Continental, Alaska Gain 1 Flight Each at John Wayne

Alaska and Continental airlines will be allocated one flight each at John Wayne Airport because a regional carrier missed a deadline to start service at the facility, airport officials said Friday.

MarkAir of Anchorage, which is operating under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, had been given tentative permission to begin two flights daily at John Wayne starting April 1. The airline had said that it would provide service to Portland, Ore., and Seattle. But it failed to file a $500,000 new-entrant deposit and a $200,000 security deposit by March 1, which was required before it could start service, airport spokeswoman Courtney Wierioch said.

Airport officials also never received MarkAir’s written assurance that it would not claim the slots as property if its assets were ever liquidated, she said. The stipulation was required because the carrier is under bankruptcy court protection, she said.

Alaska and Continental, next in line for the flights, will get the Class A slots, which are limited because they are for the noisiest jets allowed at John Wayne.

A Continental spokesman said that the airline probably will be shifting a more restricted flight to the Class A slot, rather than adding any departures. The carrier now has five flights a day to Denver and three flights to Houston.

Alaska Airlines officials could not be reached for comment.