Countywide : Board to Hear United’s Bid for Airport Access
The county Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote today on whether United Airlines will be allowed access to the John Wayne Airport.
If approved, United would fill an opening left by the recent merger of American Airlines and AirCal, both of which previously served the airport. The number of flights at the airport each day will remain the same, airport spokesman Alan Murphy said.
Murphy said the proposal would allow United two departures and two incoming flights per day. He added that the airline has indicated that the flights would be between Chicago and Orange County.
The agreement with the county would be effective Sept. 9. Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, whose district includes the airport, said he expects the board to approve the agreement today.
According to a federal court order, the airport is limited to 55 commercial flights per day that exceed an established noise criteria. Each flight includes a landing and departure.
AirCal had been operating about 15 of those 55 flights per day, and American had about five. When American bought AirCal, county officials ordered the airline to drop two of its regulated flights per day to make room for another carrier, Murphy said.
United Airlines was chosen because it was at the top of a waiting list, he said.
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