Boutique Airline JSX Lands Daily Las Vegas Service at Santa Monica Airport, Boosting Local Travel Options

SANTA MONICA – Marking a revival for the historic Santa Monica Airport (SMO), semi-private carrier JSX announced the launch of daily nonstop flights to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas starting December 19, 2025, offering Westside travelers a hassle-free alternative to LAX's congestion with just 30 seats per flight on sleek ATR 42-600 turboprops. The service, operating seven days a week during SMO's standard hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), arrives on the heels of a three-year lease and Commercial Operations Permit signed with the city on December 3, extending through November 30, 2028-just shy of the airport's mandated closure under a 2017 FAA consent decree.

JSX, known for its "hop-on" model blending private jet perks like no middle seats, complimentary snacks, and expedited security with commercial affordability (fares starting at $199 one-way), positions SMO as a gateway for weekend getaways and business jaunts. "We're not just flying planes; we're fueling Santa Monica's economy by drawing leisure tourists back to our beaches and boutiques," said JSX CEO Alex Wilcox in a statement, highlighting the carrier's role in spurring inbound visits amid post-pandemic recovery. Initial schedules feature morning departures (8:30 a.m.) and evening returns (7:45 p.m.), with potential expansions to Burbank or Phoenix as the fleet grows-JSX anticipates adding four new aircraft soon, with options for up to 25 more.

The advent follows resident pushback, including a November lawsuit by airport opponents seeking greater oversight on noise and emissions, but city officials tout the lease's environmental safeguards, like sustainable aviation fuel mandates. SMO Director Brian Mooney emphasized the economic upside: each flight could inject $500,000 annually into local hospitality via visitor spending. Early bookings surged 40% within hours of the announcement, underscoring demand for boutique travel in a market weary of mega-airline delays. As JSX taxis onto the tarmac, Santa Monica eyes this as a blueprint for balanced aviation growth before the runway's sunset in 2029.

Santa Monica is a general aviation airport six miles north of LAX. It was home to the Douglas Aircraft Company, and their DC-1 through DC-7 aircraft were built there. The airport was where the first plane to circumnavigate the world took off from and landed in 1924. During World War II it was disguised as a fake town to throw off enemies who might wish to bomb it.

The City has said it will close it after the Feds turn over control to the City in 2029. What follows next will either be a park, or high density housing, depending on whom you believe.