Flights between Carlsbad and Dallas-Fort Worth end Nov. 4

Flights from Carlsbad’s Cavern City Air Terminal to Dallas-Fort Worth should cease in early November as the U.S. Department of Transportation approved plans for a new carrier to provide flights to Phoenix and Albuquerque.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) signed off July 27 on an agreement approved in May by the Carlsbad City Council for Advanced Airlines from Hawthorne, California to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) from Carlsbad to Phoenix and Albuquerque, according to USDOT documents.

Advanced Airlines replaces San Francisco- based Boutique Air who opted out of a previous agreement on Feb. 9.

“Although Boutique Air, Inc. would prefer to continue providing scheduled air service at the awarded subsidy, cost increases in the areas of staff, fuel, parts, and services induced by the coronavirus pandemic now hinder Boutique Air’s ability to operate under the original budget,” read a letter from Boutique Air to USDOT.

In response the Department of Transportation required Boutique Air to continue to provide flights from Carlsbad to Albuquerque’s Sunport and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) until a new EAS carrier was found.

More: No more flights to Dallas/Fort Worth after new airline chosen for Carlsbad Cavern airport

On March 24, USDOT requested proposals from all air carriers interested in providing essential air service.

Boutique is expected to provide flights until Nov. 4 of this year, when Advanced Air takes over Nov. 5 in a contract with a 2025 end date.

May 9 the Carlsbad City Council approved an air service committee’s recommendation to award the EAS to Advanced Airlines to provide 12 weekly trips to Albuquerque and seven weekly trips to Phoenix.

Boutique has provided EAS flights since 2015 from Carlsbad to Albuquerque and DFW, according to USDOT.

The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 gave air carriers the freedom to determine which markets would be served and what prices passengers could be charged for flights, per a USDOT website.

More: Carlsbad choses new essential air service provider

The EAS was put into place to guarantee that small communities were served by certified airlines before deregulation maintained a minimal level of scheduled air service, according to USDOT.

“The United States Department of Transportation is mandated to provide eligible EAS communities with access to the National Air Transportation System.  This is generally accomplished by subsidizing two round trips a day with 30- to 50-seat aircraft, or additional frequencies with aircraft with 9-seat or fewer, usually to a large- or medium-hub airport,” read the USDOT website.

EAS provides money to the airlines to fly from communities like to Carlsbad to larger airports.

Flights to Albuquerque needed versus DFW?

Shawn Simpson, chief executive officer (CEO) of Boutique Air, questioned the City Council's essential air service provider choice.

“Despite direct testimony from myself, our customer service agents, and customers that Dallas is by far our most popular destination with nearly 100 percent of seats sold on every flight; Dallas is very much needed by the people who support the core of the economy ― the oil fields workers. If anything, Carlsbad should be increasing Dallas flights, not eliminating them,” he wrote in an email to the Current-Argus.

The Current-Argus requested comment from Advanced Airlines on the contract approval, but did not receive a response as of the publication of this article.

Data from the City of Carlsbad revealed 1,768 people flew from Carlsbad to Albuquerque from May through July of this year while 1,003 people flew from Carlsbad to DFW during the same three-month period.

Carlsbad Department of Development (CDOD) Executive Director John Waters said air service was essential for Carlsbad. He said Advanced Airlines flights to Albuquerque would continue to be good for travelers who do not wish to drive 278 miles to New Mexico’s largest city, but that it might be too early to determine the ramifications of no flights to DFW.

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“There are still options (to fly from DFW) through Roswell or to Houston from Hobbs,” he said of connecting flights to larger communities in Texas. American Airlines offers two round trip flights from Roswell to DFW, noted the Fly Roswell website. United Airlines offers two round trips from Lea County Regional Airport in Hobbs to Houston, according to the Fly Hobbs website.

Las Cruces "satisfied" with Advanced Airlines

The California-based Advanced Airlines began flights from Las Cruces International Airport in January to Albuquerque.

Andrew “Andy” Hume, airport director, said commuter air service between Las Cruces and Albuquerque did not exist for nearly 20 years.

He said Las Cruces was not eligible for EAS due to its proximity to the El Paso International Airport but that with the Rural Air Service Enhancement Act passed by the New Mexico Legislature in 2021 the City of Las Cruces put out a request for proposals (RFP) from perspective airlines to provide service awarding Advanced Airlines the contract.

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He said passenger traffic trended up since flights started more than eight months ago.

“They had fantastic customer service. They have great day-to-day customer service. Customer service is important to the City,” Hume said.

Advanced Airlines also provides flights to Silver City and Gallup and adding Carlsbad to the flight plan should benefit those seeking to flights to Albuquerque and other cities, according to Hume.

City of Carlsbad prepares for transition

Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway thanked Boutique Air for its years of service to the City of Carlsbad.

"We look forward to working with Advanced Air when the transition takes place in November. The City of Carlsbad will assist in any way possible to make sure this is a smooth transition," he said.

Cari Pickens, Cavern City Air Terminal manager, said representatives from Advanced Airlines should arrive in Carlsbad in September to start the transition.

She said Advanced Airlines would occupy the space currently occupied by Boutique Air.

"During my time as the airport manager I have had positive experiences with both Boutique Airlines and the new staff from Advanced Air. It is my hope to help facilitate a seamless transition of services for the Carlsbad community," Pickens said.

She said the EAS was vital for Carlsbad, allowing it to stay connected with other communities.

"(It) provides an additional form of transportation without having to travel to a medium or large hub airport," Pickens said.

Cavern City Air Terminal prepares for surface work

Tuesday night the City of Carlsbad accepted a grant from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) to reconstruct the terminal apron at the airport.

City of Carlsbad Administrator John Lowe said the grant was for $5 million.

“This is a great project for the Cavern City Air Terminal, it will allow us to accommodate bigger planes on the tarmac,” he said.

Assistant City of Carlsbad Administrator Ted Cordova said asphalt pavement would be removed and replaced with concrete, he wrote in a memorandum to councilors.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Air service from Carlsbad to Dallas Fort Worth ends Nov. 4