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San Diego is the eighth largest city in the US and second largest in California both city and the surrounding metro county. Interestingly for a city of this size its airport sized for a very small town, in fact SAN is known as the busiest single runway airport, and is reaching its breaking point and have no where to expand capacity in any way. They are talking about a building a new airport for quite a while, though out of curiosity would it likely to be in a abandoned Air Force or Military Airport such as MireMar or built from Scratch? It appears the Miremar plan keeps getting tabled. Would that base eventually end up like Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro which efforts to save it to be reused as an International airport in place of John Wayne failed continuously and the large four runway airport was eventually built over as Orange County Great Park as well as several office parks. I might assume via common sense that it would probably be less costly to use an existing airfield than build one from scratch.
I picture if an airport is built from scratch would they likely build a large new multi International airport likely in the vast open Otay Mesa area directly linked to existing Tijuana airport and Brown Field Municipal airport with proper International sterile transit zone interconnected by Cross border Xpress. Maybe its best if it has a Express rail semi HSR like system to bring passengers between the airport and the busiest border crossing with dedicated immigration facility and northward to SAN San Diego, UCSD/UTC/Sorrento Valley, and possibly towards LAX and Los Angeles? Sounds like a good compromise with the overpriced state wide version tabled.
Otay Mesa just north of Tijuana airport and south of Brown Field municipal airport is pretty much open land that is used as an industrial storage area and have no residents or office parks in the near vicinity. Therefore it should theoretically be safe from NIMBYs as flight paths would be far away from homes. It would be interesting what it would be like if those two existing small airports merged into one mega multi national airport. SAN can still be kept for regional flights but with an express rail link to the new airport that can get there in less than 15 minutes.
There has been major construction going on at the current spot now it seems like they are making due with the current location. Next to impossible to expand that location.
I don’t see how it happens unless a new location is found.
I be curious cost wise whether I am right it would be much affordable to use an existing airbase than to build from scratch but the San Diego/tijuana binational International airport sounds like a neat idea though of merging the two existing small one runway airports into one big airport with four runways.
In 2005, we thought we had a new airport. Our current airport played non-stop videos of the new San Diego airport. We even voted on it. It passed. The new airport was Miramar MCAS. The only problem is no one ever asked Miramar if we could have their base. When someone finally asked, Miramar said "F* No".
At the time, there was a ton of momentum for a new airport. So the city council said "Let's build a new airport on cheap land in Boulevard CA", about 70 miles east of downtown San Diego. Just add a bullet train to downtown San Diego which would only add a few minutes to your arrival or departure time. Boulevard land prices sky-rocketed and the bullet train would have cost billions of dollars to build. That project was scrapped.
I doubt you'll see a new San Diego airport anytime soon. Especially with all the new construction around our current airport. No new trolley extension to the current airport either. Although I know the city council is working on a method to move people from the existing Washington St trolley station to the airport with a series of automated people-movers and busses. That's about the best we're going to get.
It appears the airport is not at capacity and not even as busy as it was 15 or so years ago at its peak. Larger and more efficient airplanes are allowing for more travel with less traffic, so there's still room to grow. For travellers and tourists, the location can't be beat. They're putting tons of money into redoing the Southwest terminal and expanding with more gates, so I believe the long-term plan is to max out Lindbergh Field and add additional capacity for more commercial flights from Carlsbad and Tijuana Airports. Tijuana has the greatest potential for expansion and already flies non-stop to China and many destinations in Central and South America. So we do have two international airports in the metro area already.
Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
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According to IFLY.COM, here is a list of all 124 direct flights from SAN ordered least to greatest distance wise. 19 of the 124 are to international destinations. The longest US domestic flights being Boston and Hawaii and the longest international flight being to Australia.
Country Airport Distance Time Price Range
US Palm Springs (PSP) 85 miles 0:9 - 0:10 hrs $17 - $76
US Imperial County (IPL) 94 miles 0:10 - 0:12 hrs $18 - $84
US Los Angeles (LAX) 109 miles 0:11 - 0:13 hrs $21 - $98
US Burbank Bob Hope (BUR) 121 miles 0:13 - 0:15 hrs $24 - $108
US Santa Barbara Muni (SBA) 191 miles 0:20 - 0:24 hrs $38 - $171
US Laughlin Bullhead (IFP) 226 miles 0:24 - 0:28 hrs $45 - $203
US Las Vegas McCarran (LAS) 259 miles 0:27 - 0:32 hrs $51 - $233
US Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) 304 miles 0:32 - 0:37 hrs $60 - $273
US Fresno Yosemite (FAT) 313 miles 0:33 - 0:39 hrs $62 - $281
US Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) 357 miles 0:38 - 0:44 hrs $71 - $321
US Tucson (TUS) 367 miles 0:39 - 0:45 hrs $73 - $330
US Monterey Peninsula (MRY) 375 miles 0:40 - 0:46 hrs $75 - $337
US Cedar City Regional (CDC) 413 miles 0:44 - 0:51 hrs $82 - $371
US San Jose Mineta (SJC) 417 miles 0:44 - 0:52 hrs $83 - $375
US Metropolitan Oakland (OAK) 445 miles 0:47 - 0:55 hrs $89 - $400
US San Francisco (SFO) 447 miles 0:48 - 0:55 hrs $89 - $402
US Sacramento (SMF) 479 miles 0:51 - 1:0 hrs $95 - $431
US Reno Tahoe (RNO) 489 miles 0:52 - 1:1 hrs $97 - $440
US Salt Lake City (SLC) 626 miles 1:7 - 1:18 hrs $125 - $563
US Albuquerque Sunport (ABQ) 627 miles 1:7 - 1:18 hrs $125 - $564
US Grand Junction Regional (GJT) 655 miles 1:10 - 1:21 hrs $131 - $589
US Arcata Eureka (ACV) 685 miles 1:13 - 1:25 hrs $137 - $616
Mexico Chihuahua Villalobos (CUU) 722 miles 1:17 - 1:30 hrs $144 - $649
US Rogue Valley Medford (MFR) 734 miles 1:18 - 1:31 hrs $146 - $660
US Idaho Falls Regional (IDA) 795 miles 1:25 - 1:39 hrs $159 - $715
Mexico Los Cabos International (SJD) 804 miles 1:26 - 1:40 hrs $160 - $723
US Colorado Springs Municipal (COS) 815 miles 1:27 - 1:42 hrs $163 - $733
US Eugene (EUG) 851 miles 1:31 - 1:46 hrs $170 - $765
US Denver (DEN) 852 miles 1:31 - 1:46 hrs $170 - $766
US Portland (PDX) 933 miles 1:40 - 1:56 hrs $186 - $839
US San Angelo Regional (SJT) 981 miles 1:45 - 2:2 hrs $196 - $882
US Billings Logan (BIL) 1013 miles 1:48 - 2:6 hrs $202 - $911
US Spokane (GEG) 1029 miles 1:50 - 2:8 hrs $205 - $926
US Seattle Tacoma (SEA) 1051 miles 1:52 - 2:11 hrs $210 - $945
US Rapid City Regional (RAP) 1091 miles 1:57 - 2:16 hrs $218 - $981
US San Antonio (SAT) 1128 miles 2:0 - 2:21 hrs $225 - $1015
US Killeen-Fort Hood Regional (GRK) 1141 miles 2:2 - 2:22 hrs $228 - $1026
US Bellingham (BLI) 1144 miles 2:2 - 2:22 hrs $228 - $1029
US Wichita Eisenhower National (ICT) 1164 miles 2:4 - 2:25 hrs $232 - $1047
US Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 1168 miles 2:5 - 2:25 hrs $233 - $1051
US Dallas Love Field (DAL) 1168 miles 2:5 - 2:25 hrs $233 - $1051
Mexico Guadalajara (GDL) 1201 miles 2:8 - 2:30 hrs $240 - $1080
US McAllen Miller (MFE) 1225 miles 2:11 - 2:33 hrs $245 - $1102
US Tulsa (TUL) 1234 miles 2:12 - 2:34 hrs $246 - $1110
US Lincoln (LNK) 1258 miles 2:15 - 2:37 hrs $251 - $1132
US Houston Intercontinental (IAH) 1301 miles 2:19 - 2:42 hrs $260 - $1170
US Houston Hobby (HOU) 1310 miles 2:20 - 2:43 hrs $262 - $1179
US Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA) 1311 miles 2:20 - 2:43 hrs $262 - $1179
US Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) 1323 miles 2:21 - 2:45 hrs $264 - $1190
US Kansas City (MCI) 1331 miles 2:22 - 2:46 hrs $266 - $1197
US Sioux Falls Regional (FSD) 1335 miles 2:22 - 2:46 hrs $267 - $1201
US Shreveport Regional (SHV) 1358 miles 2:25 - 2:49 hrs $271 - $1222
US Des Moines (DSM) 1426 miles 2:33 - 2:58 hrs $285 - $1283
US Little Rock Clinton National (LIT) 1438 miles 2:34 - 3:0 hrs $287 - $1294
US Alexandria England Airpark (AEX) 1444 miles 2:34 - 3:0 hrs $288 - $1299
US Monroe Regional (MLU) 1460 miles 2:36 - 3:2 hrs $292 - $1314
US Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP) 1531 miles 2:43 - 3:11 hrs $306 - $1377
US Lambert St Louis (STL) 1555 miles 2:46 - 3:14 hrs $311 - $1399
US Memphis (MEM) 1564 miles 2:47 - 3:15 hrs $312 - $1407
US Jackson Evers (JAN) 1576 miles 2:48 - 3:16 hrs $315 - $1418
US New Orleans Louis Armstrong (MSY) 1597 miles 2:51 - 3:19 hrs $319 - $1437
US Mobile Regional (MOB) 1703 miles 3:2 - 3:33 hrs $340 - $1532
US Chicago OHare (ORD) 1720 miles 3:4 - 3:34 hrs $344 - $1548
US Chicago Midway (MDW) 1726 miles 3:4 - 3:36 hrs $345 - $1553
US Milwaukee General Mitchell (MKE) 1736 miles 3:6 - 3:37 hrs $347 - $1562
US Nashville (BNA) 1748 miles 3:7 - 3:38 hrs $349 - $1573
US Birmingham Shuttlesworth (BHM) 1756 miles 3:8 - 3:39 hrs $351 - $1580
US Louisville (SDF) 1801 miles 3:13 - 3:45 hrs $360 - $1620
US Fort Wayne (FWA) 1847 miles 3:18 - 3:51 hrs $369 - $1662
US Gerald R Ford (GRR) 1852 miles 3:18 - 3:51 hrs $370 - $1666
US Cincinnati N Kentucky (CVG) 1862 miles 3:19 - 3:52 hrs $372 - $1675
US Lexington Blue Grass (LEX) 1863 miles 3:19 - 3:52 hrs $372 - $1676
US Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta (ATL) 1887 miles 3:22 - 3:55 hrs $377 - $1698
US Freeland MBS International (MBS) 1932 miles 3:27 - 4:1 hrs $386 - $1738
US Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) 2024 miles 3:36 - 4:13 hrs $404 - $1821
Mexico Cancun (CUN) 2027 miles 3:37 - 4:13 hrs $405 - $1824
US Charlotte Douglas (CLT) 2073 miles 3:42 - 4:19 hrs $414 - $1865
US Tampa (TPA) 2083 miles 3:43 - 4:20 hrs $416 - $1874
US Jacksonville (JAX) 2086 miles 3:43 - 4:21 hrs $417 - $1877
US Pittsburgh (PIT) 2101 miles 3:45 - 4:22 hrs $420 - $1890
Canada Hamilton (YHM) 2134 miles 3:48 - 4:27 hrs $426 - $1920
US Orlando (MCO) 2144 miles 3:49 - 4:28 hrs $428 - $1929
Canada Toronto Pearson (YYZ) 2155 miles 3:51 - 4:29 hrs $431 - $1939
US Raleigh-Durham (RDU) 2189 miles 3:54 - 4:33 hrs $437 - $1970
US Fayetteville Grannis Field (FAY) 2190 miles 3:54 - 4:33 hrs $438 - $1971
US Buffalo Niagara (BUF) 2193 miles 3:55 - 4:34 hrs $438 - $1973
US Myrtle Beach (MYR) 2201 miles 3:55 - 4:35 hrs $440 - $1980
US Key West (EYW) 2211 miles 3:57 - 4:36 hrs $442 - $1989
US Washington Dulles (IAD) 2249 miles 4:1 - 4:41 hrs $449 - $2024
US Richmond (RIC) 2260 miles 4:2 - 4:42 hrs $452 - $2034
US Ellis (OAJ) 2264 miles 4:2 - 4:43 hrs $452 - $2037
US Miami (MIA) 2265 miles 4:2 - 4:43 hrs $453 - $2038
US Reagan National (DCA) 2271 miles 4:3 - 4:43 hrs $454 - $2043
US Harrisburg (MDT) 2285 miles 4:4 - 4:45 hrs $457 - $2056
US Baltimore Washington (BWI) 2291 miles 4:5 - 4:46 hrs $458 - $2061
US Norfolk (ORF) 2325 miles 4:9 - 4:50 hrs $465 - $2092
US Philadelphia (PHL) 2365 miles 4:13 - 4:55 hrs $473 - $2128
US Newburgh Stewart (SWF) 2424 miles 4:19 - 5:3 hrs $484 - $2181
US La Guardia (LGA) 2436 miles 4:21 - 5:4 hrs $487 - $2192
US New York Kennedy (JFK) 2441 miles 4:21 - 5:5 hrs $488 - $2196
US Westchester County (HPN) 2445 miles 4:22 - 5:5 hrs $489 - $2200
Canada Montreal Trudeau (YUL) 2455 miles 4:22 - 5:6 hrs $491 - $2209
US Burlington (BTV) 2479 miles 4:25 - 5:9 hrs $495 - $2231
US Tweed New Haven (HVN) 2487 miles 4:26 - 5:10 hrs $497 - $2238
US Hartford Bradley (BDL) 2497 miles 4:27 - 5:12 hrs $499 - $2247
US Maui Kahului (OGG) 2538 miles 4:31 - 5:17 hrs $507 - $2284
US Kona at Keahole (KOA) 2552 miles 4:33 - 5:19 hrs $510 - $2296
US Manchester Boston Regional (MHT) 2561 miles 4:34 - 5:20 hrs $512 - $2304
US Boston Logan (BOS) 2582 miles 4:36 - 5:22 hrs $516 - $2323
US Honolulu (HNL) 2610 miles 4:39 - 5:26 hrs $522 - $2349
US Kauai Lihue (LIH) 2673 miles 4:46 - 5:34 hrs $534 - $2405
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo (SDQ) 3094 miles 5:31 - 6:27 hrs $618 - $2784
UK Belfast (BFS) 5150 miles 9:12 - 10:43 hrs $1030 - $4635
UK London Heathrow (LHR) 5474 miles 9:46 - 11:24 hrs $1094 - $4926
UK London City (LCY) 5489 miles 9:48 - 11:26 hrs $1097 - $4940
France Nantes Atlantique (NTE) 5626 miles 10:3 - 11:43 hrs $1125 - $5063
Denmark Copenhagen (CPH) 5655 miles 10:6 - 11:46 hrs $1131 - $5089
France Paris de Gaulle (CDG) 5686 miles 10:9 - 11:51 hrs $1137 - $5117
Spain Madrid Barajas (MAD) 5845 miles 10:26 - 12:10 hrs $1169 - $5260
France Toulouse Blagnac (TLS) 5895 miles 10:31 - 12:16 hrs $1179 - $5305
Phillipines Manilla Ninoy Aquino (MNL) 7399 miles 13:12 - 15:24 hrs $1479 - $6659
Ghana Accra Kokota (ACC) 7542 miles 13:28 - 15:42 hrs $1508 - $6787
Australia Melbourne (MEL) 7948 miles 14:11 - 16:33 hrs $1589 - $7153
Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
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Reputation: 6072
As I sat at the Otay Border last night for a couple of hours (it was so slow!!!) I noticed how much slower the air traffic is coming into TIJ versus SAN, at SAN it feels like a plane lands every 2-3 minutes where as at TIJ is felt like every 15-20 minutes. I wonder if more US destinations could be added to TIJ being that the runway is not as busy as SAN, surely I am not the only one to have this thought. Notice that flight to San Jose, might it be cheaper to fly to San Jose, CA out of TIJ versus SAN?
According to IFLY.COM, here is a list of all 15 direct flights from TIJ ordered least to greatest distance wise. 8 are to Mexican destinations and 7 are international. 2 of the 7 are to the US.
Country Airport Distance Time Price Range
US Los Angeles (LAX) 127 miles 0:13 - 0:15 hrs $25 - $114
US San Jose Mineta (SJC) 435 miles 0:46 - 0:54 hrs $87 - $391
Mexico Los Cabos International (SJD) 786 miles 1:24 - 1:38 hrs $157 - $707
Mexico Culliacan Bachigualato (CUL) 787 miles 1:24 - 1:38 hrs $157 - $708
Mexico Mazatlan Buelna (MZT) 919 miles 1:38 - 1:54 hrs $183 - $827
Mexico Monterrey Escobedo (MTY) 1118 miles 2:0 - 2:19 hrs $223 - $1006
Mexico Guadalajara (GDL) 1183 miles 2:6 - 2:27 hrs $236 - $1064
Mexico Mexico City Benito Juarez (MEX) 1430 miles 2:33 - 2:58 hrs $286 - $1287
Mexico Oaxaca Xoxocotlan (OAX) 1658 miles 2:57 - 3:27 hrs $331 - $1492
Mexico Merida Rejon (MID) 1859 miles 3:19 - 3:52 hrs $371 - $1673
El Salvador Comalapa El Salvador (SAL) 2200 miles 3:55 - 4:34 hrs $440 - $1980
Cuba Havana Jose Marti (HAV) 2203 miles 3:55 - 4:35 hrs $440 - $1982
Nicaragua Managua Sandino (MGA) 2406 miles 4:18 - 5:0 hrs $481 - $2165
Peru Lima Jorge Chavez (LIM) 4051 miles 7:13 - 8:26 hrs $810 - $3645
China Beijing Capital (PEK) 6365 miles 11:22 - 13:15 hrs $1273 - $5728
Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
6,054 posts, read 6,432,902 times
Reputation: 6072
According to IFLY.COM, here is a list of all 42 direct flights from CRG MCCLELLAN-PALOMAR AIRPORT in Carlsbad ordered least to greatest distance wise. There is one international destination to Mexico.
I don't have much experience with this airport other than a flight on a smaller plane a few years back that took us to LAX to transfer. I am surprised it goes to so many destinations.
Country Airport Distance Time Price Range
US Palm Springs (PSP) 65 miles 0:7 - 0:8 hrs $13 - $58
US Los Angeles (LAX) 86 miles 0:9 - 0:10 hrs $17 - $77
US Burbank Bob Hope (BUR) 96 miles 0:10 - 0:12 hrs $19 - $86
US Santa Barbara Muni (SBA) 172 miles 0:18 - 0:21 hrs $34 - $154
US Bakersfield Meadows Field (BFL) 189 miles 0:20 - 0:23 hrs $37 - $170
US Las Vegas McCarran (LAS) 237 miles 0:25 - 0:29 hrs $47 - $213
US Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) 305 miles 0:32 - 0:38 hrs $61 - $274
US PhxMesa Gateway (AZA) 324 miles 0:34 - 0:40 hrs $64 - $291
US Monterey Peninsula (MRY) 352 miles 0:37 - 0:43 hrs $70 - $316
US San Jose Mineta (SJC) 393 miles 0:42 - 0:49 hrs $78 - $353
US Metropolitan Oakland (OAK) 421 miles 0:45 - 0:52 hrs $84 - $378
US San Francisco (SFO) 423 miles 0:45 - 0:52 hrs $84 - $380
US Sacramento (SMF) 454 miles 0:48 - 0:57 hrs $90 - $408
US Reno Tahoe (RNO) 462 miles 0:49 - 0:57 hrs $92 - $415
US Salt Lake City (SLC) 604 miles 1:4 - 1:15 hrs $120 - $543
US Rogue Valley Medford (MFR) 707 miles 1:15 - 1:28 hrs $141 - $636
Mexico Los Cabos International (SJD) 828 miles 1:28 - 1:43 hrs $165 - $745
US Portland (PDX) 906 miles 1:37 - 1:53 hrs $181 - $815
US Seattle Tacoma (SEA) 1023 miles 1:49 - 2:7 hrs $204 - $920
US San Antonio (SAT) 1135 miles 2:1 - 2:21 hrs $227 - $1021
US Austin Bergstrom (AUS) 1169 miles 2:5 - 2:26 hrs $233 - $1052
US Dallas Love Field (DAL) 1170 miles 2:5 - 2:26 hrs $234 - $1053
US Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 1170 miles 2:5 - 2:26 hrs $234 - $1053
US Houston Hobby (HOU) 1317 miles 2:21 - 2:44 hrs $263 - $1185
US Lambert St Louis (STL) 1548 miles 2:45 - 3:13 hrs $309 - $1393
US New Orleans Louis Armstrong (MSY) 1601 miles 2:51 - 3:20 hrs $320 - $1440
US Chicago Midway (MDW) 1717 miles 3:4 - 3:34 hrs $343 - $1545
US Nashville (BNA) 1745 miles 3:7 - 3:38 hrs $349 - $1570
US Birmingham Shuttlesworth (BHM) 1756 miles 3:8 - 3:39 hrs $351 - $1580
US Indianapolis (IND) 1772 miles 3:9 - 3:41 hrs $354 - $1594
US Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta (ATL) 1887 miles 3:22 - 3:55 hrs $377 - $1698
US Asheville Regional (AVL) 1980 miles 3:32 - 4:7 hrs $396 - $1782
US Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) 2015 miles 3:36 - 4:12 hrs $403 - $1813
US Charlotte Douglas (CLT) 2071 miles 3:42 - 4:18 hrs $414 - $1863
US Orlando (MCO) 2148 miles 3:50 - 4:28 hrs $429 - $1933
US Washington Dulles (IAD) 2243 miles 4:0 - 4:40 hrs $448 - $2018
US Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AVP) 2332 miles 4:9 - 4:51 hrs $466 - $2098
US Philadelphia (PHL) 2358 miles 4:12 - 4:54 hrs $471 - $2122
US Maui Kahului (OGG) 2538 miles 4:31 - 5:17 hrs $507 - $2284
US Boston Logan (BOS) 2573 miles 4:35 - 5:21 hrs $514 - $2315
US Honolulu (HNL) 2609 miles 4:39 - 5:26 hrs $521 - $2348
True though that airport is even more undersized than SAN and has only a single runway and no where to expand either. And Tijuana is almost as big as San Diego population wise thats not even including surrounding parts of Baja California north. Its currently only has the capacity to handle flights to Mexican destinations. I would be curious whether there were plans to turn Otay Mesa the flat mostly used for industrial storage land just north of TJ airport and cross border xpress into one large airport connected to the current TJ airport, the land also has another municipal airport with a runway north of it.
Though would they really have to demolish the current airport should they open up a new one? And not let it operate simultaneously? Just as with Washington DC. As I doubt SAN is effecting development badly unlike with SJC which pretty much limited DTSJ's development as its flight path could put buildings on a collision course.
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