Press release
Alaska Airlines to Discontinue Air Service to Mammoth Yosemite Airport
New airline partners being sought to replace and expand service
Mammoth Lakes, Calif (May 19, 2018) – On Thursday, May 17th officials from Alaska Airlines informed Mammoth Lakes Tourism that they would be discontinuing air service to Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH). Current daily non-stop air service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will continue through November 30, 2018.
Airline officials cited retirement of the Q400 aircraft as well as a nationwide pilot shortage as reasons for ending the service that has been in place for Mammoth Lakes since 2009. Other Alaska Airlines markets impacted by these service cuts include Sun Valley, ID; Bellingham, WA; Pasco, WA; and Eugene, OR.
According to Air Planners CEO Kent Myers; “The pilot shortage is having a major impact on air service across the country.” Myers went on to say, “No domestic airline is escaping the pilot shortage; all the legacy and regional carriers have been impacted.”
Mammoth Lakes Tourism is in discussions with other major airlines to not only replace the discontinued Alaska Airlines service from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Diego (SAN) for winter 2018-19, but to possibly expand into new markets as well.
New winter 2018-19 service announcements will be made as soon as they are finalized.
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I have used Alaska out of Mammoth about 7 times this past year and have grown fond of flying to LA instead of driving. Bummer!
There was never a real attempt to greatly book the planes. Alaska rather took the subsidy than booked the plane.
The pilot shortage is real because professional pilots don’t want to work for small planes when they have to have the same requirements to fly the bigger Jets for more money. It is a economic issue. Had there been a surplus of pilots this probably would not be a issue. Plus I heard that the Q400 production was sold to the Chinese and there may be considerable extra cost to keep the planes re-fitted when required. .
Some daily non stop service. If the plane was fully sold out and the weather perfect and the Mammoth Mountain properties booked up with the passengers they might consider making the effort. The service and dependability were a joke .
That’s going to leave a mark.