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ROMULUS, MI, January 29th 2007 -- In a brief announcement this morning, Detroit-based MetroAir Virtual Airlines announced a full switch from Los Angeles International Airport, the world�s third-busiest airport, to the lesser-known Los Angeles Ontario International Airport to the east. MetroAir began serving Los Angeles with the airline�s first Boeing 767 daily to Detroit, following the termination of nonstop flights to Burbank Airport that same month. Growth at Los Angeles Ontario is has blossomed in the past 9 years following the re-opening of the new airport in 1998. The newly-renamed Los Angeles Ontario International Airport includes two new terminals totaling 530,000 square feet of space, a new ground transportation center, an additional parking lot and roadway system, airfield improvements, landscaping and a new site storm-drain system. Eight-times larger than the previous facilities, the current layout of Los Angeles Ontario can accommodate up to ten million passengers each year without further modifications, though plans for further modifications have already begun.
�Our move from LAX to Los Angeles Ontario is not entirely unexpected� said Mark McCoy, MetroAir�s CEO. �Los Angeles International Airport is a very large facility with three active runways, and one emergency reserve. On paper, LAX is an ideal facility. Unfortunately overcrowding at Los Angeles Intl has forced higher fees and shortened our growth options. In moving to the nearby Los Angeles Ontario airport, MetroAir has secured exclusive use of two gates and on-demand access to additional non-terminal gate space."
Chief Operations Officer Tom Collins was quoted as saying �Frankly, it�s not all that complicated. Los Angeles Ontario boasts faster access, increased passenger comfort, decreased security wait times, and increased potential for future growth in the region without sacrificing our bottom line. MetroAir continues to benefit by operating in one of the fastest growing areas of the United States without sacrificing better benefits and faster aircraft turnarounds.�
Not surprisingly, many of the world�s airlines frequently use Los Angeles Ontario International as an ideal alternate airport when poor weather or congestion forces diversions from LAX. In fact, the 8L/26R runway is longer than any runway at LAX. The Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) authority has already begun plans to construct a third terminal to meet the rapidly growing demand, drawing more traffic away from the already-congested LAX airport. LAWA recently added �Los Angeles� to the airport�s name to encourage further growth away from LAX as the region continues to support rapid domestic growth.
Effective tomorrow, Janurary 30th, flights 3001 and 3002 arriving and departing Los Angeles will be rerouted to arrive and depart Los Angeles Ontario International Airport via gates 211 and 212. The airline hopes to reduce the difficulties for customers connecting between Los Angeles Ontario and LAX by providing round-the-clock commuting services for MetroAir customers via roundtrip luxury bus coach from Los Angeles Ontario to LAX.
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This announcement's discussion can be seen by clicking: HERE