LAX FLYAWAY® BUS SERVICE AT IRVINE STATION TO CEASE OPERATION

(Los Angeles, California – August 20, 2012)  FlyAway ® nonstop bus service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Irvine Transportation Center (Irvine Station) in Orange County will cease operation, it was announced today by airport officials.  The exact date and time of the cessation of service are not known at this time, but are expected to occur by September 14. 

Airport officials said today’s announcement results from a recent decision by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court that allows CUSA CC, LLC dba Coach America Los Angeles (Coach America), the operator of the FlyAway ® service at Irvine Station, to reject its contract with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).   Service at the Van Nuys, Union Station and Westwood FlyAway® sites are NOT affected. 

The announcement was made at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Airports Commissioners, where an update of the status of the entire LAX FlyAway ® bus network was provided by LAWA staff.

More than 1.4 million people rode the LAX FlyAway® buses at its four service locations during Fiscal Year 2011-2012.

This was the third straight year of losses since the Irvine service began in November 2009.  An average of 48 riders daily  used the FlyAway ® service between Irvine and LAX during Fiscal Year 2011-2012, which ended June 30.  The Irvine route experienced a fiscal year operating loss of $382,337, or $21.89 per passenger. 

    Coach America’s contract to operate the Irvine Flyway which commenced service in November 2009 was scheduled to expire in November 2012. 

Coach America, considered the largest tour and charter bus operator in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last January.  In June, LAWA staff met with representatives of the City of Irvine and the Orange County Transportation Authority to discuss options due to the operator’s bankruptcy and associated uncertainty for continuing the seemingly unsustainable service.   

As a result of the talks in July, LAWA issued a Request for Expressions of Interest from private transportation providers to operate nonstop shuttle service between the Irvine Transportation Center and LAX.  Airport officials received 20 letters of intent.

            During the upcoming months, LAWA staff expects to conduct a competitive process to explore a model that will be viable for a private operator.

             In the meantime, FlyAway ® customers are encouraged to use other public transportation services to and from LAX, including:

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