McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD): Delays & On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) runs noticeably smoother than most US airports: 84% of its ~4 daily departures leave on time, 6 points above the national average, with an average departure delay of just 12 minutes. 2 airlines fly from Carlsbad, CA to 3 destinations.
- Departures on-time
- 84%
- left <15 min late
- Avg dep delay
- 12 min
- Arrivals on-time
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Destinations
- 3
- nonstop
- Airlines
- 2
Plan your departure from CLD
The choices most likely to improve your odds, based on this airport’s historical record.
- Best departure time
- Around 6 a.m.
- 94% on-time
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday
- 82% on-time
- Cancellation risk
- 0.7%
- below the US average
Monthly on-time trend
Best time of day to depart from CLD
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 15 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 82% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 10 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 14 min |
| Friday | 77% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 82% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 80% | 15 min |
Busiest routes from CLD
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLD → PHX (Phoenix) | 868 | 89% | 8 min |
| CLD → DEN (Denver) | 248 | 85% | 10 min |
| CLD → SFO (San Francisco) | 248 | 32% | 41 min |
Where flights into CLD come from
| Route | Flights/12mo | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX (Phoenix) → CLD | 868 | 84% | 9 min |
| DEN (Denver) → CLD | 249 | 63% | 29 min |
| SFO (San Francisco) → CLD | 249 | 79% | 19 min |
What causes delays at CLD
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT, weighted across routes departing CLD.
- Late-arriving aircraft27%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system40%
- Weather1%
- Security1%
Alternative airports near Carlsbad
Other airports within 120 miles, compared on departure reliability.
| Airport | Distance | On-time departures | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN — San Diego International Airport | 28 mi | 76% | 16 min |
| SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport | 51 mi | 81% | 15 min |
| PSP — Palm Springs International Airport | 66 mi | 82% | 15 min |
| ONT — Ontario International Airport | 67 mi | 83% | 13 min |
| LGB — Long Beach International Airport | 69 mi | 84% | 10 min |
Compare the airport-level record first, then check the exact route you plan to book.
Airline performance at CLD
| Airline | On-time departures | Avg delay | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Envoy Air | 89% | 9 min | 1,204 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 71% | 20 min | 496 |
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights delayed at CLD?
- 16% of departures from McClellan-Palomar Airport left 15+ minutes late between 2024-07 and 2026-07, with an average departure delay of 12 minutes. The national on-time average over the same period was 78%.
- What is the best time of day to depart from CLD?
- Flights scheduled around 6 a.m. depart on time 94% of the time at CLD, versus 55% around 1 p.m.. Booking before noon is the usual rule of thumb here.
- How often are flights cancelled at CLD?
- 0.7% of scheduled departures from CLD were cancelled in this period, compared with a national rate of 1.6%.
Popular route pages from this airport
Related guides
Based on 1,700 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.