Palm Springs International Airport

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Palm Springs International Airport
Palm Springs Army Airfield
Palm Springs International Airport photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Palm Springs
OperatorCity of Palm Springs Aviation Department
ServesCoachella Valley, Inland Empire
LocationPalm Springs, California
Elevation AMSL476 ft / 145 m
Coordinates33°49′47″N 116°30′24″W / 33.82972°N 116.50667°W / 33.82972; -116.50667Coordinates: 33°49′47″N 116°30′24″W / 33.82972°N 116.50667°W / 33.82972; -116.50667
WebsiteOfficial website
Maps
FAA diagram
FAA diagram
PSP is located in California
PSP
PSP
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13R/31L 10,000 3,048 Asphalt
13L/31R 4,952 1,509 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Passengers1,252,094
Aircraft operations43,368
Source: FAA[1][2]

Palm Springs International Airport (IATA: PSP, ICAO: KPSP, FAA LID: PSP), formerly Palm Springs Municipal Airport, is an airport two miles (3 km) east of downtown Palm Springs, California, United States. The airport covers 940 acres (380 ha) and has two runways.[2] The facility operates year-round, with most flights occurring in the fall, winter, and spring.

The airport was named as number 3 in a 2011 list of "America's Most Stress-Free Airports" by Smarter Travel.[3]

History[]

Military use[]

PSP was built as a United States Army Air Corps emergency landing field in 1939 on land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians due to its clear weather and its proximity to March Field and the Los Angeles area.

In March 1941 the War Department certified improvements to the existing airport in Palm Springs as essential to National Defense. The airport was approved to serve as a staging field by the Air Corps Ferrying Command 21st Ferrying Group in November 1941. Land was acquired to build a major airfield a half mile from the old airfield site. The new airfield, Palm Springs Army Airfield,[4] was completed in early 1942, and the old air field was then used only as a backup.[5]

Many of the field's Air Transport Command 560th Army Air Forces Base Unit personnel stayed at the comfortable Lapaz Guest Ranch nearby. Training conducted at the airfield was by the 72d and 73d Ferrying Squadrons in long-distance over-water flying and navigation. Later, training was also provided to pursuit pilot training by IV Fighter Command 459th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron. Training was in P-51 Mustangs, P-40 Warhawks and P-38 Lightnings.

On June 1, 1944, training moved to Brownsville Army Airfield, Texas, and the airfield was used for Army and Navy transport flights until the end of April 1945. The auxiliary field or backup field was declared surplus on May 12, 1945, and the main airfield was declared excess and transferred to the War Assets Administration for disposal in 1946 and it was sold to private buyers. The City of Palm Springs purchased the land in 1961 and converted it to Palm Springs Municipal Airport.

Airline service[]

Palm Springs had scheduled passenger service in 1934 operated by Palm Springs Air Lines with Ford Trimotor aircraft with flights to the Union Air Terminal (now the Hollywood Burbank Airport) in Burbank.[6] Western Airlines flights began in 1945–46 followed by Bonanza Air Lines in 1957–58. In 1964 Western Lockheed L-188 Electras flew nonstop to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego.[7] Bonanza and successors Air West and Hughes Airwest served Palm Springs for many years with the Fairchild F-27 followed by Douglas DC-9s. American Airlines Boeing 707s appeared in winter 1967–68. By 1969 American had four Boeing 707 departures a day from the airport, two nonstops to Los Angeles and two nonstops to Phoenix and on to Chicago.[8] Trans World Airlines (TWA) Boeing 707s arrived in 1978, flying to Chicago via Phoenix.

Scheduled nonstops did not reach beyond California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix until winter 1969–70 when American Airlines started a nonstop to Chicago O'Hare Airport. In the 1970s American McDonnell Douglas DC-10s appeared, the largest aircraft ever scheduled to PSP. In 1976 American was flying the DC-10 to New York LaGuardia Airport via Chicago O'Hare Airport as well as Boeing 727-100s to Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix and Los Angeles.[9] In 1976 Western Boeing 727-200s and Boeing 737-200s flew nonstop to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.[9] In 1987 Western was merged into Delta Air Lines which continues to serve PSP with year-round service to Seattle and seasonal services to other destinations. Other jet service to Palm Springs in the past included flights operated by Air21, Air California and successor Air Cal, America West Airlines, CP Air, the original Frontier Airlines (1950–1986), Hughes Airwest, Morris Air, Pacific Express, Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA), Pan Am, Reno Air, Republic Airlines (1979–1986) and USAir.[10]

Commuter and regional airlines at Palm Springs from the late 1970s to the 1990s included Air Bahia, Air Nevada, American Eagle operated by Wings West Airlines, America West Express operated by Mesa Airlines, Cable Commuter Airlines, California Seaboard Airlines, Dash Air, Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines, Imperial Airlines, Inland Empire Airlines, Scenic Airlines, SkyWest Airlines (operating independently), Sun Aire Lines, Swift Aire Lines, Trans World Express operated by Alpha Air, United Express operated by WestAir and later by SkyWest Airlines, and USAir Express followed by US Airways Express operated by Trans States Airlines and StatesWest Airlines.[11]

On September 3, 2020, Southwest Airlines announced plans to serve Palm Springs, year-round, in 2020. [12]

Other past use[]

On December 30, 2006 a U.S. Air Force Presidential Boeing VC-25 (the USAF military version of the Boeing 747), departed Palm Springs International Airport with the body of the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, and delivered it to Washington, D.C., for memorial services.

U.S. customs clearance[]

Although a true international airport, PSP only has U.S. customs and immigration facilities for general aviation aircraft including business jets. All international airline flights are currently operated from Canadian cities that have pre-clearance facilities.

Terminals[]

The main courtyard
(view as a 360° interactive panorama)

PSP's passenger terminal consists of three parts—the main building, the elevated Sonny Bono Concourse to the north, and a yet-unnamed concourse to the south.[13] Airside, it has a unique open-air layout in that all passenger walkways connecting these structures are roofless.[14]

Main building[]

The main building is the land side of the airport. Road traffic accesses the airport directly off of Tahquitz Canyon Way (from downtown) or Kirk Douglas Way, itself fed by Ramon Road from points east. Uncovered parking areas are directly in front of the building. The center section houses the security screening area and automatic doors to/from the open-air walkways airside. Ticketing is on the right (south) wing, while baggage claim and car rental counters are on the left (north).

Departing passengers are routed first to airline ticket counters or kiosks for checking in. Since all gates at Palm Springs are in the two outlying concourses, passengers must pass through the security screening area for admittance into the secure air side of the airport. After leaving the main building via the automatic doors leading out to the open-air courtyard, passengers can access seventeen full-service gates at the two concourses.

The Sonny Bono Concourse, with Bono's bust to the right of the escalator
An Air Canada Rouge Airbus A319 at the Sonny Bono Concourse

Sonny Bono Concourse (Gates 4–11)[]

On November 4, 1999, the new Sonny Bono Concourse opened as part of the 1994–2000 expansion. Named in honor of the late singer, congressman and former mayor of the city,[15] this newer concourse is the elevated one of the two. It is used for larger aircraft (such as the Boeing 737) because of its jet bridges. SB's outdoor escalator and walkway are shaded by a designer roofline similar to that of the Denver International Airport. [14]

Regional Concourse (Gates 12–20)[]

The older Regional Concourse on the south side, simply known as the Regional Concourse on the airport website, or "Gates 12–20" on airport signage, is at the tarmac level and hosts smaller aircraft. Boarding uses ramps or airstairs.[14]

Airlines and destinations[]

Sun Country and United Airlines jets at the airport
Sonny Bono Concourse
Palm Springs International Airport
United Airlines Airbus A319 at the airport

Passenger[]

AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Seasonal: Vancouver
Air Canada Rouge Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson
Alaska Airlines Boise (resumes December 17, 2021), San Francisco, San Jose (CA) (begins November 19, 2021), Seattle/Tacoma
Seasonal: Austin (begins November 19, 2021), Everett (resumes October 7, 2021), Portland (OR), Reno/Tahoe
Allegiant Air Bellingham, Nashville (begins November 17, 2021)[16]
Seasonal: Boise, Des Moines (begins November 18, 2021), Eugene, Indianapolis (begins November 18, 2021),[17] Provo (begins November 19, 2021)
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Philadelphia[18]
American Eagle Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Delta Air Lines Seattle/Tacoma
Seasonal: Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Delta Connection Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma
Seasonal: Los Angeles[19]
Flair Airlines Seasonal: Edmonton (begins January 17, 2022), Vancouver (begins December 16, 2021)[20]
Frontier Airlines Seasonal: Denver
JetBlue Seasonal: Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York–JFK
Southwest Airlines Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Sacramento (begins October 7, 2021)
Seasonal: Chicago–Midway (begins November 20, 2021), Dallas–Love (begins November 7, 2021)[21], Portland (OR) (begins November 20, 2021)[22]
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
United Airlines Denver
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental
United Express Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental
WestJet Calgary, Vancouver
Seasonal: Edmonton, Winnipeg

Cargo[]

Airlines Destinations
Ameriflight Ontario

Statistics[]

Airport traffic[]

See source Wikidata query and sources.


Top destinations[]

Busiest domestic routes from PSP (June 2020 – May 2021)[23]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Seattle/Tacoma, Washington 137,000 Alaska, Delta
2 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 78,000 American
3 Denver, Colorado 70,000 Frontier, United
4 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 69,000 American, Boutique
5 San Francisco, California 58,000 Alaska, United
6 Salt Lake City, Utah 36,000 Delta
7 Portland, Oregon 32,000 Alaska
8 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 28,000 American, United
9 Oakland, California 28,000 Southwest
10 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota 27,000 Delta, Sun Country

Airline market share[]

Largest airlines at PSP (April 2020 – March 2021)[23]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 SkyWest Airlines 312,000 36.75%
2 Alaska Airlines 184,000 21.62%
3 American Airlines 121,000 14.25%
4 Southwest Airlines 71,460 8.41%
5 United Airlines 44,760 5.27%
6 Other 116,000 13.69%

Ground transportation[]

State Route 111 (Gene Autry Trail) is accessible to PSP via Ramon Road.

PSP is served by both municipal and regional routes. Sunline's SunBus routes 2 and 4 provide direct service to downtown Palm Springs via the bus stops at El Cielo/Kirk Douglas and Tahquitz/Civic. Morongo Basin Transit Authority provides service to Twentynine Palms. An Amtrak Thruway bus stop is located just outside the baggage claim area, with service to Cabazon (Morongo Casino), Riverside, and Fullerton.

Palm Springs International Airport

Accidents and incidents at or near PSP[]

  • On October 23, 1942, American Airlines Flight 28, a Douglas DC-3 (reg. NC16017) en route to New York City, crashed in Chino Canyon, 3.1 miles (5 km) north of then Palm Springs Municipal Airport after being clipped by a United States Army Air Force Lockheed B-34 Ventura II bomber. All nine passengers and three crew were killed on the DC-3. The bomber (reg. 41-38116) landed safely at Palm Springs Municipal Airport with minor damage.[24]
  • On February 13, 1958, Western Airlines Flight 19, a Convair CV-240 crash-landed and was destroyed after striking boulders and large mounds of drifted sand on desert terrain 4.1 miles NNW of PSP due to separation of the right wing leading edge in flight. Of the 18 passengers and three crew, there were no fatalities, but five passengers were seriously injured and most of the rest had minor injuries. The aircraft was heavily damaged and written off.[25]
  • On November 14, 1965, a Paul Kelly Flying Service Learjet 23 crashed 13.1 miles east of PSP at night when the aircraft lost control and crashed in a 55-degree nose-down vertical left bank attitude due to spatial disorientation of the pilot. Both crew and all six passengers died.[26]
  • On September 23, 1967, a Bird Corp. Oakland Centaurus, a modified Lockheed Ventura crashed in the initial climb after the right engine failed. Both occupants survived, but the aircraft was written off.[27]
  • On January 6, 1977, a Jet Avia Learjet 24B impacted a mountain at 9,700 feet 21.9 miles NW of PSP en route to Las Vegas. The crew misinterpreted instrument flight rules clearance and air traffic control instructions, and maintained the runway heading. All four occupants (two crew, two passengers) were killed.[28]

See also[]

References[]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. ^ "PSP Statistical Data". City of Palm Springs. January 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for PSP PDF, effective June 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "America's Most Stress-Free Airports". SmarterTravel.com. April 5, 2011.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Palm Springs Army Air Field (historical)
  5. ^ Aerial pic of the old airfield at 33°49′37″N 116°31′59″W / 33.827°N 116.533°W / 33.827; -116.533, looking ENE
  6. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Dec. 20, 1934 Palm Springs Air Lines timetable
  7. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, March 1, 1964 Western timetable
  8. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Mar. 30, 1969 American timetable
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Feb. 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide
  10. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Route Maps
  11. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Official Airline Guide editions: Nov. 15, 1979; April 1, 1981; Feb. 1, 1985; April 2, 1995; June 1, 1999
  12. ^ "Southwest Airlines Intends to Serve Miami and Palm Springs, Calif".
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Terminal Map | City of Palm Springs". www.palmspringsca.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "Airport Adds Sonny Bono Concourse". Billboard.
  16. ^ "Allegiant Announces 23 New Nonstop Routes with One-Way Fares as Low as $39* | Allegiant Travel Company".
  17. ^ "Allegiant Announces Major Service Expansion with 22 New Nonstop Routes | Allegiant Travel Company".
  18. ^ https://www.americanairlines.co.uk/homePage.do?locale=en_GB
  19. ^ "Delta resumes Los Angeles – Palm Springs service from Nov 2020".
  20. ^ "Flair Airlines Continues Impressive Growth with Flights to the U.S, Bringing Ultra-Low Fares to Sun Destinations". July 8, 2021.
  21. ^ "Book today: Southwest Airlines extends schedule through Jan. 5, 2022, while adding more domestic destinations than ever before and offering new nonstop service to international destinations from the Midwest".
  22. ^ https://wieck-swa-production.s3.amazonaws.com/NovemberBaseScheduleExtension.pdf
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA). "Palm Springs, CA: Palm Springs International (PSP) Scheduled Services except Freight/Mail". U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT). Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  24. ^ Accident description for 41-38116 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on April 12, 2021.
  25. ^ Accident description for N8405H at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on April 12, 2021.
  26. ^ Accident description for N243F at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on April 12, 2021.
  27. ^ Accident description for N7436C at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on April 12, 2021.
  28. ^ Accident description for N12MK at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on April 12, 2021.

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