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A new option: flights to San Diego

ExpressJet will offer two nonstop flights a day starting on May 14

BY RYAN SCHUSTER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: rschuster@bakersfield.com | Monday, Feb 5 2007 8:25 PM

Last Updated: Monday, Feb 5 2007 9:42 PM

ExpressJet Airlines will begin offering two nonstop flights a day from Bakersfield to San Diego on May 14. But speculation continues to fly about whether the airline will add local service to Sacramento.

"We studied a lot of cities. Bakersfield we felt was underserved," John Schrage, senior director of labor relations with ExpressJet Airlines, said during a news conference Monday at Meadows Field.

"We thought we could provide nonstop, comfortable service and help businessmen make more of their day when they get to San Diego. It is a growing market. We are always real excited about growing markets. We thought Bakersfield was a perfect fit."

Tickets for the airline's two daily flights to and from San Diego went on sale Monday.

A one-way flight to San Diego will range in price from $69 for an advance ticket to $129 for a walk-up ticket, with round-trip tickets ranging from $138 to $258, ExpressJet spokeswoman Kristy Nicholas said.

"We're going to be extremely competitive," Schrage said of ExpressJet's prices. "You're not going to want to drive anymore."

Monday's announcement was received warmly by local officials, but it immediately led to calls for nonstop flights between Bakersfield and Sacramento.

"This is the first step in connecting the dots in California," said Don Maben, chairman of the Kern County Board of Supervisors. "Sacramento is going to be next."

Maben said the local market can support a Sacramento route.

"Since we lost our Sacramento flight years ago, it has been missed," Maben said. "We are going to work on that. I think it will (happen)."

County airports director Jack Gotcher said airport staff "would love to see" flights to Sacramento and is working on compiling data and possibly conducting a survey to show local demand for such a route.

Schrage said he has heard there is local interest in adding flights to Sacramento.

"We're evaluating every day new places to fly for underserved markets. We would love to expand," Schrage said. "Sacramento is certainly a place we're going to look at (flying to/from Bakersfield). We're going to look into it."

But Schrage wouldn't speculate on how long it could take for Bakersfield to get another nonstop destination. He said ExpressJet's expansion will be limited by its current fleet size, but added that the fledgling airline would consider purchasing more planes.

ExpressJet will launch nonstop routes between Bakersfield and 23 other midsize U.S. cities in April and May, concentrating on routes that are now without nonstop service.

"ExpressJet is introducing nonstop service to connect cities that are underserved by major airlines," Schrage said. "ExpressJet looks for the opportunity to introduce our brand of flying to the right markets with the right aircraft where we are the right operator to provide the service."

ExpressJet, formerly owned by Continental Airlines Inc., expects to operate 44 50-passenger Embraer jets complete with leather seats, 100 free channels of XM satellite radio and snacks on all flights.

ExpressJet currently serves Bakersfield with flights to and from Houston under the name Continental Express. ExpressJet will continue to operate Bakersfield's Continental Express flights for the foreseeable future, said ExpressJet's Schrage and county airports analysis and marketing manager Teresa Hitchcock.

ExpressJet said it planned to hire nine local employees and invest about $270,000 in airport facilities and equipment.

"I am excited about the boon to our local economy," said county supervisor Mike Maggard, whose district includes Meadows Field. "It offers us an opportunity to expand our economic base throughout California. We can now go all the way to San Diego and back in a day and conduct business. That will strengthen our economy and add more jobs."

Gotcher said that adding more flights and destinations to Meadows should help lower prices and make them more competitive with airports such as Los Angeles International Airport.

"As you add more capacity, there's not quite so much competition for each seat," Gotcher said. "When Continental started (flying to Houston), every seat was filled plus five for the first two or three weeks. As we've added service, we're still in the upper 90 percent capacity most of the time."

Gotcher said Frontier Airlines has approached Meadows Field about adding a Bakersfield-to-Denver direct flight and the airport has responded with a proposal for the possible future service.

"I don't know who else might be out there," Gotcher said, adding that while the 1-year-old, $36 million William M. Thomas Terminal can handle more airlines, at some point the domestic terminal will need to grow up, not out.

"The better service would be to add bigger airplanes and more flights," Gotcher said. "More airlines gets to be more of a management problem. I would rather have four, five or six really good airlines and larger airplanes so I have really good staff to take care of people."

ExpressJet daily service to San Diego

Bakersfield to San Diego

Departs Bakersfield Arrives in San Diego

6:30 a.m. 7:28 a.m.

1:45 p.m. 2:44 p.m.

San Diego to Bakersfield

Departs San Diego Arrives in Bakersfield

Noon 1 p.m.

7:40 p.m. 8:40 p.m.

• Flight service begins May 14; flight times subject to change

• For flight information or to make reservations, call 1-888-958-9538

SOURCE: ExpressJet Airlines