In a milestone for regional air travel, American Airlines will launch a new commercial service at the Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) on Oct. 15, offering twice-daily flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

The return of daily commercial air service to Santa Maria is the first in nearly a decade — a previous attempt with United Airlines in early 2020 was halted almost immediately by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Martin Pehl, general manager of the Santa Maria Public Airport District, said the new flights are more than just a connection to Arizona.

They open the door to a vast network of one-stop destinations around the world, he said.

“We did a lot of market research looking at where people from Santa Maria are traveling … It’s not just about getting to Phoeni

See Full Page