14 New Jet Flights Take to Air Today at Wayne Airport

New air service to Houston, Chicago and Phoenix will be available from Orange County beginning today, when three new airlines join the fleet at John Wayne Airport and total jet service expands from 41 to 55 daily flights.

The 14-flight expansion is the first step in implementing a controversial new master plan for the airport, which envisions 73 flights operating out of a large new terminal by the early 1990s.

Today’s expansion places more demands on already congested parking and terminal facilities, but airport officials say that because none of the new flights has been scheduled during the airport’s early-morning peak hours, the expanded service will be manageable.

Counter Space Shared

America West, Continental and Jet America airlines, joining seven other airlines already serving John Wayne, are contracting with incumbent carriers to share counter space. Automobile parking is likely to be the major crunch felt by passengers, said airport spokesman Stephen Kozak Jr.

Although the number of jets departing from the airport is increasing by 14, fewer of the noisiest passenger jets will be using the facility.

Because of a new incentive program for quiet jets which takes effect today, allowing airlines to obtain a larger share of flights if they fly “Class AA” quiet jets like the Boeing 737/300 or the British Aerospace BAe-146, the number of slightly noisier MD-80 flights leaving John Wayne will be reduced today from 41 to 39. Class AA jets have been allocated 16 departures.

America West will fly three daily flights to Phoenix, with connections to other airports in the Western region. Continental is offering two round trips daily to its Houston hub. And Jet America has scheduled two daily flights to Chicago.

AirCal, PSA Add Flights

Two incumbents are obtaining additional flights by phasing in the new Class AA aircraft: AirCal is offering two additional flights to San Francisco and a round trip to Seattle, and PSA has scheduled an extra flight and a half to San Jose, beginning April 7, and two Las Vegas flights, set to begin in late May.

Meanwhile, striking Continental Airlines pilots and the Air Line Pilots Assn., supported by the Orange County Central Labor Council, have scheduled a rally for 7 a.m. to demonstrate against Continental Airlines’ admission to John Wayne Airport. Union officials are protesting Continental’s bankruptcy declaration in 1983 and subsequent rejection of all union contracts.