Advanced Air Plans Delayed Mammoth Lakes, CA Entry

Hawthorne, Calif.-based Advanced Air has confirmed it will begin flights to Mammoth Lakes, Calif. via Mammoth Yosemite Airport in November 2021. The airline did announce plans to fly to Mammoth Lakes last season, but those plans were put on hold on account of local restrictions put in place due to the pandemic.

The newly re-announced flights to Mammoth Lakes will depart from the same cities as they planned last year; Hawthorne-Municipal Airport — which is located just four miles southeast of much larger Los Angeles International Airpot — Carlsbad-McClellan Airport — located roughly 30 miles north of downtown San Diego — and finally the Hollywood Burbank Airport.

JetCenter Los Angeles at the Hawthorne Municipal Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Flights for this winter season will operate from Nov. 24 until April 4. From Carlsbad and Burbank, flights will operate Thursdays through Mondays until mid-February, at which point flights will be increased to once daily from both airports until April 4. From Hawthorne, flights will operate on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays for the entire season.

One major difference from last year’s plans is the aircraft operating flights. Instead of a mixture of King Air 350s and Dornier Jets, all flights are currently scheduled to be operated using 30-seat Dornier 328Jets which is a huge upgrade from eight-seat propeller aircraft. Advanced Air, along with Colorado-based Denver Air Connection, is the only carrier in the U.S. to operate the Dornier 328Jet on scheduled passenger services.

Inside the cabin of Advanced Air’s Dornier 328JET. (Photos: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis)

The Dornier 328Jets the airline will be using for Mammoth Lakes are the same aircraft that the airline uses on its Taos Air-branded flights to New Mexico.

A Taos Air Dornier 328J departing Carlsbad, Calif (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

“Mammoth is the home to some of the best snow in California and a legendary recreational destination for outdoor enthusiasts,” Advanced Air Founder and President Levi Stockton said of the new service. “It is a thrill to partner with Mammoth Lakes Tourism to provide Southern California residents a safe, easy, and enjoyable way to get away for the winter.”

Another unique change from last season, Advanced Air will be the only airline operating flights into Mammoth Yosemite Airport. The other operator last season, United Express, is moving its Mammoth Lakes flights roughly 30 miles south to Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop, Calif, meaning that Advanced Air’s flights will likely end up the easiest and most convenient way to reach the town of Mammoth Lakes and the Yosemite National Park using scheduled air service.

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Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes, for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself and the first thing he did with the license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. When he has the time (and money) he likes to take spotting trips to any location worth a visit but has a special interest in Essential Air Service Airports. He got his degree in Aviation Management and Operations from WMU in June of 2022, and is currently working full time for an airline in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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