Airlines Clear Way for Southwest, Cut John Wayne Service : Transportation: American’s elimination of flights to Sacramento and other cities prompts complaints--but not from the travel industry.

NEWPORT BEACH — American Airlines and American Eagle, already feeling the pressure of competing with low-cost Southwest Airlines for Orange County travel dollars, will cut service from John Wayne Airport, dropping 14 flights to such destinations as San Francisco, Sacramento, Tucson and Las Vegas over the next two months.

American Airlines cited profitability as the reason for pulling out of its two daily Sacramento flights on June 16. American Eagle will cancel all five of its San Francisco flights by May 30 and eliminate three flights to Tucson and four flights to Las Vegas by the end of June.

Southwest Airlines, which also operates discount carrier Morris Air Service at John Wayne, will begin offering one-way fares as low as $49 to Oakland and San Jose from Orange County on May 26.

American said although it has slashed fares as low as $49 on its San Jose route to compete with Southwest’s planned fares, it may eventually cancel those flights as well.

“When Southwest enters a marketplace like Orange County and decides to compete, it does cause a decision for us,” said Al Becker, spokesman for American Airlines in Dallas.

“For us, Orange County-Sacramento was a marginal market. We believe the aircraft and crews could be used better elsewhere. We’re going to have to make a decision about San Jose, because we just can’t make money at their fares.”

Southwest will be offering seven round-trips daily to Oakland and San Jose, in addition to the two daily round trips to Salt Lake City it operates through Morris Air. Service to Sacramento is not planned.

“At this point there are no plans to fly to Sacramento, but we do believe there is more room for growth and expansion in California,” said Ed Stewart, spokesman for Dallas-based Southwest.

The American cuts will leave America West as the only airline serving Sacramento from John Wayne Airport.

This is not the first time American said it would end Sacramento flights from John Wayne. In July, 1989, the company said it would cancel them because they were its least profitable. However, within weeks American decided to reinstate the nonstop flights between the county and the state capital after criticism from legislators, including state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach).

The latest American cutbacks may prompt more travelers to use Ontario Airport in San Bernardino County or discourage people from flying to the state capital, because the cheapest fares at John Wayne require reservations a week in advance and a Saturday-night stay.

“Business people or others who might consider going up to Sacramento to testify on a piece of legislation won’t because the costs are becoming too prohibitive. And now it will be tougher with only one carrier,” said Pete Calagna, a transportation issues expert for Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach), who often travels from John Wayne to Sacramento.

“It discourages Orange County residents from participating in the political process,” he said.

At John Wayne, several passengers flying to Sacramento Wednesday said they were disappointed to hear that American was abandoning the route.

Chuck Balassa, a commercial credit executive from Phoenix who often travels from Orange County to Sacramento, said he had just driven about 45 miles to John Wayne from Ontario after he was unable to get on an overcrowded Southwest flight to Sacramento.

“Now, I have to pay $38 more, but I get into Sacramento two hours earlier. Time is money in my business,” he said. “But I’m sorry to hear there will only be one carrier here. That means prices will go up.”

Bruce Purcilly, an administrative assistant with Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Fullerton), said the announcement would not affect their operations, because most of Johnson’s staff already fly out of Ontario Airport to get the cheaper Southwest Airlines fares.

Travel agents also seemed untroubled by the news.

“These cutbacks really won’t impact our business at all,” said Lee Phillips, manager of Panorama Travel Corp. in Orange. “There are still several America West daily flights to Sacramento; it’s a well-covered city. You just don’t need several flights going to the same place.”

Officials at John Wayne Airport said the reduction in routes is not a signal of more cuts to come, pointing to new flights announced by American, such as a nonstop flight from Orange County to Kennedy International in New York City beginning June 1. American will also start service to Palm Springs in June.