ExpressJet's (XJT) launched its new point-to-point operations with services from eight markets – Austin, Boise, Kansas City, L.A./Ontario, Omaha, San Antonio, Spokane and Tucson on April 2. Between April 9 and May 25 an additional 15 markets will be added. The Ontario, Calif. Daily Bulletin described the scene at ExpressJet’s largest operation where, in addition to the largest service expansion in the airport’s history, maintenance and crew bases are planned.
"Michael Baumgartner walked to his gate at L.A./Ontario International Airport on Monday morning expecting to simply board a flight to Omaha,” wrote the paper. “Instead, the Lake Elsinore man found himself surrounded by balloons, catered food and a small sea of smiling people in suits. His flight, it turned out, was the maiden voyage out of Ontario for ExpressJet Airlines. Kansas City businessman Jeff Orr tells the Daily Bulletin that the airline's new non-stop options will help him save time by eliminating layovers. ‘I love it. Otherwise, I'd be getting here three hours later. I can get a lot more work done."
The Ontario service will get additional service to from Albuquerque, Oklahoma City and Tulsa (April 16), Colorado Springs and Fresno (April 30), as well as El Paso and Monterey, Calif. (May 14). Tucson travelers also got new service from Ontario and Kansas City, Mo.. ExpressJet will bring additional non-stop flights between Tucson and Austin and Sacramento on April 9 and San Antonio on April 30. Omaha-Ontario was launched with San Diego service scheduled for May 21. The Boise-Los Angeles service will grow to Sacramento (April 9), and San Diego (June 4). Austin-Ontario launched with plans to added Oklahoma City and Kansas City (April 23), Tulsa, New Orleans and Albuquerque (June 4), Tucson (April 9), Corpus Christi and Jacksonville, Fla. (April 30), New Orleans. Finally, Kansas City was connected to Ontario and Tuscon. The airline has scheduled new routes to Austin (April 23), Jacksonville (April 30), Fla., Louisville and Raleigh/Durham (May 7), and New Orleans (May 14).