UNITED MAY OFFER FLIGHTS TO BAY AREA AIRLINE NEGOTIATING PACT TO BRING PALMDALE SERVICE.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- United Airlines is proposing to offer twice-daily service from Palmdale to San Francisco using 50-seat jetliners, airport officials announced Friday.

Los Angeles World Airports officials confirmed that United Airlines was selected over Delta Airlines to enter into negotiations for a revenue-guarantee pact to bring service to L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport. LAWA's board of commissioners is expected to vote on the recommendation Monday while Palmdale's City Council will vote on the recommendation Wednesday.

Both United and Delta had proposed using 50-seat Canadair regional jet aircraft operated by their common regional affiliate, Sky West. United proposed flights into San Francisco International Airport, starting as early as June, while Delta had proposed flights into Salt Lake City.

A LAWA spokesman said he could not comment on the recommendation until after the airport commissioners hear it Monday.

A United spokesman also declined to comment until after Monday's meeting, stating only that the company had provided a competitive proposal.

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said he was thrilled with the selection.

``San Francisco is one of the top destinations on the West Coast,'' Ledford said. ``It (service to San Francisco International) gives passengers lots of options -- passengers can connect anywhere.''

Unlike previous attempts at starting passenger service, United will be using jetliners instead of turboprop aircraft. The service will make it easier for passengers to connect to other destinations than previous services had offered, Ledford said.

``This is a bold step out,'' Ledford said. ``The real question is will we support this as an Antelope Valley.''

The two proposals were reviewed by a committee made up of Palmdale and LAWA representatives. The bids were then rated based upon the proposed service, hub location, available connecting flights, competitiveness, and overall financial feasibility, among other items, according to Danny Roberts, Palmdale's redevelopment agency executive director.

Both proposals generally met the conditions of LAWA's request for proposals, Roberts said in a report to the City Council.

``However, United Airlines was selected for recommendation, in part because they were the only airline willing to commit to the 18-month operating agreement,'' Roberts wrote.

The selection of United was also hailed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose district includes Palmdale.

``This decision is a vital step forward in the realization of a regional air transit system for Southern California,'' Antonovich said. ``United Airlines brings a strong national presence to L.A./Palmdale Airport. Unlike the small-scale providers in the past, United is a world-class airline and a national leader in travel services.''

To attract an airline, a coalition of airport supporters has put together an incentive package valued at $4.6 million, with $2 million slated to underwrite losses incurred from providing the service. That incentive package includes a $900,000 grant from the federal government that went to the city of Palmdale.

The incentives being offered were packaged by a coalition called ``Wheels Up Palmdale'' that includes the cities of Palmdale and Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, the Antelope Valley Board of Trade, the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance, the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp. and the Air Force.

In addition to the money to underwrite losses, the incentives include such items as terminal-rental waivers and marketing efforts.

In a marketing move, LAWA changed the name of the airport from Palmdale Regional to L.A./Palmdale Regional. The move is intended to make the airport more marketable to inbound business and leisure travelers as a destination in the greater Los Angeles area.

The L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport comprises a terminal building and parking lot located on Air Force Plant 42. Under an agreement with the Air Force, Plant 42 can be used by civilian airliners for as many as 50 flights a day, and there are provisions to expand to 400 flights a day.

The airport has had a number of false starts over the past several years as airlines would come in, but leave after just a few months because of high operating losses.

The most recent airline to operate out of Palmdale, Nevada-based Scenic, pulled out after just a year of operations, citing low passenger loads and operating losses. Scenic, although in the sightseeing flight business for decades, had little experience operating passenger service and while its service to the North Las Vegas Airport was fine those staying in Las Vegas, it was problematic for passengers wanting to travel on to other destinations.

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com

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