Airport news may yet lift us off the ground

Gateway Airlines is working to begin scheduled flights between Palmdale to Las Vegas and Palmdale and Burbank by next January.

Gateway Airlines Vice President Stephen Hamile told Valley Press Staff Writer Jay Levine:

"What we would like to see is a Palmdale-to-Las Vegas direct flight and commuter flights to Burbank. We are looking at Las Vegas less as a destination and more as an access point to meet the demands of passengers going to other destinations."

On Tuesday, Ruth Galanter, Los Angeles city councilwoman whose district embraces Los Angeles International Airport, urged members of the Palmdale Regional Airport Advisory Council to lobby California congressional members to confer with the FAA to determine a finite cap on the number of air passengers that can be handled at LAX. In 1994, more than 51 million passengers passed through the heavily congested L.A. Airport - far more than the 40-million- passenger cap set in the 1970s.

In other local air service news, United Express, which presently serves Palmdale Airport, has some attractive discount fares for senior citizens who prefer not to drive to Las Vegas, according to Brandon Eaton, station manager.

For example, by booking 14 days early, people over 62 can fly from Palmdale to Vegas by making a quick connection at LAX, for $66. It's possible to leave Palmdale at 10:15 a.m., arrive at LAX at 10:50 a.m., catch the United Vegas flight at 11:25 a.m. and be playing the slots at McCarran Airport by 12:30 p.m. That's just two hours and 15 minutes of travel time, compared to 4 1/2 hours by car.

A companion, round-trip fare is available for $188 for two people.

And parking is free at the Palmdale Air Terminal.

Planning is under way to renovate LAX. A waterfall is to be installed to beautify the Tom Bradley building. Wouldn't that money be much better spent on improving Palmdale Regional Air Terminal with stronger taxiways able to accommodate wide-bodied jets?