Reno Air a Step Closer to Serving John Wayne : Aviation: Supervisors OK low-cost carrier’s proposal. But Airport Commission must concur and contract terms await review.

Despite objections from some airlines, the Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday took the first step to let low-fare Reno Air begin passenger service at John Wayne Airport.

“In this case, the public interest is paramount,” board Chairman Thomas F. Riley said in an interview after the unanimous vote. Reno Air “best serves that interest by providing greater service out of John Wayne.”

A second board vote is required to review contract terms and will be taken at a hearing next week. If the proposal passes again and the Airport Commission concurs, the Nevada-based airline would begin offering as many as six flights a day between Orange County and San Jose.

It would take over the route and landing slots from American Airlines, with which it has a strategic relationship. American wants to give up the route to Reno Air because newcomer Southwest Airlines is offering the same service at a much lower price.

Reno Air would be the second low-cost carrier at John Wayne after Southwest, which started service last month.

Landing slots are difficult to acquire at John Wayne Airport because of strict noise regulations that limit the number of flights. Reno Air was denied slots when they were allocated by the supervisors earlier this year because not enough were available for the MD-80 planes that the carrier uses.

But Reno Air, by allying itself with American--the two share frequent-flier and vacation programs and ground crews at some airports, and coordinate some route schedules--has managed to leapfrog ahead of other contenders.

In the process, it has incurred criticism from carriers already serving the airport who say that they, rather than a newcomer, are entitled to American’s landing slots.

“This is an affiliation between two airlines that is unfair and discriminatory,” said Burt Pines, a lawyer representing United Airlines. “This should have been played by the rules with (airlines) waiting for capacity to open up. In one fell swoop, this is jumping over existing regulations. It isn’t fair.

“This is not a consumer issue,” Pines told the board. “There is no emergency now that warrants this action. This is simply being done to help American out.”

He was joined by a Delta Air Lines representative who also asked the board to withhold approval.

But the vote went in favor of the Reno-American proposal without comment except from Riley, in whose district the airport lies.

“These are all first-class operations, and they don’t stay that way without being aggressive,” Riley said after the meeting.

Robert M. Rowen, vice president of Reno Air, said he was not surprised by opposition from other airlines.

“We would be surprised if they did not” protest, he said.

Pines said he was disappointed by the vote and vowed to keep fighting.