Reno Air Plans to Start Service at John Wayne on Thursday : Transportation: All but sure of O.C. berth, carrier says it will offer six flights to San Jose and match Southwest’s low fares.

Reno Air, all but assured of becoming the second low-fare airline at John Wayne Airport, said Thursday it plans to start service in Orange County Thursday with six daily nonstop flights to San Jose and will match rival Southwest Airlines’ $69 one-way fare.

The airline also said Thursday that it plans to replace one of those flights starting July 15 with a single daily trip to Reno. The Nevada-based airline is being limited by airport noise restrictions to six flights a day.

Reno Air went ahead with the announcement even though its arrangement is still subject to contract approval by the Orange County Board of Supervisors at a meeting next Tuesday. The board gave its unanimous approval to the concept earlier this week over the objections of several other carriers.

Reno plans to take over daily flights from American, which is dropping its San Jose route because its costs of service are too high to be competitive with those of low-fare Southwest, which began serving John Wayne Airport last month. But American hopes to keep customer loyalty by handing the flights off to Reno Air, with which it has a strategic relationship and the same frequent-flier plan.

Reno Air and American plan to share check-in counter space and aircraft gates at John Wayne.

Reno Air also plans to match Southwest’s $49 one-way advance purchase fare and $138 round-trip, two-for-one tickets. Reno Air, however, which tries to distance itself from Southwest by offering assigned seating, snacks and other amenities, will also offer a first-class section, for which it plans to charge $89 for one-way passage.

Linda Burke, a Southwest Airlines spokeswoman in Dallas, said the carrier will welcome Reno Air. “Vigorous competition is good for the consumer,” she said. “We have competed vigorously with Reno Air in other markets and will do so in Orange County.”

The entry of airlines like Reno Air and Southwest could be a boon for air travelers who have had to pay some of the highest ticket prices in Southern California at flight-restricted John Wayne.

Airport officials say they are willing to give Reno Air a try through September while they review the process by which additional airlines are allowed to offer service at the airport.

“We are not looking at Reno Air as an independent entity,” said Courtney Wiercioch, airport spokeswoman. “This is a limited-term arrangement.”

Reno Air Flight Plans

Reno Air has preliminary approval from the Orange County Board of Supervisors to begin six daily nonstop flights between John Wayne Airport and San Jose, effective Thursday. One-way advance purchase fares are $49 for regular assigned seating and $89 for first class. Round-trip, two-for-one tickets are $138.

O.C. TO SAN JOSE

Flight Departs Arrives 489 7 a.m. 8:10 a.m. 589 8:50 10 689* 10:35 11:45 789 2:25 p.m. 3:35 p.m. 889 5 6:10 989 6:45 8

SAN JOSE TO O.C.

Flight Departs Arrives 480 7 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 580 8:45 10 680* 12:30 p.m. 1:45 p.m. 780 2:45 4 880 5 6:10 980 6:45 8

*Will become a Reno flight instead of San Jose beginning July 15

Source: Reno Air; Researched by JANICE L. JONES / Los Angeles Times