Roberts Field, also known as Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), has grown into a key regional gateway linking Central Oregon with major hubs across the western United States. As the third-largest commercial service airport in Oregon, it plays an outsized role in passenger travel, commerce, and emergency services for Redmond, Bend, and the surrounding tri-county area.
Aviation gateway to Central Oregon
Roberts Field is owned and operated by the City of Redmond and serves as the primary commercial airport for Central Oregon’s rapidly growing communities. Travelers can learn more about facilities, parking, and services on the official Redmond Airport site. Multiple major airlines—Alaska, American, Breeze Airways, Delta, and United—operate at RDM, offering roughly 30 daily departures that connect travelers to key destinations such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas.
Airline and route updates are often highlighted in specialized air service consulting reports. Despite its modest footprint compared to big-city airports, RDM functions as a small-hub facility, handling close to a million passengers annually in recent years and drawing users from across the region.
This connectivity allows residents to access national and international networks with a single connection, making RDM an attractive alternative to driving several hours to larger coastal airports. Its location near Redmond and within easy reach of Bend and other Central Oregon communities also helps shorten travel times on the ground, supporting both leisure and business trips and reinforcing its role as a regional gateway in Central Oregon travel guides such as this Roberts Field overview.
History and evolution of Roberts Field
The airport’s roots date back to the 1920s, when it began as a modest airfield serving early aviation activity in Central Oregon. A concise historical timeline and airfield data can be found on the Roberts Field entry. During World War II, the site expanded into a military airfield, a role that left a lasting footprint in its runways and airfield layout even as it transitioned into a civilian facility after the war.
In the postwar era, airlines such as United and Hughes Airwest linked Redmond to West Coast cities using propeller-driven aircraft and later DC‑9 jets, foreshadowing its eventual development as a modern regional hub. Over time, RDM has undergone successive rounds of investment to keep pace with demand and safety standards.
Major upgrades around 2000 brought an expanded terminal, new control tower, fire station, and runway improvements capable of accommodating aircraft like the Boeing 737, while a significant terminal expansion in 2009 nearly sextupled the terminal’s size and improved security, waiting areas, and passenger amenities.
Today, an additional multi-phase terminal expansion is underway to further increase capacity and enhance the traveler experience as Central Oregon continues to grow.
Economic engine for a growing region
Roberts Field is not only a transportation asset; it is also a major economic driver for Central Oregon. Local business reporting, such as coverage in Cascade Business News, highlights how construction and expansion work generates jobs and investment.
The airport supports local jobs directly through airlines, airport staff, concessions, rental car operations, and security services, and indirectly by facilitating tourism, business travel, and freight movement. Recent planning for terminal expansion estimates hundreds of full-time construction jobs and a construction-phase economic impact in the tens of millions of dollars annually, followed by more than 200 new permanent positions and additional ongoing local spending once the project is complete.
This economic activity ripples through the region as visitors spend on lodging, dining, outdoor recreation, and professional services in communities like Redmond, Bend, and Sisters.
More than passenger flights: diversified aviation roles
Part of what makes Roberts Field a true regional gateway is the diversity of aviation functions it supports beyond scheduled passenger service. The airport is a base for general aviation, flight training, and corporate aircraft, providing critical flexibility for private pilots, air taxi operations, and business aviation users who need direct access to Central Oregon.
Travelers and pilots can explore more about these services, amenities, and FBO options through the main Redmond Airport information hub. It also plays a critical role in wildfire response and land management: the United States Forest Service operates the Redmond Air Center at the airport, which houses smokejumper teams and supports airtanker operations with facilities for fuel, water, and fire retardant.
RDM is additionally home to aviation-related businesses, including manufacturing and maintenance operations such as the Lancair aircraft factory, which benefit from immediate access to the airfield. These specialized uses underscore the airport’s importance to regional safety, industry, and infrastructure far beyond traditional airline travel, a theme echoed in local coverage of Redmond Airport’s growth.
Meeting future demand as a regional gateway
As Central Oregon’s population and visitor numbers rise, Roberts Field is positioning itself to meet future demand while maintaining a convenient, traveler-friendly experience. Terminal expansion plans focus on increasing gate capacity, enhancing security and passenger circulation, and improving accessibility, all funded through a mix of federal grants, airline partnerships, and user fees rather than local property taxes—a funding model outlined in public project updates on the terminal expansion page.
At the same time, air service development efforts continue to target new nonstop routes and additional seat capacity that align with local business and tourism needs, supported by ongoing air service planning partnerships. By combining a growing network of nonstop destinations, modern facilities, and a broad mix of aviation services, Roberts Field strengthens its role as the primary aerial link between Central Oregon and the wider world.
Whether travelers are heading out for a ski trip, a business meeting, or a wildfire deployment, RDM stands at the center of that journey as the region’s trusted, increasingly capable gateway.
.jpg){kind=link}
