

Last Bendix Trophy race is won by Capt. John Walton. His average speed is 1,214 miles per hour — five times as fast as the first race!

Historic United Airlines airplane tail

1967

United Airlines inaugurates commercial jet service at the airport with a flight from South Bend to New York City by way of Fort Wayne, IN.

1971

An airport surveillance radar system is put in use by air traffic controllers.

1973

The St. Joseph County Airport Authority is created in August.

1974

The airport’s name is changed to Michiana Regional Airport to reflect the regional nature of the airport.

1976

The airport hosts the Michiana Regional Airport Air Show. Navy Blue Angels, Army Huey Helicopters, U.S. Golden Knights and Air Force Thunderbirds are among performers at airport air shows in 1976, 1983, 1984 and 1987.

1979

A new air traffic control tower is completed.

1981

Dedication of a new multi-modal terminal takes place. The terminal now features interstate bus service in addition to air service.

1986

The airport is granted Foreign Trade Zone status by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which provides a valuable tool for businesses involved in foreign trade.

1987

Michiana Regional Airport welcomes the International Summer Special Olympics Games. More than 100 Cessna jet aircraft land at the airport in one day, bringing participants from all over the country.

Crowd gathered at train rail for opening

1992

South Shore rail service begins at the airport. Michiana Regional Airport now features multi-modal air, interstate rail, and interstate bus service.

1993

Michiana Regional Airport is renamed Michiana Regional Transportation Center to reflect the multi-modal means of transportation from the airport.

1994

A record number of airline passengers, totaling 859,230 are served at Michiana Regional Transportation Center.

1999

The Authority Board signs a resolution changing the name to South Bend Regional Airport. Throughout all of the airport’s name changes, its call letters have remained SBN.

2001

A study shows that SBN has an economic impact of nearly $323 million, demonstrating that the airport is a key part of the economic health of the greater Michiana community and indicates it will be a major force in the region’s future growth and prosperity.

2002

SBN completes the first phase of a new Master Plan, which will support the future development of aviation and related aeronautical businesses. Thirteen hundred feet of pavement is added to the airport’s main runway, bringing the total length to 8,400 feet. Two taxiways are also lengthened. Future expansion is planned as the airport enters a new century of flight!

2003

SBN commemorates the 100th anniversary of powered flight by welcoming a national air tour of 25 vintage airplanes to the airport and by hosting a community-wide celebration.

2004

The airport completes a $619,000 parking improvement program, including the introduction of valet parking, as well as two new payment options: ticketless and pay-on-foot. SBN also begins offering the first 15 minutes of parking free of charge in the short-term lot.

2004

A new website is launched which includes a host of new features, like real-time flight information. Other technology improvements include an update of the flight information system and Wi-Fi access in the terminal.

2004

One of the largest air freight companies in the world, Airborne/DHL completes construction of a new 50,000-square-foot facility at SBN.

2005

SBN is reported to generate nearly $380 million in economic activity in the Michiana region, according to an economic impact study by the Aviation Association of Indiana. It is an increase of $20 million over a study conducted two years earlier.

Vegas showgirl standing pointing to Allegiant Air banner

2005

Allegiant Air begins nonstop service to Las Vegas and Orlando/Sanford airports, becoming the first low-cost carrier at SBN.

2006

SBN is a recipient of the Supplier Diversity Economic Empowerment Award from the Minority and Women Business Development Office of St. Joseph County.

2006

SBN’s first “Stakeholder of the Year” award is presented to Republic Parking System in recognition of the company’s significant parking improvements at the airport over the past two years. SBN honors individuals in the fire, police and EMS fields with the creation of the William T. Schmidt Lifetime Education and Achievement Award. Schmidt was a consultant for SBN on aircraft rescue and firefighting matters for several years up to his passing in 1994. The inaugural Schmidt Awards for 2005 and 2006 are presented, respectively, to Lt. Keith Schweizer of the South Bend Police Department and Chief Luther Taylor of the South Bend Fire Department.

2007

The completion of an 1,100-foot addition to the North-South runway (for a total of 7,100 feet of length) is a milestone in SBN’s long-range Master Airport Improvement Plan. This expansion allows the runway to accept larger aircraft for arrivals and departures, paving the way for growth at SBN.

2007

The Air Traffic Quarterly Report lists SBN as the top airport in the Great Lakes Region for domestic load factor — aviation lingo meaning the percentage of seats filled on each flight. SBN’s load factor exceeds that of both O’Hare and Midway airports in Chicago.

2007

Service to Indianapolis, with a continuation to Evansville, begins via Cape Air.

Construction of expansion at airport

2010

A new 45,000-square-foot concourse expansion opens in November 2010 and is fully complete in February 2012. The terminal features nine gates and popular passenger amenities, including a full-service deli and bar, business center, newsstand and children’s play area.

2012

Allegiant adds nonstop service to Fort Myers/Punta Gorda in June and Frontier enters South Bend with nonstop service to Denver in October.

2013

After just 11 months of service, Frontier ceases operations at SBN. Despite the loss of Frontier, the existence of that service opened the door for conversations with other airlines, eventually leading to the addition of service to Newark on United Airlines.

2014

U.S. Customs and Border Protection grants SBN its international designation. Design begins on a Federal Inspection Station and General Aviation Facility. These facilities are needed to land commercial and corporate/private international flights — a big step for future service at SBN.

2014

SBN chooses a new, local concessionaire — South Bend Chocolate Company — to operate the food and beverage services at the airport.

2014

United Airlines announces nonstop service to New York City/Newark (EWR) from SBN. The daily service begins in October, offering South Bend residents access to New York (and beyond!) while also opening the door for increased tourism in South Bend.

2016

SBN hosts the first ever Wings For Autism program in Indiana. This event helped fifty families overcome their anxiety about the challenges of flying by giving them the opportunity to complete a “rehearsal” process of what to expect at an airport.

2017

U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes the first international arrival through the General Aviation Facility on June 30, 2017.

Air Force One on tarmac

2018

For the first time in SBN’s history, Air Force One and Air Force Two arrive together. President Trump and Vice President Pence attend a rally in Elkhart, Indiana on May 10, 2018.

2018

American Airlines begins service twice daily to Dallas /Fort Worth (DFW) and Charlotte (CLT) on June 7, 2018.

2019

Liverpool Football Club’s chartered flight from Manchester, England (MAN), lands at South Bend International Airport on July 16, 2019. This marks the opening of SBN’s Federal Inspection Station (FIS). U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also announces SBN as the first Global Entry Enrollment Center in the state of Indiana.

2020

In March the global COVID-19 pandemic impacts aviation unlike anything the industry has ever seen. By April, passenger traffic was down 95%. SBN remained open and operational for essential travel.

2022

Delta stops flying SBN-Detroit (DTW) on November 9 as a result of the pilot shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023

SBN is the first regional market to resume daily flights to Detroit (DTW) beginning September 1.