Board approves American Airlines lease at McClellan‑Palomar; repeal of board policy F44 and fee waivers draw public opposition

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Jan. 8, 2025, to approve a two‑year lease with American Airlines to resume commercial service at McClellan‑Palomar Airport starting Feb. 13, 2025, repeal language in county board policy F44 that limited seat size, and authorize fee waivers for the first year of operations.

County Airports Director Jamie Abbott told the board that American Airlines plans two daily round‑trips to Phoenix Sky Harbor using an Embraer 175 regional jet (76 seats). Abbott said Palomar qualifies as a federally recognized commercial service airport and emphasized that FAA grant assurances require the county to make airport facilities available without unjust discrimination; he warned that denial of access could risk FAA grant funding and, in prior cases, has led to corrective actions or funding threats. Abbott said FAA grants have funded the majority of recent airport capital work and that the lease is expected to generate about $600,000 in annual revenue while supporting approximately 150 new jobs in the region. Staff recommended partially waiving first‑year fees (about $351,000) to help incentivize startup service.

The proposed lease and the recommendation to repeal or amend board policy F44 — the policy that historically capped aircraft seat size at Palomar — prompted substantial public comment from both supporters and opponents. More than 100 commenters submitted e‑comments and dozens spoke in person and by phone. Supporters — including airport tenants, pilots, business groups and aviation workers — argued the service will provide local travel options, reduce vehicle trips to other airports, and create jobs. Eduardo Angelus, a representative of American Airlines, and Olivier Brackett, a former airport manager, urged the board to approve the lease.

Opponents, including representatives from the City of Carlsbad and local homeowner groups, raised concerns about noise, early‑morning departures, safety and whether the Embraer 175 exceeds the airport’s B‑2 design classification. Carlsbad City Council member and City representative Jason Haber said the city had not been asked to make a land‑use determination and expressed concern that the county’s action could affect the city’s role in airport land‑use decisions. Community commenters emphasized early morning departures (a 6:15 a.m. departure was noted), disagreeing that voluntary noise abatement would protect neighborhoods. Several callers and speakers requested additional CEQA review, raised safety questions about runway suitability for larger commercial aircraft, and pointed to recent litigation history related to airport use.

County staff and multiple supervisors said the action is consistent with the airport master plan and the program EIR approved previously; staff told the board the planned two daily flights represent a small fraction (under 10%) of annual enplanements evaluated in the master‑plan environmental review. Director Abbott also said staff had consulted the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee and local stakeholders; the advisory committee recommended approval but without the fee waiver.

During the meeting Supervisor Jim Desmond moved to adopt staff recommendations (approve the lease, repeal/modify F44, authorize fee waivers and related CEQA findings). Supervisor Montgomery Stepp seconded. After further discussion and public comment the board voted unanimously to approve the lease and the policy change. Several supervisors said they were troubled by the volume of community opposition but described significant legal and financial risk from denying the lease given FAA grant assurance precedent; they also asked staff to expand noise monitoring and community outreach.

Board action authorizes the Director of Airports to execute the two‑year lease and implement the fee waivers and policy repeal as presented; staff said they will install additional noise monitors, expand community outreach, and return to the board with monitoring results and any further mitigation proposals.