MatthewLAX

I wonder if business is picking up at PMD or more subsidies are kicking in?

PALMDALE – Beginning September 3, 2008, United Airlines will double the number of flights between LA/Palmdale Regional Airport and San Francisco International Airport to improve convenience and provide new options for air travelers. San Francisco International is a worldwide hub where travelers can make easy connections to and from 35 connecting markets.


“This action is a positive step forward in our expansion efforts for Palmdale Airport to become a viable alternative to LAX for the hundreds of thousands of citizens living in the North County and throughout the region,” said Antonovich. “At a time when many airports and carriers are cutting back flights, United is increasing service, flexibility and convenience at LA/Palmdale Airport to anticipate future demand.”


In addition, the “Palmdale Flyer” bus service arrival and departure times will also be changed to accommodate the additional flights. For more information, visit www.lawa.org/pmd.

United Airlines flight schedule effective Sep. 3, 2008:

From LA/Palmdale to San Francisco

Departs: 6:00 a.m. Arrives: 7:32 a.m. (except Sunday)

Departs: 10:15 a.m. Arrives: 11:47 a.m.

Departs: 12:20 p.m. Arrives: 1:52 p.m.

Departs: 6:45 p.m. Arrives: 8:17 p.m.


From San Francisco to LA/Palmdale

Departs: 8:30 a.m. Arrives: 9:56 a.m.

Departs: 10:35 a.m. Arrives: 12:01 p.m.

Departs: 5:00 p.m. Arrives: 6:26 p.m.

Departs: 10:20 p.m. Arrives: 11:46 p.m. (except Saturday)

TA

maybe people are finding it a good option to connect to things through SFO -- since the airport is fairly reliable in terms of weather and operations?

flight stats

zoegksf

Thats odd. I was sure they would axe the flight, it's on e-fares every weekend Must be subsidies like OP said.

faerieloch

that's just nuts. BUT it WAS more than two-thirds full the last time our dd took it... so maybe business is picking up? if they can make it work, that would be way cool for a lot of us ...

Explore

This is a bizarre run, as is the PMD airport shack itself, the contingent of LAPD officers that has to drive there for every flight, and the free zero-passenger bus that connects to Van Nuys Flyaway. If I were an LA County taxpayer, I would try to recall Antonovich for wasting tax money, and diverting potential passengers from LAX. But I'm not - I live in the Bay Area.

das

FWIW, this seems like a bet that demand will increase with higher frequencies. I don't know enough about PMD to predict whether this is true, but the real question is whether the weak demand that's been reported on FT before is due to lack of desire to fly from PMD, or lack of flexible timing with the current schedule.

We'll see how this shakes out!

ryan182

I understand more flights PMD-SFO, but the return?? You'd think that once out of PMD no one in their right mind would return

ncorman

Here is a news story detailing what the offer to United was in regards to the flights.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/busines...t_in_palmdale/

mahasamatman

I think it's just to get the planes back there to allow more refugees to escape...

MatthewLAX

Living in the Bay Area, you miss much of the heavily congested traffic around LAX. While I agree that running empty busses from Van Nuys (which will probably begin commercial service by the end of the year if landing curfews are successfully implemented at BUR) to PMD is a waste to taxpayers, I applaud Antonovich for recognizing the problem of overcrowding at LAX and working to establish viable alternatives for the residents of the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys (a whole lot of people).

mlcrx2b

Maybe UA wants change its Southen California hub from LAX to PMD?

I can image the press release: United to launch CRJ service between PMD and LHR. (with 6 fuel stops). They could even make it all business class plane with what, 8 seats????

boifromtroy

I had heard they were switching to the EMB-120's in order to increase frequencies and that the flights were operating somewhere near 35% capacity.

It is all about the subsidy until October 1, when apparently the Federal Government will allow folks to fly out of PMD, then we will see what kind of demand there really is.

nerd

Yeah, SFO is right up there for reliability when the weather gets funny.

notquiteaff

If you try a mock booking for later this year, that's in fact what you're going to see.

ncorman

In the link I provided that is what the folks at Palmdale wanted, the turboprops and two more flights a day. It also stated they were surprised there wasn't more demand for these flights and hope the additional frequencies help.