Posted on 02/22/2007 11:37:58 AM PST by BenLurkin
PALMDALE - Business leaders were advised Wednesday they have about 36 months to help make or break passenger airline service in and out of Palmdale.
A federal grant of $900,000 to help United Airlines offset operational costs for two flights a day expected to start in June between Palmdale and San Francisco will last about three years, officials said.
"We have an obligation as a region now to take advantage of (United's) service," Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said Wednesday at a Palmdale Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Heavy use of United's service could lead to attracting a second airline to L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport, Ledford said. Not using it could mean the loss of service when the grant funding runs out, he said.
Though exact departure times and specific ticket prices have yet to be posted, Palmdale flights are expected to begin June 7, said Kim Ellis, assistant airport manager for Los Angeles World Airports, the city of Los Angeles agency that operates L.A. International, Ontario International, L.A./Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys airports.
"We're looking at a morning departure, a mid-morning (departure) and then an evening arrival, but we don't know if that (arrival flight) will fly back out to San Francisco or stay overnight for the (next) morning departure," Ellis said at the chamber luncheon.
"What United is trying to do is get you to the San Francisco Bay Area so you would have the day to conduct your business, and then offer a flight to get you back home that night," Ellis said.
United officials "have assured us that (ticket prices) will be reasonable and competitive with the other airports," he said.
"They don't want this to fail" because potential customers would rather drive to other airports to save money, Ellis said. "They need this to work also."
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
Why are taxpayers footing the bill for United?
Is there a need for daily service to S.F.??? I thought Palmdale is a small city?
Well, the mayor and officials there better go on business trips to San Francisco to justify having the plane service.
exactly. If they are using an inefficient business model or if there is no market, let them go out and let someone in who can. It's discrimination to oppress sucessful entrepreneurs and have the State continue to fund the heritage oligarchies..
Nancy Pelosi needs an airport to land at that isn't military, isn't big like the airports in the Bay area, but is still big enough to handle "Air Force 3".
Probably the gays in charge of San Francisco wanted the Gay Friendly Airline to enable them to fly back and forth for their Gay adventures, er business adventures.
With the hassles at airports, many people are now driving instead flying these N/S routes.
Why should taxpayers support United and whoever wants this travel.
Okay, Palmdale Airport isn't too far away from us. I haven't been to SF since HS. I need leads for a cheap, clean motel room, etc. We'd like to stay at least 2 days if we can afford it.
Case in point...my daughter and SiL are driving to Sac next week to save &400 on round trip tickets to Austin to see and hear Lucinda Williams...
Stay out of SF downtown lodging unless you just have your heart set on it. SF gouges us touristas with outrageous prices, room taxes, fees, and lousy service.
There are more reasonable, and nice, hotels/motels 20 minutes South of SF in Burlingame or San Mateo.....JMO.
I miss the old days with long gone airlines like Eureka Air with its hotshot CIA type pilots.
We may use the Sac/Arcata/Crescent City flight sometime in the future. I will drive up myself before and then meet my bride in Crescent City. Then she can fly home after a vacation.
A combo of injuries to her in the last couple of years have put a limit on her ability to ride long distances.
My younger son will become the heir of my OJ Simpson Bronco as it pounded both of us too much. Now I have a 2007 Honda Ridgeline which rides all most as nice as my wife's Lexus.
I wish that we had flights out of Sac to Medford and Bend.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.