Move Over San Diego! United Launching First Flight To Nearby Beach Town In Over A Decade

We at Travel Off Path almost broke the web final 12 months by revealing San Diego certainly has a second airport again in enterprise for business air journey.

Many of our readers chimed in with their pleasure (and considerations) concerning American Airlines’ groundbreaking flight to/from Phoenix.

Taking my Journalist hat off for a second, as a San Diegan myself, I questioned if a secondary airport can be possible long-term as many SoCal vacationers have found the Tijuana loophole.

But, I, in addition to many others, stand corrected in the present day because it was simply announced United Airlines is ready to be the second business airline taking off from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) in Carlsbad, and there are some simple plusses now that 2 main airways are anchoring the only real airport of San Diego’s North County.

2 Major Airlines Now Serve California’s Strangest Airport

Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar Airport, simply accessible from I-5, holds an undeniably weird historical past.

What’s been largely an airport for personal use, there have been spurts of success in its oddball timeline which have been fairly helpful for vacationers, although it by no means appears to stay…

Since it has been effectively over a 12 months from the time we revealed Carlsbad’s comeback, current information that this underrated seashore city has surged to the purpose of being on United’s radar is the largest promise in years its right here to remain.

United hasn’t operated from CLD in a bit of over a decade, final serving a direct path to LAX for these us preferring the fly over gridlock site visitors to succeed in one among America’s busiest airports in Spring 2015.

Since then, the airport has been extra of a circus than a dependable supply for vacationers.

One native billionaire did not maintain little-known California Pacific Airlines off the tarmac, and the one different try has been JSX and Advanced Air, each charters which can be nonetheless going sturdy by all accounts.

In abstract: constitution carriers JSX and Advanced Air (seasonally), and main carriers, American, and now United, all serve CLD.

Call It A Comeback: United Returns After Decade-Long Absence

American serves Phoenix a serious hub of their community, and the identical will be mentioned for Denver in regard to United because it’s really the airline’s quickest rising hub.

Denver is the massive winner for United’s thrilling return to San Diego County’s paradisal seashore cities. As such, this makes United California’s most linked airline in your complete state.

Tickets are already on sale for the first-ever nonstop route from Denver to Carlsbad. The schedule is presently slated for twice-daily service starting March 30, 2026, which simply so occurs to be the most effective occasions of the 12 months to go to.

No, not due to Spring Break, however as a result of one among California’s most photo-worthy points of interest might be in full bloom.

That’s proper — as attractive as Carlsbad’s (and neighboring cities’) seashores could also be, the highest attraction for Carlsbad is definitely the kaleidoscopic Flower Fields.

Does CLD Expansion Help Avoid LA & Tijuana?

When Tijuana opened up an unique border crossing (CBX) for airport use, it was much more useful again then than it’s now from a prices perspective.

Back when the CBX was a barren lot with no parking charges and seasonal upcharges, vacationers did not must suppose twice about whether or not to fly out of San Diego or LA as the subsequent greatest choices to trip south of the border.

Nowadays, you’ll be able to simply spend triple digits earlier than passing customs.

It’s been well-documented that San Diego International Airport (SAN) simply opened a model new Terminal 1 after an extended awaited debut.

Though the house is far nicer and site visitors appears to stream higher, one challenge not addressed is the dearth of worldwide flights.

There are solely 5 worldwide airways working out of San Diego:

Hence many San Diegans are compelled to courageous the snail’s tempo drive to LAX, or head to the border, relying in your closing vacation spot.

With the addition of two main airways serving CLD now connecting to a pair of common hubs (Phoenix and Denver), those that dwell nearer to Carlsbad now have extra choices to trip internationally with only one layover.

For instance, Denver welcomed 2 superior worldwide routes by way of United this 12 months:

• Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
• Rome, Italy (FCO)

Why Visit Carlsbad?

Most guests who plan a visit to San Diego do not make all of it the way in which as much as Carlsbad, which lies roughly 35 minutes north of the downtown when you beat rush hour.

But Carlsbad is not any snoozefest like another hidden gems alongside the coast. Home to one among my favourite resorts for a staycation Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa and on-site restaurant Ember & Rye, a mouthwatering steakhouse ‘of kinds’ backed by movie star chef Richard Blais, when you can swing the worth, I can not suggest it sufficient.

For the kiddos, an ideal Disneyland different is LegoLand, an amusement park and lodge excellent for a weekend getaway.

One of my favourite locations to go to alongside the seashore is Carlsbad Village. Here, you will discover seaside cafes, extra resorts, vibrant murals, and seafood shacks — and it is usually much less crowded than San Diego correct, together with lagoons and delightful seashores stretching for 7 miles.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based mostly in San Diego has visited 36 nations and written over 1000 articles with a concentrate on sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a light-weight on lesser-known gems.