McClellan–Palomar Airport

McClellan–Palomar Airport
An Embraer 175 operated by Envoy Air landing on Runway 24
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorCounty of San Diego
ServesNorthern San Diego County
Location2100 Palomar Airport Road
Carlsbad, California
Elevation AMSL331 ft / 101 m
Coordinates33°07′42″N 117°16′48″W / 33.12833°N 117.28000°W / 33.12833; -117.28000 (McClellan–Palomar Airport)
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
CLD is located in California
CLD
CLD
Location of airport in California
CLD is located in the United States
CLD
CLD
CLD (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 4,897 1,493 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 50 15 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Aircraft operations171,256
Total Passengers3,743
Sources: FAA,[1] airport website[2][3]

McClellan–Palomar Airport (IATA: CLD, ICAO: KCRQ, FAA LID: CRQ) is a county-owned public airport located 3 miles (4.8 km; 2.6 nmi) southeast of downtown Carlsbad in San Diego County, California.[1] The airport opened in 1959, replacing Del Mar Municipal Airport.[4] It supports both general aviation and limited commercial service. As of March 2013, it was the fourth-busiest single-runway airport in the United States.

The airport is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km; 3.5 nmi) from Legoland California.[5]

The airport is named for Gerald McClellan, an aviator and civic leader in San Diego's North County area.[6] Most U.S. airports' three-letter FAA and IATA location identifiers are identical; however, McClellan–Palomar Airport's FAA identifier is CRQ while its IATA is CLD.[7][8] The airport was the basis of part of the name of the TV production company Lorimar Television.

Facilities

McClellan–Palomar Airport covers 466 acres (189 ha) and has one asphalt runway, 6/24, 4,897 feet (1,493 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide. The airport also has one asphalt helipad that is 40 by 50 feet (12 m × 15 m).[1]

In the year ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 140,451 aircraft operations, an average of 385 per day: 93% general aviation, 6% air taxi, <1% scheduled commercial, and <1% military. 284 aircraft were then based at this airport: 164 single-engine, 79 jet, 26 multi-engine, 14 helicopter, and 1 glider.[1]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Advanced Air Seasonal: Mammoth Lakes [9]
American Eagle Phoenix–Sky Harbor [10][11]
JSX Las Vegas, Oakland,[12] Scottsdale
Seasonal: Reno/Tahoe,[13] Taos[14] 		[15]
United Express Denver, San Francisco [16][17]

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from CLD
(February 2025 – January 2026)[18]
Rank Airport Passengers Airline
1 Phoenix, Arizona 42,460 American
2 Mammoth Lakes, California 1,600 Advanced

Note: JSX flights are not included in this data as they do not use the passenger terminal.

Airline Market Share

Largest airlines at CLD
(February 2025 – January 2026)[18]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Envoy Air 85,000 95.71%
2 Advanced Air 4,000 4.29%

Airline service

Earlier airline service included American Eagle (operated by Wings West Airlines) and United Express (operated by WestAir Airlines), both serving Los Angeles (LAX), as well as America West Express (later US Airways Express) to Phoenix–Sky Harbor. In 1977, Scenic Airlines operated Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner flights to Palm Springs, with through service to Las Vegas and Phoenix.[19] During the mid-1990s, American Eagle and United Express operated multiple daily flights to LAX using British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft.[20] By 1999, Mesa Airlines operated America West Express service to Phoenix using de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops.[21]

Other airlines serving the airport in earlier decades included Golden West Airlines in the 1970s and Imperial Airlines and Air Resorts in the 1980s.[22] These operations primarily used turboprop or propeller-driven aircraft.

The airport opened a new passenger terminal on January 29, 2009, following a 13-month, US$24 million (equivalent to $36 million in 2025) renovation project funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and airport enterprise funds. The project included construction of an 18,000-square-foot (1,700 m2) terminal, new parking facilities, and an expanded aircraft ramp. The terminal incorporates updated passenger and baggage screening areas, a larger ticketing lobby and boarding lounge, and improved access from parking areas. Additional amenities include rental car office and restaurant.[23][24]

The final United Express flights, operated by SkyWest Airlines, ended in May 2015 following the retirement of the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia and SkyWest’s transition to regional jet aircraft requiring a longer runway.[25][26]

Following the end of United Express service, several attempts were made to reintroduce service. BizAir Shuttle, operated by Ultimate Air Shuttle using Dornier 328JET aircraft, briefly served Los Angeles International Airport and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas in 2015.[27] In 2017, Cal Jet, operated by Elite Airways, began service to Las Vegas using a Bombardier CRJ700; the service ended in April 2018.[28] California Pacific Airlines began service in November 2018 to San Jose and Reno, with later expansion to Las Vegas and Phoenix.[29] The airline ceased operations in January 2019.[30]

JSX announced service in 2016 but later canceled the planned routes. The company moved its flights from San Diego to Carlsbad in 2023, offering service to Las Vegas and Taos, New Mexico.[31]

Commercial service resumed in 2025, when American Airlines (operated by Envoy Air as American Eagle) began flights to Phoenix. United Airlines (operated by SkyWest Airlines as United Express) resumed service in March 2026 with flights to Denver and San Francisco.[32]

The resumption of commercial service has prompted opposition from some local groups, including the Palomar Airport Action Network and Citizens for a Friendly Airport, which have raised concerns regarding airport use and noise. The city of Carlsbad has asserted that Palomar is a general aviation airport and that opening it up to commercial flights constitutes an expansion.[33]

Accidents and incidents

  • On January 24, 2006, a Cessna Citation V landing on runway 24 on a flight from Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho, burst into flames after crashing into a self-storage facility adjacent to the airport. All four aboard (two passengers and two crew) were killed; no one on the ground was hurt.[6]
  • On April 29, 2007, a Cessna 182 Skylane carrying three people crashed about 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore shortly after takeoff at 9:30 a.m.[34]
  • On July 3, 2007, a Beechcraft 90 King Air carrying two people crashed after taking off shortly after 6 a.m. in dense fog. The aircraft hit power lines, which caused power outages for local residents and businesses. The two on board died.[35][36]
  • On September 22, 2008, a Cessna 152 crashed just west of College Boulevard on the extended centerline after departing runway 24. The aircraft had two on board, who were both injured and evacuated by air.[37]
  • On September 28, 2008, a Beechcraft Bonanza crashed southeast of the airport after the pilot aborted a landing attempt in fog. The pilot was alone and was killed.[38]
  • On November 18, 2015, a Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil helicopter crashed at the airport, killing two people.[39]
  • On July 16, 2022, a Socata TB-21 on approach to the airport made a forced landing on a nearby street, striking a car and causing minor injuries to two in the car and two in the aircraft. The cause of the accident is under investigation.[40]
  • On April 2, 2025, a Piper Seminole suffered a gear collapse on touchdown and skidded a short distance. There were no casualties.
  • On May 14, 2025, a Piper Arrow IV suffered a belly landing after having troubles deploying its landing gear in flight. There were no injuries.

References

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for CRQ PDF, effective June 13, 2024.
  2. ^ McClellan–Palomar Airport at County of San Diego website
  3. ^ "Air Traffic Activity System (ATADS)". aspm.faa.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  4. ^ Staff, Chamber (2009-01-01). "McClellan-Palomar Airport soars into its golden year". Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  5. ^ Harden, Olivia (2025-12-12). "New flight from SFO lands miles from gate into major Calif. theme park". SFGATE. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
  6. ^ a b Baker, Debbi Farr; Gross, Greg; Kucher, Karen; Martinez, Angelica (January 24, 2006). "Four die in jet crash at Palomar Airport". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
  7. ^ "CLD - Carlsbad [Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport], CA, US - Airport - Great Circle Mapper". kls2.com.
  8. ^ "CRQ - Caravelas, BA, BR - Airport - Great Circle Mapper". kls2.com.
  9. ^ "Route Map". Advanced Air. March 8, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "American Plans Route to New California Airport". AirlineGeeks. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Flight schedules and notifications". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "Semi-private Jet Company JSX Just Launched 2 New Routes — Here's Where". Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Ewing, Ryan (2025-03-18). "JSX Expands Network With New Routes | AirlineGeeks.com". AirlineGeeks.com. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
  14. ^ "Airport Receives Millions in State Funds to Lure More JSX Service". AirlineGeeks. October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "Where we fly".
  16. ^ "United Airlines returns to Carlsbad airport with new service to two hubs". Live and Let's Fly. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  17. ^ "Timetable". Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Carlsbad, CA: McClellan-Palomar (CLD)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  19. ^ "Index". Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-06-06., Dec. 1, 1977 Scenic Airlines system timetable route map
  20. ^ "Index". Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-06-06., April 1, 1995 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Los Angeles-Carlsbad schedules
  21. ^ "Index". Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-06-06., June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Phoenix-Carlsbad schedules
  22. ^ "Air Resorts Airlines". airtimes.com.
  23. ^ "Palomar Airport Grand Opening Set For January 29th" (PDF). www.sdcounty.ca.gov. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  24. ^ "Eco-Friendly Terminal Opens at Palomar Airport". 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  25. ^ "United to cut LAX service from Palomar". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2014-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  26. ^ "Runway length remains biggest challenge for McClellan-Palomar Airport". Seaside Courier. Encinitas, California. May 7, 2015. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  27. ^ Weisberg, Lori (September 3, 2015). "Carlsbad-Vegas air service grounded". The San Diego Union–Tribune. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  28. ^ "Cal Jet abruptly ends Carlsbad flights to Vegas but promises to return". San Diego Union-Tribune. April 20, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  29. ^ DiVita, Ryan (August 27, 2018). "California Pacific Airlines Announces Its Inaugural Schedule And Fares". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  30. ^ "California Pacific Airlines shuts down after 2 months". San Diego Union-Tribune. February 1, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  31. ^ Puterski, Steve (2023-10-10). "New passenger jet service coming to Carlsbad". North County Pipeline. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  32. ^ Aere, Jacob (October 30, 2025). "United Airlines looks to add commercial flights at Carlsbad's Palomar Airport". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  33. ^ Nguyen, Alexander (December 11, 2025). "San Diego County OKs United Airlines lease at Palomar amid legal threat". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  34. ^ "NTSB Docket LAX07LA140". Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  35. ^ Chabner, Shayna (July 3, 2007). "2 killed in San Diego County plane crash". North County Times. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  36. ^ Davis, Kristina; Martinez, Angelica (July 3, 2007). "Two killed when private plane crashes on takeoff". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  37. ^ "NTSB Docket LAX08LA299". Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  38. ^ "Pilot dies in crash of plane near airport". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  39. ^ "Pilot, Friend die in Helicopter Crash at Palomar Airport". 18 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  40. ^ Freeman, Mike (July 17, 2022). "Federal officials to probe emergency landing of light aircraft on San Marcos street". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
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