There’s finally a fast alternative to the arduous drive to Southern California.
That long straight shot down I-5’s blacktop can get monotonous quick. By car, it’s a nine hour slog. On Amtrak, it takes about double that, if it is on time. Starting Friday, the travel time from Redding to Los Angeles will be down to just two hours.
Following years of meetings and studies, Skywest Airlines, flying under the United Express brand, begins non-stop daily service between Redding municipal and LAX.
The once a day flight will be via a 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200. The flight augments three daily United Express trips between Redding and San Francisco.
Flights will depart Redding daily at 6:30 a.m. returning at 10:30 p.m. Basic Redding to LAX round trip fares on United’s website start at $230.
A Redding firetruck will meet the inaugural outbound flight, Saturday morning, performing what city officials described as a “water salute.”