The airport is named for Gerald McClellan, an aviator and civic leader in San Diego's North County area.

[1] In the year ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 140,451 aircraft operations, an average of 385 per day: 93% general aviation, 6% air taxi, <1% scheduled commercial, and <1% military.

In 1977, Scenic Airlines was flying Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner propjets nonstop to Palm Springs with direct one stop service to both Las Vegas and Phoenix.

[21] In 1995, American Eagle and United Express were operating a combined total of twelve nonstop services a day to LAX with both airlines flying British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 commuter propjets on the route.

[22] In 1999, Mesa Airlines was operating the America West Express nonstop service to Phoenix with three flights a day with de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops.

[24] Golden West Airlines also operated service during the 1970s from the airport with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter commuter aircraft.

[25] JetsuiteX (subsequently rebranded JSX) announced charter flight services to Burbank and San Jose starting October 17, 2016.

Cal Jet was planning to operate out of the main commercial terminal, with the hope of adding other cities such as San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, and Phoenix in the near future.