Major Airline Returning to Carlsbad – Flights to Phoenix Planned by American Airlines

North County residents looking to head to Arizona will have a new option beginning next year.

American Airlines will add two daily flights between Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as of Feb. 13.

A subsidiary of American Airlines, Envoy Air, will run the flights.

“American looks forward to connecting Carlsbad to our comprehensive global network starting next February. 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,” the airline confirmed in an emailed statement.

CBS5 News and the San Diego Union-Tribune first reported details of the Carlsbad-Phoenix service. A traveler’s website, thepointsguy.com, also reported that passengers will make their way aboard the 76-seat Embraer 175, with 12 first-class seats, 20 with extra legroom and 44 in standard economy.

American also flies out of the region from San Diego International Airport and, as of earlier this year, Tijuana International Airport.

Phoenix is one of the airline’s major hubs, which include Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and New York.

McClellan, a San Diego County airport, has been home to American Airlines before, starting in 1991. American Eagle initially had service from Carlsbad to Los Angeles, but ended it six years later.

Despite opening a new terminal in 2009, McClellan lost another airline’s service in 2015, when United Express discontinued a route to Los Angeles.

A public charter carrier, JSX, currently operates out of McClellan.