Las Vegas-Santa Barbara service planned

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 11:05 a.m.

America West Airlines will begin daily service between Las Vegas and Santa Barbara, Calif., on its America West Express affiliate next month.

An America West spokeswoman said the move is a part of the airline's bid to beef up its commuter presence at its three hubs. In the West, Farmington, N.M.-based Mesa Airlines operates as America West Express and offers service between Las Vegas and Bakersfield, Calif., with seasonal service to Palm Springs, Calif.

The airline's daily flight from McCarran International Airport to Santa Barbara will leave at 9 p.m., arriving at 10:15 p.m., beginning Oct. 31. The return flight will leave Santa Barbara at 12:10 a.m., arriving in Las Vegas at 1:25 a.m., beginning Nov. 1.

Tickets will range from $180 round trip for a 21-day advance purchase to $458 round trip on an unrestricted walk-up fare.

Mesa will use 50-seat Canadair twin-engine regional jets painted with America West livery on the route. America West Express operates under a codeshare alliance with Phoenix-based America West, the nation's ninth-largest carrier serving more than 90 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.