Van Nuys : Airport Fiesta Honors FlyAway Bus Service

Celebrating 20 years of bus service from the San Fernando Valley to Los Angeles International Airport, Van Nuys Airport will treat FlyAway passengers to a daylong fiesta today.

Refreshments will be served in the lobby of the FlyAway terminal at 7610 Woodley Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 20 passengers will win prizes such as FlyAway passes, calculators and gold pen-and-pencil sets, said airport spokeswoman Stacy Geere. The grand prize is the winner’s choice of a two-person scenic flight or a single-person aerobatic flight, she said.

All FlyAway passengers between Aug. 16 and today are eligible for the 11 a.m. drawing.

Operated by the city of Los Angeles’ Department of Airports, the Van Nuys FlyAway service has transported more than 12 million travelers from the Valley to LAX since 1975. Geere said the buses carry about 2,010 passengers each day during about 50 round trips.

“It’s a real benefit to Valley residents,” she said.

Geere also noted that the current fares of $3.50 and $6 for one-way and round trips are only 14% higher than the prices in 1975. More importantly, she said the service has helped decrease air pollution in Los Angeles.

“I think the most significant accomplishment is the fact that we’ve removed 2,000 cars from the road each day,” she said.

During today’s celebration, Van Nuys Airport personnel will be on hand to answer questions about the facility, and a historical exhibit charting the 20 years of FlyAway service will be on display. All passengers will receive free souvenir luggage tags, Geere said.