Commuter Line Increases Its Flights to Palm Springs

Resort Commuter, a commuter airline based at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, this week expanded its service to Palm Springs and next week will launch a major advertising drive in quest of more passengers, officials of the airline said Tuesday.

Currently, the air carrier’s one twin-engine propeller plane carries 30 to 40 passengers weekly between Orange County and Santa Catalina Island and 20 to 30 passengers between Orange County and Palm Springs, said Robert Frost, co-owner of the airline. Starting Monday, Frost said, the airline increased its round-trip service between Orange County and Palm Springs from one to three flights daily.

If Resort Commuter can obtain the necessary government approvals, Frost said, it will start flying from Orange County to San Diego in June and to Los Angeles in August. He said the airline expects to have five small planes in operation by the end of the year.

Currently, Frost said, Resort Commuter is averaging about a 30% passenger load, which he said is 5% lower than the rate required to break even. But, he added, “our projection shows up to a 60% load factor on all routes by the end of 1985.”

Frost said that next Monday the airline will start a six-month, $100,000 promotional campaign, including radio and newspaper advertising. Also, he said, for the next two months promotional discount fares will be available. These will include one-way flights to Palm Springs for $49, six dollars less than the regular $55 fare, and one-way flights to Catalina for $29, six dollars less than the regular $35 fare.

The airline was founded in June, 1983, by Frost, former chief pilot for Air Hawaii and Princeville Airlines, and Nelson Duke, former chief pilot for AirCal. It was called Catalina Commuter until last November, when its name was changed to Resort Commuter to reflect a regional service area.