Reno Air’s Entry at John Wayne in Holding Pattern

The Orange County Board of Supervisors postponed until next week a decision on whether to allow a new low-fare airline into John Wayne Airport to give other airlines additional time to voice their concerns about the added competition.

The issue is being closely watched because Reno Air’s entry into the costly Orange County air market could be another welcome break for travelers. The Nevada-based carrier would become the second low-fare airline to start service following the lead of Southwest Airlines, which started flying 15 daily round trips to Oakland and San Jose last month.

Unlike other carriers, however, Reno Air proposes to begin service at John Wayne by picking up six daily flights to San Jose that would be vacated by American Airlines. American, which has allied itself with Reno Air, says it wants to drop the flights because it can’t compete with Southwest’s low-cost structure. American would be left with about 15 daily flights.

Normally, Reno Air would have to wait in line behind other carriers that want to start service at the noise-restricted airport. The process can take years because the slots are parceled out to new carriers annually. By picking up American’s slots, Reno Air could skip ahead of other airlines.

Representatives of some of the other airlines operating at John Wayne said they are concerned about this arrangement and want to meet with airport officials Thursday.

“Some of the carriers are concerned that the proposal is inconsistent with the present policy,” said airport spokeswoman Courtney C. Wiercioch.

United Airlines, for instance, sent a letter to Board of Supervisors President Thomas F. Riley, urging rejection of what it termed an “unsound proposal.”

“It is unfair to United and other airlines in Orange County who have played by the rules,” said the letter from Burt Pines, a lawyer who represents the airline. If Reno Air prevails, “the county would be denying to United an opportunity to grow at the airport” by vying for some of American’s unused landing slots.

He said that United was not notified ahead of time that the Reno-American issue would be coming before the Airport Commission last week, which approved it. The matter was, however, included on the commission’s meeting agenda, which was posted publicly.

Pines argues that any decision on Reno Air should be delayed until a full review can be made of the airport’s policy on linkage of air carriers with regard to landing slots.

Another airline representative didn’t go as far as to criticize the Reno Air proposal, but expressed concern nevertheless.

“What’s being proposed is a departure from the access plan,” said Bryan Enarson, director of airport affairs for USAir, which has two daily flights from John Wayne, “and what we’ve asked the airport to do is meet with us and discuss more in depth why they are changing the practice.”

A Reno Air spokeswoman said the airline had no comment about the delay. And an aide to Riley, whose district includes the airport, said he has not yet made up his mind on the proposal.

Airport Director Jan Mittermeier, who will host the meeting with the airlines, supports the American-Reno Air arrangement.

She said earlier that the temporary arrangement would provide an additional alternative to air carriers and would come with heavy restrictions against Reno Air expanding its operations to other routes.

Spokeswoman Wiercioch said that Mittermeier plans to stick by her position in the meeting with the airline representatives, but that she wants to make sure they fully understand the airport’s position.

“She wants to make sure all the information is out, and that all of the players understand an issue, whether or not they agree,” Wiercioch said.