Local homeowners protest the newly approved contract allowing commercial flights at the California airport.
An American Eagle Embraer jet (Photo: Shutterstock } Austin Deppe)
McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California, will regain daily commercial flights starting on Feb. 13.
According to a San Diego Tribune report, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a two-year lease contract with American Airlines on Wednesday that permitted commercial flights at the airport. No other major airlines currently serve the airport.
Residents have reportedly opposed the lease for decades, the San Diego Tribune report stated, mainly due to noise from flights over nearby homes. Pilots, business owners, and air travelers in the county have supported the service.
Jamie Abbott, county director of airports, told the San Diego Tribune that denial of the contract could be considered discriminatory by the Federal Aviation Administration. He said the FAA provides over 90% of funding for capital improvements at the county’s airports.
The report stated that recent court cases in Los Angeles and Santa Monica have upheld the FAA’s requirement for smaller airports to be available to commercial airlines.
In addition to the new contract, the board agreed to waive $351,000 in fees for the airline during the first year of the contract. It will also remove a 70-seat restriction on aircraft using the airport to allow for American’s 76-seat Embraer jets.
American Eagle will offer flights to its Phoenix hub departing at 6:15 a.m. and 12:35 p.m., and returning at 11:50 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily. American Eagle previously flew daily from Carlsbad to Los Angeles from 1991 to 1997, the report noted.
Receive a daily dose of the airline industry's top stories along with market insights right in your inbox.
United is set to add a new service between the U.S. and Canada later this year. The airline currently operates…
South Korean budget carrier Jeju Air announced Wednesday that it plans to cut 1,878 flights in its first quarter to…
Edelweiss says it is ending service to Havana amid “declining demand” and “current conditions” at the city’s airport. The Swiss…
