American Airlines plans return to expanding Long Beach Airport.Marking a return to the Long Beach Airport after an absence of over two years, American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the Inc. plans to begin service to its Dallas/Ft. Worth hub starting Jan. 31. American's decision might spark some growth for passenger service at the airport - something that city officials have been pushing for. "The business climate has improved in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , and we saw an opportunity for potential incremental Additional or increased growth, bulk, quantity, number, or value; enlarged. Incremental cost is additional or increased cost of an item or service apart from its actual cost. business created by travelers looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. convenience," said American spokesman Tim Smith Tim Smith is a common name. Notable people with the name Tim Smith include:
The airline plans three round-trip flights a day to Dallas/Ft. Worth. Long Beach City Councilman Delano Roosevelt (grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) hopes American's announcement will prompt other major airlines to consider expanding at the airport. "The current City Council recognizes that we need to bring money into the city, and that we must transition from a small-town attitude in an effort to grow," said Roosevelt. Efforts by residents to retain a small-town atmosphere embroiled em·broil tr.v. em·broiled, em·broil·ing, em·broils 1. To involve in argument, contention, or hostile actions: "Avoid . . . the city in litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. involving the airport from the early 1980s through 1995. The city was sued both by residents complaining about noise from the airport and by airlines challenging the time and noise restrictions placed upon them. The lawsuit brought by the residents was dismissed, and the one from the airlines was settled in 1995 - at which time the city began courting the major airlines to establish a presence at the airport, said Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill. "Unfortunately, the atmosphere created by litigation did not encourage major airlines to use the airport," she said. Under terms of the settlement, the airport must offer 41 flights a day to commercial carriers. But because of a lack of interest up to now by major carriers, those 41 slots were mostly snatched up by small startups. Long Beach-based CalJet Airlines holds 20 of them. Those 20 slots are not being used because the fledgling airline is not yet operating. Another 10 slots held by other carriers are also going unused for other reasons. Currently, the airport services only 11 flights a day. American will temporarily fill three unused slots now held by other carriers, assuming it gains council approval. The issue is scheduled for a vote on Jan. 14. American may be in line to permanently win the slots if those who hold them do not begin flights within 90 days of council approval. Any slots that are not used by June 30 will be forfeited permanently, said Airport Bureau Manager Chris Kunze. Kunze said the airport's goal is to have flights going on all 41 slots. "We have been involved in efforts for the past few years to gain more flights," Kunze said. "Long Beach is a large, fertile market and the airport is stationed to be a low-cost alternative (to nearby airports like Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. International and John Wayne), with both lower parking costs and lower airport-related fees." Despite the city's efforts, it is not clear whether other major carriers will follow American's lead. America West Airlines America West Airlines was one of the United States' ten major airlines. The airline was based in Tempe, Arizona, and is now a part of US Airways Group. At the time of its integration into US Airways, the airline maintained two hubs, one at Phoenix Sky Harbor International currently has four daily flights out of Long Beach, but the other major carriers have not made any formal inroads inroads Noun, pl make inroads into to start affecting or reducing: my gambling has made great inroads into my savings inroads npl to make inroads into [+ into beginning service there. A spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines This article is about the American airline. For the former Japanese airline, see Japan Transocean Air. For the British airline, see Air Southwest. Southwest Airlines Co. Co., which often uses smaller airports, said the carrier has given no consideration to bringing service to Long Beach. City Councilman Jeff Kellogg Jeffrey William Kellogg (born August 29 1961 in Coldwater, Michigan) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League from 1991 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wears uniform number 8 and for the 2007 season was a member of crew L. , whose district lies within the area most impacted by airport noise, questions whether larger airlines can establish a viable presence at the Long Beach Airport. "I was surprised at American Airlines' decision," said Kellogg. "In the past, Long Beach has not been profitable for airlines that have flown limited amounts of flights. Other major airlines have told me that minimal flights are not a success story." Instead, Kellogg believes that Long Beach may be better as a niche airport for smaller, startup airlines, particularly CalJet. "We're looking with high expectations to CalJet," he said. "They have the best market plan, the knowledge and the backing to succeed in this market." CalJet, which plans to begin flights out of Long Beach by March, declined to comment on American's move into Long Beach. But CalJet President and founder George Chelius did make it clear that his carrier will not give up any of its slots. |
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