United chosen as prime carrier at Palmdale Airport

Valley Press on ^ | Saturday, February 3, 2007 | ALLISON GATLIN

[BenLurkin]

United Airlines has been selected to provide twice-daily service from L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport to San Francisco beginning as early as this summer. Los Angeles World Airports, the city agency that owns and operates the Palmdale airport as well as Los Angeles International, Ontario and Van Nuys airports, solicited bids for passenger service from the terminal adjacent to Air Force Plant 42.

The agency's board of airport commissioners will vote Monday on the recommendation of United Airlines, which will be eligible for more than $4 million in subsidies and marketing assistance.

As the holder of a $900,000 federal grant to initiate passenger service at the airport, the Palmdale City Council must also sign off on the recommendation at their Feb. 7 meeting.

LAWA and Palmdale also must approve the finalized contract with United, expected later this month.

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said Friday he was pleased with the selection.

"There's pretty good connections out of San Francisco," he said. "From there, you can travel anywhere in the world" without the drive through ever-increasing traffic to LAX.

The drive to attract viable commercial passenger service to Palmdale is part of a larger move to shift passenger traffic from LAX to regional airports.

"This decision is a vital step forward in the realization of a regional air transit system for Southern California," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose 5th District includes the Antelope Valley.

"United Airlines brings a strong national presence to L.A./Palmdale Airport. Unlike the small-scale providers in the past, United is a world-class airline and a national leader in travel services.