On Dec. 10, 2025, the city of Carlsbad approved United Airlines’ return to McClellan-Palomar Airport, despite objections from Carlsbad residents and community groups worried about noise, environmental harm and local oversight.
In 1994, United Airlines first started commercial service at McClellan-Palomar Airport. This was unusual given that the airport’s main purpose was for local use and smaller planes such as the Cessna. In May of 2015, United Airlines retired the Embraer 120 Brasilia turboprops it was using, ending its service at the airport. With the return of a newer Embraer model, operations at the airport will change significantly for both residents and pilots.
“Jet pilots can get annoyed and upset at lower-speed aircrafts on taxiways, landing and taking off,” local pilot Jackson Teach said. “A Cessna, the most popular general aviation aircraft, lands at about 65 knots and an Embraer 175 lands at about 120 knots, which can prove to be difficult when behind a Cessna.”
For local pilots, the bigger planes, such as Embraer 175’s that United Airlines use, can cause backups, delays and stress on the airstrip. With United Airlines returning to the airport, crowding is expected due to more large aircrafts.
“Larger jets definitely have an effect on general aviation in terms of runway access,” Teach said. “I have noticed longer lines at the runway, jets are always prioritized.”
When larger jets get added to the airport and are on the runways with smaller planes, it can cause safety issues, such as jet blast and jet priority. So, for local pilots with smaller planes, these can become a big problem.
“Jet blast is the air moved from a jet engine, which can flip a small aircraft like a Cessna,” Teach said. “I’ve also noticed the bigger jets use the entire runway, and general aviation pilots have to do a 360 in the air just to let a jet past them.”
Since the arrival of United Airlines, congestion has become a major problem at the McClellan-Palomar Airport. The runways have become backed up and some smaller planes aren’t able to get out, which has caused widespread annoyance and frustration.
“…[there have been] longer lines in the taxiway for departure causing a sort of traffic jam,” Teach said. “Aircrafts in certain areas find it difficult to leave their spot.”
While local pilots like Teach have had to adapt to these issues brought by United Airlines, their presence will likely bring more travelers. This is expected to transform the airport into a more frequent way for locals to get around in the future.
“Business around the airport will likely boom in popularity,” Teach said.
