"Southern California Logistics Airport Plans Flights"

Monday, November 4, 2002

High Desert plans flights
Airline offers runs to, from L.A. area
By VINCE LOVATO
The San Bernardino (CA) Sun


VICTORVILLE - By the middle of next month travelers will be able to
avoid two hours of traffic and get from Victorville to Burbank or Long
Beach in 25 minutes thanks to a new airline service at Southern
California Logistics Airport.

The City Council recently adopted a five-year agreement with Valley Air
Express of Santa Rosa that will qualify the airport for an additional
$600,000 to $1 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants,
Councilman Bob Hunter said.

General Manager Aaron Gilbert said that in a week his airline, which
provides service between Santa Rosa and Oakland, will be ready to start
taking reservations for the flights that begin Dec. 16.

Tickets to Long Beach and Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena airports will cost
$75 for a guaranteed, one-way fare and $37.50 for a stand-by ticket. 

Air Express uses the eight-passenger Cessna Grand Caravan that can also
carry 1,100 pounds of cargo, Gilbert said. Boeing officials said they
could use the flights for delivery of parts and other companies can use
the flights for document or package delivery.

Federal Express uses the Pratt & Whitney propeller-driven Caravan for
its guaranteed overnight parcel services, and it has a legendary
reputation for dependability and safety, Gilbert said.

The airline will start with one round-trip flight to Long Beach and one
flight from Burbank to Southern California Logistics Airport every
morning, with return trips in the afternoon.

To help with profitability, Air Express will also provide flights
between Burbank and Bakersfield.

Gilbert said it will take about six months for the airline to start
breaking even financially.

Hunter said business executives who visit the High Desert have asked
about passenger service to the Victorville airport.

"We're not looking for a large passenger airport. We are looking at a
fixed-base operation for executives who are coming out here,' Hunter
said. "CEOs can use this to get in and out of here quicker or get to
Long Beach and grab a shuttle. "The best part is every seat is an aisle
or window seat.'

Valley Air Express was known as Sun Air Express, but after the Sept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks the owners wanted to get out of passenger flight
business so Gilbert found buyers and christened the new airline on Sept.
16.

Gilbert planned on providing passenger service out of Southern
California Logistics Airport in a few years, but the debut was pushed up
when airport Manager Peter Soderquist contacted him.

Gilbert said his business model works "hand-in-hand' with the airport's.

Over the last decade small regional airlines have grown, leaving more
travelers who need short-haul or feeder flights.

"We designed our business to get to that market,' Gilbert said.

Gilbert said his flights are limited to 300 miles one way, which places
Las Vegas and Phoenix within the service area.

Gilbert is considering flights to those cities, but needs to do more
market research. 

MORE INFO

For more information about Valley Air Express call (866) 435-9829.The
company's Web address is www.valleyairexpress.com


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID8

*****************************************