A route change for commercial flights is coming to Imperial County airport as the federal government recently decided that Seaport Airlines will now serve the county’s subsidized airport.
And though the decision to give the contract to Seaport was made late last week, the county was informed about the change during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
“We will start with five flights a day to San Diego (International Airport) … we can see if we can work Burbank in,” Seaport vice president Timothy Sieber said to the board.
Moreover, during the weekends there will be two flights leaving on Saturdays and three on Sundays.
The planes, which lack restrooms or beverage services, will arrive at the commuter terminal in San Diego.
Seaport had originally offered 17 weekly roundtrips to San Diego and 12 weekly round trips to Burbank airport —north of Los Angeles — in a nine-seat airplane.
However, the federal government made the decision to not include Burbank, Sieber said.
Seaport flights to San Diego will be available for sale next Wednesday and for a month every seat and every flight will cost $39, Sieber said.
After a month, the average price of a ticket will be $55 with a cap of $109. Seaport, however, will start flying out of the county on March 1.
The coming of Seaport to the Valley means that SkyWest Airlines leaves after serving Imperial County for various decades.
“It’s sad to see SkyWest go after 30-some-odd years,” Imperial Airport manager Sandy Gutierrez said, but adding she’s looking forward to the change as it brings up the number of flights leaving the county from two to five.
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
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