San Diego International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: California |
| San Diego International Airport (Lindbergh Field) |
|
| Location | San Diego, California |
| IATA code | SAN |
| ICAO code | KSAN |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.san.org |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 118.3 338.225 |
| Ground | 123.9 |
| Clearance | 125.9 |
| Approach | 119.6 (West) 124.35 (East) |
| Departure | 119.6 (West) 124.35 (East) |
| ATIS | 134.8 619-298-0997 |
| Departure | 122.95 |
San Diego International Airport is the primary commercial airport for San Diego County. No airline maintains a hub there, and Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier. The vast majority of scheduled flights are to points within North America; currently only Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines provide transoceanic service; both to Hawaii. The airport has only a single runway, 9/27, and normal operations call for arrivals and departures on runway 27.
The airport is notable for its approach to runway 27, which due to the airport's close proximity to Downtown San Diego, allows spotters a view of many aircraft flying level to the roofs of the downtown skyscrapers.
Official Spotting Locations
Harbor & Laurel Parking Lot
The airport has a small free parking lot at the intersection of Harbor Dr. and Laurel St. for spotting. From here you will see aircraft arriving and departing on runway 27, which is the airport's normal operation. You will need a ladder or tall vehicle to get camera lenses above the fence line for departure and taxi shots, however you can photograph arrivals from street level with a long enough lens if you time it right to avoid poles and trees. Posted signs prohibit unattended vehicles, so you won't want to go far from the lot unless someone is with you to stay with your car. Avoid the adjacent Solar Turbines parking lot, but the sidewalk along Laurel St. should be okay. Lighting is best in the late afternoon, especially during summer. In the winter, light is typically good all day, though you may need to vary the angle of your shot as the sun moves across the sky. If you need a snack or drink, there is a convenience store at the Shell gas station located at the intersection of Laurel and Pacific Hwy.
Other Spotting Locations
El Prado, Balboa Park
Exit the 5 and drive down Kettner Blvd, follow Kettner until you come to the Kettner and W Laurel St interesection, take a left on W Laurel and go up the big hill. Follow W Laurel until you get to 6th Ave. You can park on 6th Ave or continue straight and park on Balboa Dr. Walk along El Prado (Laurel turn into El Prado) until you get to the bridge. There is a sidewalk on the North and South side of the bridge. Take the South sidewalk. From the middle of the bridge you have an unobstructed view of the planes on final to runway 27 with the city in the background.
NTC Park
NTC Park is located within the Liberty Station complex on the site of the former Naval Training Center. This facility is just west of the airport, and during normal operations with arrivals and departures on runway 27, departing aircraft fly overhead. Traditional side shots are tricky because most aircraft will be a bit high by the time they get to this area, but if you desire underside angles of departing aircraft, or just want to watch aircraft takeoff, this isn't a bad spot. It would likely be good during reverse operations with arrivals on runway 9, but as this typically happens during poor weather conditions, it still isn't amenable for photography.
The Phase II area of the park, closest to where the aircraft fly, is still under construction, however you can park in one of the current parking lots and walk along a dirt path along the water adjacent to the construction area to get a good view.
Locations To Avoid
Solar Turbines Parking Lot
This lot is next to the official observation area at Laurel St. and Harbor Dr. It is tempting because it gets you closer to the action than the official area. However, it is private property and Solar Turbines security does patrol the lot and has asked spotters to leave. If you stay on the public sidewalk outside the lot along Laurel Dr., you should be okay.
Regular Traffic
Please note that all times listed in this section are approximate. Spotters visiting SAN may wish to consult the Flight Planner accessible at the San Diego International Airport website for exact and up-to-date information. Keep in mind also that many cargo flights do not operate a regular schedule on weekends or holidays.
Passenger
- Aeromexico: Aeromexico typically operates the 737-700 to San Diego. There is a daily flight arriving at approximately 8:35PM from Los Cabos and departing again at approximately 10:45AM, usually operated by a 737-700.
- Air Canada Jazz: Air Canada Jazz operates daily CRJ-705 flights to Calgary and Vancouver, with arrivals at 11:15am and 3:00pm and departures at 11:55am and 2:25pm.
- AirTran Airways: AirTran operates a daily 737-700 flight to Atlanta, arriving at 1:00pm and departing at 1:50pm. On May 21, AirTran will be adjusting their schedule, with Atlanta flights arriving at 11:50am and 9:30pm and departing at 12:40pm and 10:20pm, along with a flight to Milwaukee arriving at 10:45am and departing at 11:30am.
- Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines operates a busy schedule from SAN, using various members of the 737 family. Alaska's special livery planes visit from time to time on an irregular basis.
- Allegiant Air: Allegiant offers five weekly flights to San Diego using MD-80 aircraft. On Thursday and Sunday, a flight from Bellingham, Washington arrives at 5:35pm and departs at 6:15pm. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, a flight from Monterey, California arrives at 10:40am and departs at 11:20am.
- American Airlines: American has a large number of daily MD-80 flights to its hubs. The 757 is used on long-haul flights Boston as well as a few of its flights to DFW. Chances are best for seeing American's 757s in the morning and early afternoon. Recently it has become more common for American's daily 8:55AM departure to Boston to be operated by a 757 with winglets. A 767-300 operates the flight to JFK, departing at 7:55am and arriving at 5:55pm.
- American Eagle: American Eagle operates many flights to Los Angeles and San Jose using the ERJ-140 throughout the day.
- Continental Airlines: The 737-800 is the mainstay of Continental's operations at SAN, but spotters may occasionally see the 737-300, 737-700, or 737-900 instead.
- Delta Air Lines: Delta operates a varied fleet in San Diego, with new-livery 757s seen regularly. Spotters may see the 737-800, 757-200, 767-300, and MD-90 here.
- Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines): SkyWest operates varying models of the Canadair Regional Jet on flights to Salt Lake City.
- Frontier Airlines: Frontier operates six daily flights using a mixture of A318 and A319 equipment. Arrivals are at approximately 8:25AM, 9:40AM, 2:20PM, 4:20PM, 7:30PM, and 10:45PM. Departures generally take place forty minutes after arrival, except for the late night flight which leaves at approximately 6:20AM.
- Hawaiian Airlines: Hawaiian operates a daily 767-300 flight to Honolulu, departing at 10:30am and arriving at 9:50pm.
- JetBlue Airways: JetBlue operates a handful of A320 flights throughout the day.
- Northwest Airlines: Northwest operates daily services to SAN, primarily using the A320 with occasional 757-200s.
- Southwest Airlines: Southwest has by far the largest passenger operation at SAN, with several arrivals and departures every hour. Most of these flights are operated by the 737-300 and 737-700, in both new and older liveries. The 737-500 is no longer seen very frequently in SAN. Fortunately, because of the large number of Southwest aircraft cycling through San Diego, it is not uncommon to see one of the airline's famous special livery planes.
- Sun Country Airlines: Sun Country operates a 737-800 flight, arriving around 4:00pm, and departing between 6:30pm and 7:10pm, however the schedule fluctuates a bit and doesn't operate every day, so those interested in spotting this flight will want to verify the schedule on the airline's website.
- United Airlines: United operates a mixed fleet to SAN, comprised of the 737-300, 737-500, 757-200, A319, and A320. These may appear in the new or old livery. Ted A320s sometimes appear, despite the fact that SAN is not a Ted destination. Flights are operated throughout the day.
- United Express (SkyWest Airlines): The EMB-120 is the mainstay of United Express service to SAN. At times a CRJ is added to the schedule.
- US Airways: US Airways brings the 737-300, 757-200, A319, A320, and A321 to SAN, with most arrivals throughout the morning and in the evening. Aircraft may be in either the new or old US Airways livery. The US Airways retro livery A319s make appearances on an irregular basis. Note that while the schedule doesn't change that often, the equipment types used does change pretty frequently, sometimes varying by the day of week.
- Virgin America Airlines: Virgin America operates the A319 and A320 with arrivals at 8:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 6:05pm, and 10:35pm and departures at 6:30am, 9:15am, 2:15pm, 4:15pm, and 6:50pm.
Cargo
- Airborne Express/DHL Cargo: The 767-200 belonging to Airborne Express parked on the northside of the field has been nicknamed "the sleeping giant" by SAN spotters because it hardly ever seems to move. Recently, it has become more common to see this aircraft operating in full DHL colors. It typically arrives at approximately 5:45AM and departs between 6:30PM and 8:00PM.
- Ameriflight: Ameriflight operates the Beech 1900 and Beech Airliner 99 to SAN in the early evening, with arrivals usually coming between 6:00PM and 7:00PM.
- Capital Cargo International Airlines: Capital Cargo's 727-200 typically arrives on weekdays between 7:30AM and 8:30AM. It departs between 6:00PM and 8:00PM.
- FedEx Express: FedEx is the largest cargo carrier at SAN, with the A300, A310 making regular appearances. DC-10s and MD-11s may be seen on Fridays and Saturdays. 727s are seen less frequently. Three flights usually arrive in the very early morning, before 6:00AM, and normally have all departed by 8:00AM. A second set of three flights typically arrives between 4:00PM and 5:30PM. These usually depart again between 7:00PM and 8:30PM. Recently, FedEx has been using Airbus aircraft for the majority of its flights. However, one of the Friday afternoon flights, typically arriving at approximately 5:00PM and departing after dark, and one of the Saturday morning flights, typically arriving at 5:30AM and departing between 7:00AM & 8:00PM, are usually operated by DC-10 or MD-11 equipment. These are the largest aircraft regularly flying in and out of SAN.
- FedEx Feeder (Westair): A series of Cessna 208B Cargomaster flights arrive between 6:00PM and 7:00PM from El Centro supplying cargo for the larger FedEx aircraft flying out of SAN.
- United Parcel Service (UPS): UPS operates two weekday flights on a somewhat variable schedule, generally using 767s. A morning flight usually arrives at approximately 5:30AM and a 767 arrives from the Hawaiian islands most weekday afternoons between 12:30PM and 2:30PM. Departures occur between 6:30AM and 7:30AM and in the evening between 7:30PM and 8:30PM. The morning flight may be operated by 757s and the A300 makes an appearance during the holidays. Both the new and old liveries of UPS may be seen at SAN.
Facilities and Transportation
There is a "cell phone" parking lot (free parking for visitors waiting to pick up a passenger from an arriving flight) along Harbor Drive. While it has no view and is unsuitable for spotting, it does have a couple of portable toilets and vending machines, along with monitors showing arriving flight information.
Public Transportation
San Diego Transit bus Route 992, sometimes known as the Flyer, is the only bus that provides service to the airport terminals. The line originates in downtown San Diego, with several stops including one near the official observation lot at Laurel and Harbor. Connections to Route 992 can be made at various locations in downtown San Diego to other bus routes as well as the San Diego Trolley, Coaster, and Amtrak trains.
Additional bus routes that serve the airport area (but not the terminals directly) are Routes 922 and 923 along Harbor Dr. and Route 908 which stops at the Washington Street Blue Line Trolley station located at Washington St. and Pacific Hwy.