LA/Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) — Palmdale, California

LA/Palmdale Regional Airport (IATA: PMD, ICAO: KPMD), located at 38250 Sierra Highway in Palmdale, California 93550, sits approximately 3.5 miles from downtown Palmdale and roughly 60 miles north of Los Angeles in the high-desert Antelope Valley. At an elevation of 2,543 feet above mean sea level, this 5,832-acre facility occupies a commanding position within one of Southern California's most storied aerospace corridors. The airport is operated by the Palmdale Airport Authority, which assumed management in 2013, and it shares its airspace with the adjacent United States Air Force Plant 42 — a classified military research and production facility that gave birth to some of the 20th century's most iconic aircraft.

The roots of Palmdale Regional Airport trace back to August 1933, when the U.S. Department of Commerce constructed a Government Landing Field on 160 acres as an emergency landing strip for transcontinental commercial air traffic. By 1940, the Army Air Corps had activated it as Palmdale Army Airfield to support B-25 Mitchell bomber training during World War II. After the war, Los Angeles County acquired the property in 1946 for civilian use, and the facility was reactivated by the Air Force in 1950 during the Korean War era to support jet aircraft assembly and flight testing — functions that continue at Plant 42 today.

The airport's small but capable terminal spans approximately 9,000 square feet and is rated to handle up to 300,000 passengers annually. While scheduled commercial passenger service has been intermittent throughout its history — United Express, operated by SkyWest Airlines, last offered twice-daily flights to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) before discontinuing service in December 2008 — the facility today serves private aviation, corporate jets, cargo operations, and the aerospace industry's extensive contractor and worker base. Earlier commercial carriers that served PMD include America West Airlines, which operated nonstop routes to Las Vegas (LAS) and Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) in the early 1990s, as well as Golden West Airlines and Cable Commuter Airlines, which connected Palmdale to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops.

What truly distinguishes Palmdale Regional Airport from virtually any other general aviation facility in the United States is its proximity to and integration with USAF Plant 42. The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works — the legendary advanced development division — operated out of this complex for decades, producing classified aircraft including the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, the SR-71 Blackbird (still the fastest air-breathing aircraft ever built, with a top speed exceeding Mach 3.2), and the F-117 Nighthawk, the world's first operational stealth aircraft. Northrop Grumman and Boeing have also maintained major facilities here, and Rockwell International assembled and tested all Space Shuttle orbiters at the adjacent site. This aerospace heritage makes the skies over Palmdale unlike those above almost any other American city.

Fueling services at PMD accommodate both Avgas (100LL) and Jet-A, and the airport provides hangar space, maintenance services, and ramp access for transient and based aircraft. Car rental is available on-site. The adjacent Palmdale Transportation Center offers Metrolink commuter rail service, connecting the airport area to the broader Los Angeles region. Looking ahead, the California High-Speed Rail Authority's approved 38-mile alignment from Palmdale to the Burbank Airport station — part of the broader statewide high-speed rail project — is expected to dramatically improve regional connectivity to and from the Antelope Valley, potentially positioning Palmdale Regional Airport for renewed commercial service in coming decades.

For travelers, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts, LA/Palmdale Regional Airport offers a unique window into both the practical infrastructure of Southern California's high desert communities and the extraordinary industrial and military aviation history that shaped modern aerospace. Whether you are arriving by private aircraft, researching flight options, or coordinating corporate travel in the Antelope Valley, PMD remains a vital node in the region's transportation network.

LA/Palmdale Regional Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Palmdale, California.

Name LA/Palmdale Regional Airport
Address 41000 20 Street East, Palmdale CA 93550 Map
Phone (661) 266-7605
Website
Hours

Map of LA/Palmdale Regional Airport

Airports in near by County


Airports near Palmdale

Frequently Asked Questions — LA/Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD)

As of the most recent information available, Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) does not currently offer scheduled commercial passenger airline service. The last carrier to operate scheduled routes from PMD was United Express (operated by SkyWest Airlines), which ran twice-daily flights to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) until December 2008. The airport today primarily serves private aviation, corporate jets, cargo operations, and the aerospace contractors at adjacent USAF Plant 42. Travelers in the Palmdale area typically use Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), approximately 30 miles south via SR-14, or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), roughly 60 miles away.

Palmdale Regional Airport carries the IATA code PMD and the ICAO designation KPMD. The airport is located at 38250 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, California 93550, in the Antelope Valley region of Los Angeles County. It sits at an elevation of 2,543 feet above mean sea level and is approximately 3.5 miles from downtown Palmdale and 60 miles north of Los Angeles. The airport occupies a 5,832-acre site and shares airspace with the classified USAF Plant 42 military research and production complex next door.

Palmdale Regional Airport is well-equipped for general and corporate aviation. Fueling services include both Avgas (100LL) and Jet-A fuel. The airport offers hangar space for based and transient aircraft, ramp access, and aircraft maintenance services. The 9,000-square-foot terminal provides basic passenger amenities. Car rental is available on-site for arriving pilots and passengers. The airport's long runways and high-elevation environment make it suitable for a wide range of aircraft types, including high-performance jets operated by the aerospace and defense contractors based throughout the Antelope Valley.

Palmdale Regional Airport shares its grounds with USAF Plant 42, the classified aerospace manufacturing and flight test complex where Lockheed Martin's legendary Skunk Works division developed and tested some of history's most remarkable aircraft. The SR-71 Blackbird — which still holds the record as the fastest air-breathing aircraft ever flown, exceeding Mach 3.2 — was assembled and tested here, as were the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance plane and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter. Rockwell International used the adjacent facilities to assemble all Space Shuttle orbiters. Northrop Grumman continues aerospace work in the area. This history makes the skies over Palmdale uniquely significant in American aviation.

Ground transportation at and around Palmdale Regional Airport includes on-site car rental services and access to Metrolink commuter rail via the nearby Palmdale Transportation Center, which provides rail connections to Los Angeles Union Station and other regional destinations. Local bus service connects the airport area to communities throughout the Antelope Valley. Looking ahead, the California High-Speed Rail Authority has approved a 38-mile alignment from Palmdale to the Hollywood Burbank Airport station, which, when completed, will dramatically reduce travel time between Palmdale and the greater Los Angeles region and may support renewed commercial airline interest in PMD.

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