The new route will be the third airport in the San Diego region that American operates from its Phoenix hub.
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Escaping the Arizona heat to the San Diego beaches is about to get easier as American Airlines announces it will begin flights from Phoenix to Carlsbad, CA.
The new route, which is scheduled to begin service on February 13, 2025, will include two daily flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and McClellan-Palomar Airport. American’s regional subsidiary airline, Envoy Air, will operate the flights using its latest Embraer 175 aircraft.Starting February 13, 2025, American Airlines will offer two daily flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and McClellan-Palomar Airport located just north of San Diego in Carlsbad, California. The flights will be operated by American’s regional airline, Envoy Air.(Envoy Air)
“American looks forward to connecting Carlsbad to our comprehensive global network starting next February,” said Frankie McLister, spokesman for American Airlines. “This new service will provide convenient one-stop connections to destinations across the United States and Mexico while bringing travelers from around the world to see all that Carlsbad has to offer.”
Located just 35 minutes north of downtown San Diego, Carlsbad is also home to the Legoland California Theme Park, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, and miles of coastal beaches.
With the addition of the Carlsbad route, travelers will now have three airports in the San Diego area served from American’s Phoenix hub. Earlier this year, American began service between Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and Tijuana, Mexico, San Diego’s international border neighbor.
The region’s major airport, San Diego International, is a tough place for airlines to expand service, primarily because it’s the busiest single-runway airport in the United States. By flying to smaller airports, airlines can not only expand service to the region but also offer a more convenient location for travelers who may be visiting areas outside a major city.
American Airlines will be expanding its route network from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) early next year. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier will introduce nonstop flights from its desert southwest hub to Carlsbad in Southern California.
The news comes as the airline has made major changes this year in an effort to analyze its capacity and growth. With the new flights, Phoenix will become Carlsbad’s second destination with regularly scheduled passenger air service.Flight details
According to aviation data and analytics company Cirium, American will begin the service between PHX and McClellan–Palomar Airport (CLD) on February 13, 2025, – just in time for the Spring travel rush. Carlsbad is located about 35 miles north of San Diego. With its cooler temperatures and clean beaches, the city is a popular getaway destination for Phoenicians. Carlsbad is also home to Legoland California.
American’s wholly-owned subsidiary Envoy Air will operate the flights twice daily on the Embraer E175 under the American Eagle brand. AA3837 is scheduled to depart PHX at 11:30 and arrive at CLD just after 12:00 local time. The second flight – AA4021 – will leave in the evening from PHX around 18:00 and land at CLD around 18:15 local time.