Forget LAX: Develop AV air service

Editorial Focus: Omission of Palmdale Airport from the master plan being developed for Los Angeles International Airport may just turn out to be one of the best things that could happen for the future of commercial aviation in the Antelope Valley.

This much seems clear:

The 17,000-plus-acre Palmdale site owned by the L.A. Department of Airports isn't likely to be developed for air service in the foreseeable future;

Antelope Valley leaders are more strongly asserting local interests in dealings with the Department of Airports, which holds a joint use agreement with the Air Force for Plant 42;

While maintaining a relationship with the Department of Airports, the Antelope Valley is moving quickly away from the dependency of a satellite community in the LAX firmament.

The interests, needs and priorities of the greater Antelope Valley, while not necessarily incompatible with those of the L.A. Department of Airports, are simply not the same at this time. The Department of Airports' own long range master planning documents make that changed and changing relationship abundantly clear.

While LAX has a longstanding history with the Antelope Valley, and retains stewardship of a jointuse agreement for Air Force Plant 42, LAX officials feel no urgent need to increase the availability of scheduled airline flights to and from Palmdale. Indeed, such an increase in service might be viewed as competitive with Los Angeles International.

Likewise, airlines already serving LAX and Hollywood-Burbank Airport probably see no economic advantage in adding affordable flights for Antelope Valley people who already drive long distances to use those airports.

The solution?

A coordinated local effort to bring together the parties interested in AV airline service. Such a coalition would have the focused motive and energy to bring about the market research and the subsequent sales effort to bring new carriers to the Los Angeles market through the portal of Palmdale Regional Airport.

Some privately-sourced preliminary figures we've seen would suggest that the Antelope Valley may already have much more to offer an aggressive air carrier than anyone previously dreamed.