Overview
- Supervisors approved the agreement on a 4-1 vote, granting a three-year lease with two one-year extension options and a partial first-year fee waiver of $517,600.
- United plans four daily Embraer 175 flights to San Francisco and Denver starting March 30, 2026, with the first departure at 7:30 a.m. and the last arrival at 9:50 p.m., and tickets are already on sale.
- County staff warned that rejecting airline leases could be deemed discriminatory under FAA rules and jeopardize federal grants, and they noted flight paths and curfews are under federal control.
- Carlsbad officials and residents opposed the move, arguing a city permit amendment is required, while Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer dissented after seeking enforceable quiet hours.
- A CEQA lawsuit challenging the earlier American Airlines lease remains active with a Dec. 19 hearing, as debate continues over the airport’s master plan and potential runway extension.