California's Closest Airport To Yosemite National Park Just Got A Major Upgrade

If you've ever experienced tight crowds at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), especially during summer months or peak periods, things are about to get much better. California's closest airport to Yosemite National Park reached an anticipated milestone on December 17, 2025, as city leaders celebrated the biggest terminal expansion the airport has ever seen in its 77 years of existence. This $150 million project is known as FATforward (which stands for Fresno Air Terminal Forward), and the whole idea is to keep pace with Fresno's increasing growth.

The expansion comes with about 98,000 square feet of extra terminal space, providing more breathing room for travelers. The inside will feel different, with bigger waiting areas and two new gates for easier domestic and international flights. The international arrivals area is also much larger now, including a spacious lobby and even an outdoor plaza where friends and family can wait for loved ones without a hassle.

Local officials have clarified why this matters so much. Being one of the closest major airports to Yosemite and other top national parks in California, like Sequoia and Kings Canyon, FAT plays an important role in terms of tourism as well as transportation among locals, leading to increasing passengers. In fact, 2024 saw the airport's highest turnover, with over 2.5 million passengers recorded. On this note, officials want Fresno to remain the major gateway to some of California's most famous destinations, while also ensuring there's little or no congestion. In Mayor Jerry Dyer's words, "We don't want people driving to San Francisco or Los Angeles or anywhere else to get a flight. We want them flying out of Fresno."

One of the more interesting upgrades is a much larger TSA screening area, featuring up to five simultaneously functioning screening lanes across an 8,000-square-feet expansion. This will certainly help to speed things up when the airport gets crowded during holidays. What's more, sometime in the middle of January 2026, you can expect more local dining options at the terminal, such as Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant and Mad Duck brewpub.

The airport will even feature some locally-inspired public art made by local artists like Erik Niemann. These art pieces are meant to give travelers a true sense of being in Fresno from the moment they step into the airport. As Dyer told Fox26 News, "These murals reflect our people, our agricultural roots, and the beautiful landscape that makes our city so special and so unique." Closely related to this, for the locals, is the economic impact of this airport upgrade. Apart from the fact that it has already created over 700 jobs, the expected influx of more visitors means a boost to surrounding businesses, which means more dollars into the city's and the people's purse.

The most important thing about this whole development is that flying in and out of Fresno will be generally easier, and you won't have to route through busier airports like Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) just to get to where you're going. And that cuts down on the overall stress from too many connections or too long drive times on your trip. This is a good thing for budget travelers visiting Yosemite National Park. It also makes things easier for those who might be planning to visit the stunning new resort that's opening near Yosemite in 2026.