Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Palmdale Regional Airport to Reopen for Scheduled Airline Service Dec. 29
Press Release
PALMDALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE) — Delivering on their pledges to encourage a regional approach to airline service in Southern California, Mayors Jim Hahn of Los Angeles and Jim Ledford of Palmdale announced that Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) will reopen for scheduled airline service Dec. 29. Scenic Airlines will begin daily schedule service between PMD and North Las Vegas Airport (Airport Code VGT) on that date. It will mark the first time since 1997 that PMD has had scheduled air service. Since that time, it has served as a commercial airport for occasional charter operations.
“Palmdale Regional Airport plays a key role in my vision for a truly regional approach to meeting the demand for air service in Southern California in the 21st Century while helping to alleviate congestion at LAX,” said Hahn. “I am pleased that Scenic Airlines has chosen Palmdale as its newest destination and we will be able to reopen the Palmdale Airport before year-end.”
Scenic will initially operate 10 weekly roundtrip flights using 19-passenger De Havilland Twin Otter Vistaliner aircraft. A special introductory fare of $49 one-way will be offered. Regular fares will start at $79 one-way. Flights can be booked online at www.scenic.com or by calling 800-634-6801.
“It will be absolutely fantastic to have commercial flights coming in and out of the Palmdale Regional Airport again,” said Ledford. “The city certainly appreciates all of the efforts of Mayor Hahn, Los Angeles World Airports, (Los Angeles County) Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s office and Scenic Airlines to make this happen,” he added.
Mitzi Daines, Scenic’s director of business development, said, “Scenic’s one hour and ten minute flight offers a convenient way to escape the weekend traffic congestion between Nevada and California while Palmdale Airport is a great alternative to the often-crowded regional airports.”
Antonovich added: “Scenic’s service out of Palmdale Regional Airport is an important step in the development of a regional approach to meet Southern California’s air travel into the future. It will enhance the Antelope Valley economy and provide convenient air travel for North Los Angeles County residents from the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys to the San Fernando Valley.”
Scenic’s North Las Vegas terminal is approximately 25 minutes from the downtown Las Vegas Strip. The airline offers complimentary door-to-door shuttle service between its terminal and the Strip hotels and McCarran International Airport.
PMD is one of four airports owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a City of Los Angeles department. The other three airports are Los Angeles International, Ontario International and Van Nuys.
PMD is located in the Antelope Valley, in the northeast portion of the city of Palmdale on a 70-acre site on United States Air Force Plant 42. The airport features a modern 9,000-square-foot terminal located at 41000 20th St., East, capable of handling up to 300,000 passengers annually. Approximately 300 free parking spaces are located directly outside the PMD terminal.
LAWA owns approximately 17,750 acres of land adjacent to Plant 42, most of which is available for development. The airport is approximately 35 air miles north of the Los Angeles Civic Center.
Scenic Airlines, with headquarters in North Las Vegas, is one of the few airlines in the world operating as both a sightseeing tour operator and regional air carrier. Scenic Airlines provides daily scheduled air service from North Las Vegas to Grand Canyon; Ely, Nev., and Merced, Calif. Its flights are registered with the Official Airline Guide and are available through most airline reservations systems.
Although relatively new in the regional air carrier arena, Scenic has been in business for 38 years and is world-famous for its sightseeing flights to the Grand Canyon and other National Parks including Yosemite, Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley. Scenic Airlines has flown more than 10 million passengers and 600,000 flights.
