American is adding new service to an airport with no major airlines. Starting Feb. 13, 2025, the carrier plans to add service between its Phoenix hub and McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif.
Currently, no Part 121 air carriers serve the airport, which is located roughly 35 miles north of San Diego. Advanced Air and JSX — both Part 135 operators — do serve the market. Advanced Air operates seasonal service to Mammoth Lakes, Calif. while JSX flies to Las Vegas year-round and Scottsdale on a seasonal basis.
According to Cirium Diio schedule data, American plans to serve the airport with an Embraer E175 operated by Envoy Air. Flights will operate twice daily.
McClellan-Palomar has a single 4,897-foot runway and is primarily used by business jet and general aviation operators. United was the last major carrier to serve the airport, dropping its route to Los Angeles in 2015. Before United’s service cuts, both American and America West also operated regional flights in the market.
The airport was also home to the 2018 start-up California Pacific Airlines, which planned to serve Phoenix, San Jose, Reno, and Las Vegas. In early 2019, the company ceased operations and had its air operator certificate revoked in 2020.
