CARLSBAD, Calif. — For the first time in almost a decade, commercial flights out of Palomar Airport in North County could soon be resuming.
Beginning in February, American Airlines will offer direct flights from Carlsbad to Phoenix. The last time that American Airlines flew out of Palomar Airport was back in 1997.
While supporters point to the economic benefits of its return next year, some local residents are raising environmental and health concerns.
"I'm for it," said North County resident Leslie Desrosiers, an enthusiastic backer of American Airline's plan to offer twice-daily flights out of Palomar Airport to and from Phoenix.
"I think it's a good idea," she said. "I think it's convenient and it'd be nice to have it right here. Actually I've already looked at the flights going out there."
But some other residents are not on board, and are blasting the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee's recent five-to-four vote to approve the proposal.
"This is a real issue for us in Carlsbad," said James Revelll. He says over the years, the noise from aircraft flying in and out of Palomar has grown increasingly worse and fears that these new commercial flights will exacerbate that.
"So we'll have traffic early in the morning before the quiet hours lapses at 7am," he told CBS 8. "They're proposing a 6:15 takeoff, so 'Good Morning Carlsbad! right? We're going to be woken up by that."
Carlsbad resident Frank Sung agrees.
"It is too early, too big and too noisy," said Sung.
He fears the airport does not have the capacity to handle the 76-passenger aircraft and also questions what path these flights will take.
"There's been absolutely no assurances that this plane with these early morning operations aren't going to go over neighborhoods as they do today," Sung said.
"There is major community opposition to this," said Dom Betro, who has concerns over how the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee reached its vote.
He is calling for an updated environmental impact report to be completed.
"Our main concern is health and safety," he added. "We don't see how this commercialization, this kind of aircraft is going to do anything but make our quality of life worse here."
But the County says this addition of commercial flights will make life better for the region, not only improving the local economy, but providing North County residents with more convenient flight options.
Here is the full statement from Jamie Abbott, Director of County Airports:
"Palomar Airport is structured, equipped, and allowed under FAA guidance to accommodate commercial flights to and from its facilities. Commercial airlines have provided service from Palomar in the past, and we would love to offer the service to North County travelers again. Offering flights from Carlsbad to Phoenix is not an expansion of the airport. It also does not require approval by the City of Carlsbad.
Palomar is committed to being a good neighbor and works with its pilots to adhere to the established voluntary quiet hours, and the County has kept the community informed through the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee meetings held bi-monthly.
This is good news for travelers and the local economy, supporting approximately 2,600 jobs and generating an annual economic impact of $461 million. The return of commercial flights enhances convenience for travelers and contributes to ongoing sustainability efforts, allowing residents to avoid longer drives to larger airports.
We also have a website dedicated to this topic at Commercial Flight Services Returning to Palomar Airport (sandiegocounty.gov)"