An Airport Ready to Take Off

Officials of America West Airlines obviously were looking at the far horizon when they decided to inaugurate commercial air service between the dormant Palmdale Regional Airport and Las Vegas, one of the expanding line’s hubs. Critics argue that Palmdale--at 60 miles from downtown Los Angeles--is too far from the county’s major population centers to justify a major air terminal unless there is a mass transit link with the San Fernando Valley. And they contend that the 200,000 population of the Antelope Valley is not enough to support more than token air service.

America West could prove the naysayers wrong, and quickly. Distance is not the only factor in airport convenience. Quick, cheap parking is a big attraction that can overcome longer driving time. Ground congestion harasses travelers at other regional airports. Traffic snarls around terminals will be major problems during coming years at both Burbank and Ontario. Orange County will open a new terminal soon, but is searching for another airport site, possibly one to be developed jointly with San Diego County. Ontario flights also are limited by air pollution problems and Burbank by noise controls.

Los Angeles once envisioned Palmdale as a new intercontinental airport and bought 17,500 acres of land on the Mojave Desert. The concept of a new super airport never was realized, in part because the United States decided not to develop the supersonic transport. Los Angeles International was expanded instead. A small terminal was built at Palmdale in 1971, but never has had more than limited, intermittent service. America West takes off with four daily round trips starting Jan. 2 to Las Vegas, where passengers can connect with flights throughout the United States.

Southern California needs a major regional airport at Palmdale. America West Airlines has seized the opportunity. Other carriers are certain to follow.