The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners is trying a second time to get commercial air service at Palmdale Airport. The commission on Nov. 20 issued a release of a request for proposal to start air service from the 60-acre airport starting in 2007. The request invites all U.S. commercial airlines providing scheduled service to submit a proposal outlining possible service. Proposals will address aircraft type, number of daily departures, destination hub, connecting market opportunities, and marketing and promotion strategies. The deadline to submit proposals is Jan. 5. This is the second time in recent years that the airport commission has attempted to bring air service to Palmdale. Scenic Airways provided flights from the airport to North Las Vegas from late 2004 through March 2006 Airport officials provided free rent to Scenic and spent $75,000 marketing the service. This time around, a $900,000 federal grant in addition to contributions from Los Angeles World Airports, the city of Palmdale and Los Angeles County has been pooled together to fund a $2.05 million revenue guarantee agreement to mitigate the business risk an airline faces in entering a new, unproven market. Palmdale, LAWA and other partners are also providing $2.56 million in in-kind contributions, including terminal rent abatements, advertising, marketing, promotional support and staff time. The development of Palmdale will facilitate access for travelers and cargo transport and help alleviate air and vehicular traffic congestion ant Los Angeles International Airport, said airport commission Vice President Valeria Velasco in a statement. “I am confident Palmdale Regional Airport will be the gem in the northern region of Los Angeles County,” Velasco said.
