A new airline is about to take-off in Carlsbad.
California Pacific Airlines will begin flights from McLellan-Palomar Airport to San Jose and Reno on November 1 with service to Las Vegas and Phoenix beginning November 15th.
According to the airline’s website, future destinations include Denver, Colorado as well as Watertown and Pierre, South Dakota. President and CEO Paul Hook said they are looking at other locations as well.
“We've been approached by a number of places such as Oxnard in California, here. We've been approached by Chico. They want service. We've been approached by Eugene, Oregon, Oklahoma, the state of Oklahoma,” Hood said.
California Pacific was founded in 2010, but only recently received permission to begin flying at McLellan-Palomar Airport after acquiring Georgia-based airline "Aerodynamics."
In a statement Carlsbad’s tourism agency, Visit Carlsbad, told NBC 7:
"California Pacific Airlines is a great addition to the McClellan-Palomar Airport, bringing more options for travelers to Carlsbad and North San Diego County. These new flights open up to some of our key destinations while also providing city hubs for travelers across the country to reach us. The positive effect of air travel into the area will bring more leisure travel and also provide access for our group and conference bookings, without relying as much on outlying airports."
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Many who live in the area, like Vista resident Jennifer Wagner, agree.
"Getting down to Lindbergh Field is not the easiest thing for us to do. That airport's pretty congested, and so I think that competition and other opportunities for North County residents would be a great idea," Wagner said.
California Pacific Airlines will also bring more jobs to the area. The airline said it currently has 80 employees and plans to add another 20 by November.
"We're going to have all kinds of jobs. We're going to have ticket agents, we're looking for pilots, copilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers. You name it, we're looking for it," Hook said.
Flights on California Pacific Airlines start at $99 each way for non-refundable tickets. The first two checked bags are free.
For more information, visit mycpair.com.
