Supervisors add carrier to JWA

Paul Clinton

SANTA ANA -- Orange County supervisors on Tuesday invited a new

commuter airline to fly at John Wayne Airport and approved $1.69 million

in contracts to three firms managing airport construction.

While they were at it, at their Tuesday meeting, supervisors approved

$722,565 to repair the lower floor at the Thomas F. Riley Terminal.

Mesa Airlines, a commuter carrier based in Arizona and owned by Mesa

Air Group Inc., has scheduled its first flight for today.

Mesa, operating under a partnership agreement with America West

Airlines, said it will fly six round-trip flights per week to Phoenix for

the first 45 days. Mesa can add up to 20 more flights by March 31.

Also, American Eagle Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, was

also authorized to begin flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Beginning Tuesday, American Eagle will fly 41 weekly round-trip flights

to the Bay Area and seven weekly trips to Los Angeles.

By a unanimous vote, the board also hired three firms to handle new

and ongoing projects at the airport. The board hired Butier Construction

Managers, Jeff Oviedo & Associates and JHTM & Associates.

The board handed the firms $345,100, $600,670 and $750,340,

respectively, for contracts that will begin Monday.

These three firms have managed the construction of a new airport fire

station, an acoustical insulation program and the addition of canine

kennels for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Airport workers are scheduled to begin work on the terminal flooring

in late July. It should be completed by Thanksgiving. While the projects

are ongoing, sections of the lower terminal will be cordoned off.