Safford Regional Airport (SAD)

Safford Regional Airport, also known as 1LT Duane Spalsbury Field, serves Safford, Graham County and the Gila Valley in southeastern Arizona. Owned and operated by the City of Safford, it is the only public airport in Graham County with paved runways and supports general aviation, charter operations, air ambulance services and wildfire suppression efforts.

Its origins date back to World War II, when it was activated in July 1942 as an auxiliary military airfield for pilot training. After the war it was transferred to the City of Safford. Commercial service began in the 1950s with Frontier Airlines flights between Phoenix and El Paso, and scheduled passenger service returned in January 2025 with Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor. In 2024 the airport was renamed in honor of Duane Spalsbury, a World War II fighter pilot and longtime supporter of aviation in the Gila Valley.

The airport is located about 3 miles east of central Safford and is reached via State Highways 70 and 191. Two paved runways, measuring 6,007 and 4,802 feet, accommodate a range of general aviation, charter and emergency aircraft.

With a single terminal building, free parking, rental car services, fueling and a full-service fixed-base operator, the airport provides a practical gateway for residents, businesses and visitors traveling through southeastern Arizona.