May 24--The number of daily nonstop flights between Port Columbus and Los Angles continues to rise, which will mean more travel options and, possibly, lower fares for passengers.
Delta Air Lines announced it will begin daily service to and from Los Angeles starting on Aug. 20. The airline currently offers three to five flights a week, depending on the time of year.
A little more than a month ago, American Airlines said it was adding daily service between the two cities starting on Aug. 27. The airline does not currently have a direct flight from Port Columbus to Los Angeles.
"This is great news for the Columbus market," said Robert Herbst, founder of AirlineFinancials, a St. Louis firm that analyzes the airline industry. "The competition is going to keep the prices as low as they can get for that market."
Delta will use Boeing 737-800 jets on the route, said Angie Tabor, spokeswoman for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. The aircraft holds about 160 to 180 passengers, depending on the configuration.
"We're thrilled with Delta's announcement to enhance their service here," she said. "Increasing West Coast service has been a focus of our efforts for several years."
A total of 183 passengers fly between Port Columbus and Los Angeles each day, Tabor said, citing U.S. Department of Transportation statistics.
Will this be enough to sustain two daily flights?
"Certainly the airlines believe the demand is there," Tabor said.
Herbst was not so sure, expressing doubt about how the local market will respond to the additional flights."We'll have to see what the numbers are."
The Delta flight is scheduled to depart Port Columbus at 7:35 a.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 9:20 a.m., Tabor said.
"This is great timing for business travelers. It moves them away from red-eye service," she said.
The daily flight to Columbus will depart Los Angeles at 9:50 a.m. and arrive at 5:07 p.m.
Herbst thinks the additional Delta flights are a result of the proposed merger between American and US Airways, which will create the world's largest airline when it is completed.
"Going forward, they're going to be very competitive," he said. "My guess is this is one of the ways Delta is showing American they won't back down."
@stevewartenberg
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