The Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC) deadlocked 3-3 on March 19 on whether to recommend expanding American Airlines service at McClellan Palomar Airport, according to the committee's 2026 draft annual report.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors then took up the lease and unanimously approved it on May 6. The expanded service added two more daily round trips to Phoenix Sky Harbor using 76-seat Embraer E175 jets. The county estimated the new lease would generate $1.1 million in its first year, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

PAAC Chairperson Cliff Kaiser, industry representative Clayton Lackey and San Marcos representative Kevin Karpé voted in favor of the lease. Vice Chairperson Shirley Anderson, Howard Krausz and Carlsbad representative Gary Greening voted against it. Two members were absent and one seat was vacant.

Kaiser told the Union-Tribune in March that "… the PAAC nor the County approve or disapprove flights at Palomar. We only have a say in leases on county property."

Citizens for a Friendly Airport filed a third lawsuit in June challenging the Board's approval, alleging the county violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by not adequately evaluating environmental impacts. The group had already filed suits over the original American Airlines lease in January 2025 and the United Airlines lease in January 2026.

The city of Carlsbad joined the first lawsuit in November 2025.

The annual report also details a nine-month review of the airport's Voluntary Noise Abatement Program (VNAP), led by a subcommittee chaired by Greening. The subcommittee found that pilot education materials are outdated, the noise complaint system lacks transparency, pilots have no incentives to follow the program and the FAA's noise study for the airport no longer reflects current conditions.

The PAAC approved the subcommittee's recommendations at its March 19 meeting with six votes in favor. But Greening told the Carlsbad City Council in June that the county had provided "no timelines, completion targets or estimated dates" for carrying out the changes.

Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn said in June he would write a letter to the county supporting the VNAP recommendations.

On Jan. 15, the committee voted 4-2 against adopting a formal recusal policy, meaning members can vote on any issue regardless of potential conflicts. An amendment requires members to declare potential associations with agenda items. On Aug. 20, the committee voted 6-0 to clarify that tie votes make items eligible for reconsideration rather than treating them as final outcomes.

The California Coastal Commission approved Carlsbad's requested airport use regulations on July 15, redefining the terms "airport" and "airport expansion" and removing airports as an allowable use in some coastal zone areas near Palomar.

The next PAAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17. The agenda has not been posted.