Airport near 10,000th flier mark -- Security check lasts no more than 5 minutes [Free parking, too]

Valley Press on ^ | Wednesday, November 21, 2007. | ALLISON GATLIN

[BenLurkin]

PALMDALE - The busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period will be a milestone for L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport, as airport officials expect to hit the 10,000-passenger mark this weekend.

The airport renewed commercial passenger service in June with the start of twice-daily service to San Francisco by United Airlines. From there, travelers may connect to other United Airlines domestic and international flights.

From the first flight on June 7 through Oct. 31, the terminal adjacent Air Force Plant 42 served 8,479 passengers, according to Los Angeles World Airport officials. The city agency operates L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport, as well as L.A./Ontario, Los Angeles International and Van Nuys airports.

"We're seeing a steady stream of passengers," LAWA spokesman Harold Johnson said.

...

About two dozen passengers waited to board the 11:48 flight Tuesday morning, having zipped through security. Most appeared to be families and vacation travelers.

The free parking lot was less than half full at the start of the busiest travel week of the year, with a few dozen cars parked.

While the 10,000-passenger mark will be significant for the airport, travelers should not expect the congestion and crowds associated with travel through the nation's larger airports.

"The airport's so convenient to use, it really doesn't compare with the problems you're hearing about at other airports," Johnson said.

With a maximum of 50 passengers per flight on United's CRJ200 regional jets, long waits and packed terminals are not an issue.

The wait to clear the security checkpoint is no more than five minutes, something not expected to change with holiday travel, said Richard McEachern, lead transportation security officer at the airport.