Palmdale Regional Airport Reopens for Scheduled Commercial Air Service; Scenic Airlines Offers Daily Nonstop Service to Las Vegas.

PALMDALE, Calif. -- Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) reopened for scheduled commercial air service today when Scenic Airlines inaugurated nonstop service between PMD and North Las Vegas Airport.

Inaugural activities included a community open house and news conference followed by Scenic's first departing flight at 11:10 a.m. This is the first time since 1998 that PMD has offered scheduled air service. Since that time, it has served as a commercial airport for occasional charter operations.

Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Cheryl Petersen, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, city of Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford and Scenic Airlines President Chad Dixon spoke at the news conference.

"Today we take a significant step in advancing Palmdale's prominence in our system of airports by opening this terminal for daily scheduled air service," Petersen said. "We are also pleased to welcome Scenic Airlines to Palmdale. I am confident that Scenic Airlines will be the first of several airlines to choose Palmdale in the coming months and years."

Scenic will initially operate 10 weekly roundtrip flights using a 19-passenger De Havilland Twin Otter Vistaliner aircraft. A special introductory fare of $49 one-way is being offered. Regular fares will start at $79 one-way. Flights can be booked online at www.scenic.com or by calling 800-634-6801.

"Scenic's service out of Palmdale Regional Airport is an important step in the development of a regional approach to meet Southern California's air travel into the future," Antonovich said. "It will enhance the Antelope Valley economy and provide convenient air travel for North Los Angeles County residents from the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys to the San Fernando Valley."

"We are excited to have commercial flights resume at Palmdale Regional Airport," Ledford said. "The city appreciates the efforts of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Scenic Airlines in making this happen."

Dixon, Scenic Airlines president, said: "Scenic is pleased to be the first airline since 1998 to offer daily service from Palmdale to Las Vegas. Palmdale Airport is a great alternative to the often-crowded regional airports."

Scenic Airlines, with headquarters in North Las Vegas, is one of the few airlines in the world operating as a both a sightseeing tour operator and regional air carrier. Scenic provides daily scheduled air service from North Las Vegas to Grand Canyon; Ely, Nev., and Merced, Calif. Its flights are registered with the Official Airline Guide and are available through most airline reservations systems.

Although relatively new in the regional air carrier arena, Scenic has been in business for 38 years and is world famous for its sightseeing flights to the Grand Canyon and other National Parks including Yosemite, Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley. Scenic Airlines has flown more than 10 million passengers and 600,000 flights.

Scenic's North Las Vegas terminal is approximately 25 minutes from the downtown Las Vegas Strip. The airline offers complimentary door-to-door shuttle service between its terminal and the Strip hotels and McCarran International Airport.

PMD is located in the Antelope Valley, in the northeast portion of the city of Palmdale on a 60-acre site on United States Air Force Plant 42. The airport features a modern 9,000-square-foot terminal located at 41000 20th St., East, that is capable of handling up to 300,000 passengers annually. Approximately 350 free parking spaces are located directly outside the PMD terminal.

LAWA owns approximately 17,750 acres of land adjacent to Plant 42, most of which is available for development. The airport is approximately 60 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, off State Highway 14. Highway 14 is commonly known as the Antelope Valley Freeway.

PMD is one of four airports owned and operated by LAWA, a City of Los Angeles department. The other airports are Los Angeles International, Ontario International and Van Nuys.