By Jorge Casuso

December 1 , 2025 -- JSX, a trendsetting alternative to major airlines, will begin operating at Santa Monica Airport this month with daily service to Las Vegas, company officials announced last week.

Starting December 19, the public charter air carrier will operate seven days a week during normal airport operating hours starting with one flight per day, officials said.

JSX -- which is reintroducing large turboprops to the U.S. market -- will use its ATR 42-600 reconfigured to offer a total of 30 seats, the maximum allowed under FAA's charter rules.

The service, JSX officials said, offers local travelers "a convenient, reliable alternative to congested area airports while spurring a resurgence in inbound tourism, driving vital economic growth for the Santa Monica community."

Passengers can check in 20 minutes before departure "eliminating the crowds, long lines, and unpredictable delays that have come to define traditional air travel," officials said.

Tickets, which start at $149 one-way with tax, include at least two checked bags, including golf bags and ski equipment that meet size and weight restrictions.

On-board service includes complimentary cocktails, in-seat personal device charging and "business-class legroom," with free Starlink Wi-Fi expected to roll out during the first quarter of 2026 pending certification.

“Santa Monica has always been a place where innovation takes flight," said JSX CEO Alex Wilcox, "from the iconic DC-3, the original 30-seat airliner designed and built at Santa Monica Airport, to the community’s modern spirit of progress.

“With demand for efficient regional travel at an all-time high, our operations at Santa Monica Airport will deliver joyful, attainable air travel while supporting local families and businesses," Wilcox said.

In the coming months, JSX will take delivery of four ATR 42-600s, with options to acquire as many as 25 additional airframes, company officials said.

So far, the air carrier has offered flights on regional jets with 30 seats that largely service smaller municipal airports, although Santa Monica's shortened runway cannot accommodate such aircraft.

The ATR 42-600 turboprop aircraft features a low-noise, low-emissions design that burns roughly half the fuel as JSX's jets and can operate from runways about half as long.

The aircraft "aligns with Santa Monica Airport’s long-term sustainability commitments, ensuring responsible operations for residents and visitors alike," company officials said.

The new Santa Monica flights "underscore JSX’s continued investment in strengthening regional mobility, driving inbound tourism, and creating meaningful economic value for cities across its network."

"JSX is proud to continue that legacy by offering residents a smarter, quieter, and more convenient way to travel,” Wilcox said

"We are committed to being a responsible, respectful community partner for as long as Santa Monica chooses to keep its airport open.”

Under a January 2017 Settlement Agreement with the FAA, the City can close its municipal airport after December 31, 2028.