The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service facility based on enplanements in 2008 (more than 10,000 per year).

The city campaigned to bring scheduled passenger service back, and on June 7, 2007 Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines on behalf of Delta Air Lines began serving Salem with two CRJ-200 regional jet flights a day to Salt Lake City (SLC) [4] that ended on October 9, 2008.

On April 10, 2023, the City Council approved an air carrier agreement with an undisclosed airline to begin service to Salem.

Avelo has since announced that it will operate non stop 737 jet service to commence in early May 2024 with twice weekly flights to Santa Rosa, CA (STS) in Sonoma County.

[1] The airport has a control tower, a restaurant, a general aviation center including limited flight training, and a small terminal.

[8] In the year ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 45,357 aircraft operations, average 124 per day: 86% general aviation, 7% military, 8% air taxi, and <1% commercial.