Two airlines flew jets from Chico: Hughes Airwest with Douglas DC-9s and, from 1982 to 1984, Pacific Express with BAC One-Elevens.

Hughes Airwest also flew direct DC-9s to Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Portland, San Jose, and other cities.

From 1982 to 1984, Pacific Express operated one BAC One-Eleven departure a day to San Francisco with some flights making a stop in Sacramento.

According to the February 1, 1984, timetable, the airline had a daily morning BAC One-Eleven nonstop to Sacramento continuing to San Francisco, Bakersfield and Santa Barbara.

Service flown by SkyWest Airlines operating as United Express with Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias nonstop to San Francisco ended on December 2, 2014.

Pacific Express flew to 22 cities in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington with BAC One-Elevens and Boeing 737-200s.

The airport was expanded in 1941 to help serve the needs of the United States military,[5] on 11 September 1941, when the City Council of Chico signed a lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (representing the War Department) for the use of 1,045 acres (4.2 km2) of land at $1 per year with an option to buy.

The first cadets arrived on April 25, 1942, from Moffett Field where they had completed part of their basic flying in addition to their primary training.

The new command brought in pilots who had completed their basic and advanced training and received commissions prior to coming to Chico.

Here they were to be taught tactics of combat flying using Bell King Cobra (P-63) planes, later switching to the twin-engine Lockheed P-38 Lightnings.

The lease termination agreement included the transfer of all U.S. Government constructed improvements to the City of Chico.

As of 2023, this name is not in regular use, however remains recognized by a plaque at the Chico Regional Airport passenger terminal.

On 24 May during a contractor checkout, a terrific blast rocked launcher 1 at the complex, destroying a Titan I and causing heavy damage to the silo.

[7] Top Gun: Maverick was filmed in the foothills outside Chico in July 2019 for the final scenes between the F-14 and two SU-57's, which was performed using two L-39's and CGI.

[11] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency