For most East Bay residents, Concord’s Buchanan Field is known for small planes, flight schools, corporate jets and the occasional vintage aircraft flying overhead.
But the airport does have scheduled passenger service — just not the sprawling route map travelers might expect from Oakland or SFO.
So where can you actually go from Buchanan Field?
Right now, the answer is simple: Burbank and Las Vegas.
Two nonstop destinations from Concord
Buchanan Field, which uses the airport code CCR, is served by JSX, a public charter carrier that flies 30-seat regional jets from a small terminal at the airport.
The two currently bookable nonstop routes are:
Burbank, California — Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
This is likely the more practical choice for East Bay travelers headed to Los Angeles. Burbank puts passengers in the San Fernando Valley, close to Warner Bros. Studio, Universal Studios Hollywood, North Hollywood and much of the entertainment industry.
It is not the best airport for every Southern California trip, especially for beach cities or central Orange County. But for Burbank, Studio City, Glendale, Pasadena or Hollywood-area plans, it can be a notably easier alternative to battling LAX.
Las Vegas, Nevada — Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
The other direct Buchanan Field option is Las Vegas. JSX uses a private-terminal-style facility near Harry Reid International rather than the main commercial terminal, which may appeal to travelers who want a quicker airport experience for a weekend trip, concert, convention or Vegas getaway.
Why people like flying from Concord
The biggest advantage is not the destination list, but the “small airport” experience.
JSX passengers use a dedicated facility at 181 John Glenn Drive instead of a large conventional terminal. The carrier says travelers should generally arrive 20 to 30 minutes before a domestic departure, and its Concord location offers free onsite self-parking.
JSX is also apparently very pet friendly.
And, it’s apparently certified as Autism Aware, with a less sensory-intense checkin experience than traditional airports and specially trained staff.
That can be a meaningful difference for East Bay residents who are used to planning well ahead for traffic, parking, security lines and terminal walks at SFO or Oakland.
JSX also advertises two complimentary checked bags on many fares, though travelers should confirm baggage allowances, fare rules and route schedules before booking.
Is Buchanan Field worth using?
For a quick Los Angeles-area trip or a Las Vegas weekend, it may be one of the East Bay’s best-kept travel shortcuts.
The catch is that it only works when your destination matches one of the airport’s two current nonstop routes — and JSX fares can be higher than a basic ticket from Oakland or SFO.
When we priced out tickets just to see the difference in price, flights from Concord were several hundred dollars more than comparable flights on a bigger carrier like Southwest.
Still, for travelers who value a short drive, free parking and a less hectic airport routine, Buchanan Field offers something most locals may not realize they have: a real, bookable way to fly out of Concord.
The bottom line: Buchanan Field does not have dozens of destinations. But it does have two useful ones — Burbank and Las Vegas — and for the right trip, that may be enough.
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