Vista opposes American Airlines service

The City Council adopted a non-binding resolution to formally opposed commercial service by American Airlines over concerns about noise, pollution, jet size and others

The Vista City Council passed a resolution to oppose commercial service from American Airlines during Tuesday’s meeting.

VISTA — The approach of American Airlines is ruffling feathers as the City Council passed a nonbinding resolution Tuesday formally opposing the airline launching service at McClellan-Palomar Airport in February.

The item was brought forward by Councilman Dan O’Connell as some residents have been vocal in their opposition with San Diego County negotiating a contract with American Airlines. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the contract on Dec. 11 and service is slated to begin on Feb. 13, 2025.

The vote was 3-1-1 with Mayor John Franklin voting no and Councilwoman Katie Melendez absent. Vista, though, has no control over the airport as it is owned by the county and flight operations are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The addition of American Airlines, which was announced in July, marks the return for commercial service since 2015, when United Airlines shuttered its operations. The airport had commercial flights from 1991-2015, according to county records.

The sticking points for O’Donnell, some on the council and some residents, is the 6:15 a.m. departing time for American’s outbound flights to Phoenix, noise and the size of the plane. O’Donnell also railed against the airport and its aircraft saying his car is covered in soot every two days, although it is not certain the soot is related to jet fuel or any aircraft.

“I received an outpouring of community feedback relative to this matter,” O’Donnell explained. “This is not something that would just impact the city of Vista. It would impact San Marcos, Carlsbad and Oceanside. Outside of noise pollution, air pollution and all the other things taking place, there is a concern about the size of the plane. It’s clear the public does not want this.”

Regardless, the resolution cites the county’s Voluntary Noise Abatement Program asking pilots not to fly between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., although the VNAP is not enforceable by the Federal Aviation Administration, or any city or the county, according to the county.

American Airlines plans to begin service on Feb. 13, 2025, with service to Phoenix on outbound flights at 6:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., according to the company’s website. The return flights land in Carlsbad at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

A same-day roundtrip flight to Phoenix is $306, while other roundtrip flights are less than $300, according to the American Airlines’ website. Also, a roundtrip to Denver is about $200 cheaper than flying out of San Diego International Airport, while other destinations are comparable in price to other airlines operating in San Diego.

The McClellan-Palomar Airport also serves JSX, a public charter, which operates commercial flights to Scottsdale, Ariz., Oakland, Las Vegas and Taos, N.M. Parking at the airport is typically $5 per day.