Stateswest Buys Golden State Airlines

Stateswest Airlines Inc. said it acquired closely held Golden State Airlines Inc. for an undisclosed amount.

Orange County-based Golden State began operations in January and had flown nine flights daily between John Wayne Airport and Los Angeles International with its lone aircraft, a twin-engine Piper Chieftain.

That aircraft was not part of the acquisition and Stateswest has discontinued Golden State’s flights between Orange County and Los Angeles.

Stateswest’s major acquisition in buying Golden West was the commuter carrier’s landing slots at John Wayne Airport, where take-off and departure rights are tightly controlled as part of an aircraft-noise reduction program.

Currently, Stateswest is operating one flight a day from John Wayne to Bullhead City, Ariz., across the Colorado River from the gambling resort of Laughlin, Nev.

Stateswest serves Burbank, Palm Springs and San Diego from Phoenix. The carrier plans to begin service Dec. 1 from Phoenix to Ontario. It has not yet decided on other services from Orange County.

The company operates three 36-passenger turboprop aircraft.

Golden State officials could not be reached for comment on the sale of the company.