American Airlines to Resume Flights From Long Beach

American Airlines won approval this week to resume flights out of Long Beach Municipal Airport, ending a three-year hiatus and fanning hopes for the airport’s revival.

Beginning Jan. 31, airline officials plan to offer three flights a day from Long Beach to Fort Worth, one of the airline’s busiest hubs.

The agreement approved by the City Council on Tuesday is another indication that the airport is recovering from a debilitating lawsuit that brought air traffic at Long Beach to a virtual standstill.

American pulled out of the airport in 1994, a year before settlement of the suit over noise generated at the facility. But airline spokesman Tim Smith said increased business travel from the city, spurred in part by smaller airlines operating out of the airport, convinced American to come back.

“Other carriers have kept Long Beach on the map in terms of travelers’ perception,” Smith said.

Kristy Ardizzone, chairwoman of the city’s Airport Area Business Council, said American’s return highlights the attraction of the airport and the city.

“Long Beach is going to reach its goal of creating a new gateway and increase tourism,” Ardizzone said.

Meanwhile, at least two airport expansion proposals are receiving attention from City Hall. A Georgia-based aerospace company is discussing moving into larger facilities to increase its production at the airport. An aerodynamics-related manufacturing firm also has expressed interest. Nearly $50 million was invested recently in the expansion of a flight training facility at the airport.

Although it hosts only 11 daily flights now, the airport is hoping to achieve a maximum of 41 flights a day. Progress toward that goal has been stymied over the last year with the closure of one start-up airline based in Long Beach and suspension of service at another company.