Anonymous (Community Comment)

We have recently become aware of the proposal to replace Southern Airways with Advanced Air as the air service provider for Imperial Valley. As a business with operations in Imperial Valley, we would like to express our strong support for preserving direct air service between Imperial Valley and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). For our business, direct access to LAX is not simply a convenience, it is a critical transportation link that supports our day-to-day operations, our ability to serve customers, and our continued investment in the Imperial Valley region. Our employees and customers travel frequently between Imperial Valley and destinations across the United States, particularly the East Coast, as well as internationally. LAX serves as the primary gateway for these connections. The current direct service allows travelers to transfer efficiently to onward domestic and international flights, minimizing travel time and reducing the risk of delays. Replacing direct service to LAX with service to Hawthorne Airport would have a significant negative impact. Passengers would be required to transfer by road to LAX, introducing additional travel time, traffic uncertainty, increased transportation costs, and a substantially greater risk of missing connecting flights. These inefficiencies would make business travel more difficult, less reliable, and more expensive for companies that depend on timely access to domestic and international markets. Southern Airways' direct service to LAX has provided an essential link for our business and many others in the region. Regardless of which airline ultimately operates the route, we strongly urge that direct service to LAX be preserved. Any change that eliminates this direct connection would diminish the value of commercial air service in Imperial Valley and adversely affect businesses, residents, and visitors alike. We respectfully ask that the importance of maintaining direct access to LAX be given significant consideration in any decision regarding future air service for Imperial Valley.