Summary
Advanced Air pitched its bid to restore commercial flights from Imperial airport to LA (via Hawthorne) and Phoenix with multiple daily flights and flat pricing; the Board took no action yet.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 9
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 22, 2026.
Impact analysis
Program is federally subsidized; local fiscal impact not stated.
County residents and businesses needing reliable air connectivity to LA and Phoenix.
Carriers not selected lose the contract; travelers could face service gaps if DOT overrides the county's preference.
Mentions & discussions (9)
Board of Supervisors - Sep 22, 2026
A pilot alleged the rotating beacon was inoperable; the acting airport manager countered that daily inspections show it working and detailed over $3 million in recent grant funding and repairs after a troubled 2025 FAA inspection.
Board of Supervisors - Sep 15, 2026
A pilot told the Board the airport's rotating beacon and runway lights are not working, calling it a catastrophe in the making, and questioned how much of the $1.4 million emergency funding addresses lighting.
Board of Supervisors - Aug 18, 2026
The county has spent over $3 million fixing long-neglected airport infrastructure and landed $2.8 million for terminal improvements, with a big runway rehab grant push coming next.
Board of Supervisors - May 19, 2026
Good news for travelers: $1.1 million in federal spending moved forward for airfield security fencing, and a $2.8 million FAA grant notice arrived for ADA-compliant parking lot improvements. Five advisory committee seats and one ALUC seat were filled.
Board of Supervisors - Mar 10, 2026
The county is chasing a $30,000 First 5 grant for bilingual kids' aviation materials at the airport, and ratified a federal FAA grant application for Taxiway A — part of a broader push to keep the airport competitive as its future with the DOT remains uncertain.
Board of Supervisors - Mar 3, 2026
The Board reconsidered which airline should get the county's federal recommendation, weighing Phoenix and LAX connections, local jobs, fuel purchases, and reliability. It picked Advanced Air first and Boutique Air as backup, but the U.S. DOT makes the final call by March 17.
Board of Supervisors - Feb 3, 2026
The county is choosing between SkyWest and Contour Airlines for subsidized commercial air service at Imperial County Airport. SkyWest offers United-branded 50-seat jets to LAX with projections of 10,000+ annual enplanements; Contour offers 30-seat jets, lower fares ($49-$119), hub options in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and LA, and projects 20,000+ annual passengers. The choice affects how easily residents fly out of their hometown airport versus driving to Yuma or San Diego.
Board of Supervisors - Jan 27, 2026
Advanced Air pitched its bid to restore commercial flights from Imperial airport to LA (via Hawthorne) and Phoenix with multiple daily flights and flat pricing; the Board took no action yet.
Board of Supervisors - Jan 6, 2026
Southern Airways Express is bidding to keep flying the Imperial-to-LAX/Phoenix routes. The county is weighing bids with comments due January 28; reliability and fare competitiveness drew pointed questions.
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