San Diego International Airport holds IATA Code SAN, and the airport is also called Lindbergh Field. The airport is around 5 km of San Diego, California city center. This is a single-runway but altogether a commercial airport in USA. It is a busy airport handling 465 scheduled flights and carrying as much as 48,000 passengers daily which totals around 17 million passengers annually. Interestingly San Diego is one of USA’s large metropolitan areas. Southwest Airlines uses this airport as a regular user but it is not yet its hub as yet. Other airlines are American Airlines and its merger partner US Airways, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines are in order of their operations on this airport. The airport handles many domestic flights and overseas flights to Canada, UK, Japan and Mexico.
San Diego down town and other populated areas are not far away from the airport. Noise pollution, therefore, is prime concern for the neighboring population. Aircrafts are allowed to take off after 6-30 am till 11:30 pm. Special departures need permission else penalty is levied. Many flights are scheduled before 6-30 am using pushback method to move the aircraft to taxiway. Pushbacks are popular at busy airports but needs clearance from ground control allowing the pilot to talk to tractor driver. This is part of the effort to reduce noise at San Diego International Airport however, the flight takes off at 6-30 am onwards.
The Airport also offers unique parking facility for drivers expecting to be connected to incoming passengers via cell phone. This is free of charge parking and drivers can wait up to one hour while they wait. This helps in reducing rush at the arrivals area. This parking is situated on North Harbor Drive which is eastwards of airport administrative offices. This area is 24/7 available for use, designated as “97 parking space” and has vending machines for food and drinks. Flight information is conspicuously displayed live and also has some rest rooms. Clear instructions are placed in the area and drivers are expected to remain in the car and engines need be stopped. Amtrak links the airport to outside public transport. Private taxis and coaches are also conveniently available.