"10,000th passenger boards plane at Palmdale"

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

10,000th passenger boards plane at Palmdale
By ALLISON GATLIN 
The Antelope Valley (CA) Valley Press


PALMDALE - L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport welcomed its 10,000th passenger
Monday, reaching the milestone less than six months after the return of
commercial passenger service.

Ann Cottrell of Quartz Hill was feted as the benchmark passenger as she
prepared to board the 11:48 a.m. flight.

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.

"It is a milestone to serve our 10,000th customer today," said Bob Gluck,
Palmdale airport manager. "Enthusiasm for the new service is high, with
passengers discovering the great convenience of using this airport."

"I would like to encourage all of our residents to follow 10,000th passenger
Ann Cottrell's lead and support our local airport," said Palmdale Mayor Jim
Ledford. "This, in turn, will have a positive economic impact on our entire
region."

The return of passenger air service was initiated with $2 million in
subsidies from the federal government and Los Angeles World Airports, the
city agency that operates the Los Angeles International, Ontario, Van Nuys
and Palmdale airports. The subsidies guarantee to cover financial losses an
airline might suffer in starting service.

An additional $2.6 million has been pledged for marketing and other help by
Los Angeles, Palmdale, Los Angeles County and other agencies.

Supporters hope regional airports such as L.A./Palmdale and L.A./Ontario
will provide a regional means of addressing Southern California's
transportation needs, alleviating pressure on the overcrowded Los Angeles
International Airport and the highways used to get there.

"I am pleased L.A./Palmdale has reached the 10,000-passenger milestone in
the first six months of the new jet service," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa. "As more travelers find the advantages of flying to and from
the Antelope Valley, L.A./Palmdale will account for an ever-increasing share
of Southern California's air service market. This is important as we move
toward a truly regional solution to meeting demand for air travel in the
21st century."

Several other airlines operated off and on from the terminal through the
decades, most recently Scenic Airlines' service to North Las Vegas Airport
from December 2004 to January 2006.

Supporters, however, believe the region's growth, coupled with Los Angeles
International Airport's being beyond its design capacity, means the time is
ripe for sustainable commercial passenger service from the facility adjacent
Air Force Plant 42.

Free parking, fewer crowds and security lines and avoiding freeway
congestion are cited as benefits offered by L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport.
For details, visit www.lawa.org/pmd.


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