Regional carrier restores hub connectivity to Central California airport dormant since United’s 2016 exit, opening nationwide travel options.
American Eagle started service to Santa Maria on Oct. 15, doubling the California airport’s route network and restoring hub connectivity for the first time in several years.
The regional unit of American Airlines now operates twice-daily flights between Santa Maria and Phoenix Sky Harbor using SkyWest’s 76-seat CRJ900 aircraft. The 429-nautical-mile route marks Phoenix’s first service to the Central California airport.
Santa Maria had only one route before American Eagle’s arrival. Allegiant Air has served Las Vegas twice weekly for 19 years, operating Airbus A319 aircraft on the leisure route.
The Phoenix service returns wide-ranging connectivity to Santa Maria travelers after United Express ended hub operations to Los Angeles in 2015 and San Francisco in 2016. Los Angeles had seen up to six daily flights before United pulled out.
Aircraft remain overnight at Santa Maria, enabling a 5:03 a.m. departure that connects to American’s morning departure bank at Phoenix. Passengers can reach more than 50 destinations between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. from the Arizona hub.
The early morning departure represents the earliest California-Phoenix service operated by American Eagle or American mainline, according to Cirium schedule data. The next earliest departure occurs at 6 a.m.
Mid-November schedules show daily service departing Phoenix at 2:50 p.m. and arriving Santa Maria at 3:48 p.m. local time. A second daily flight operates on select days, departing Phoenix between 6:55 p.m. and 9:37 p.m. depending on day of week.
Return flights depart Santa Maria at 5:03 a.m. and 4:26 p.m. daily, with the evening service arriving Phoenix at 7:15 p.m.
SkyWest operates the flights using aircraft in its own livery rather than American Eagle branding.
Allegiant previously operated additional routes from Santa Maria, including Honolulu service using Boeing 757 aircraft in 2012-2013 and Portland service in 2021. The carrier also served Mesa, Phoenix’s secondary airport, between 2007-2008 and again from 2020-2022.
While Allegiant focuses on point-to-point leisure traffic with twice-weekly flights, American Eagle’s twice-daily service primarily targets connecting passengers needing broader network access.
The Phoenix service comes as American expands its California footprint. The carrier and its regional partners will serve 17 airports across the state in November, one more than Alaska Airlines and United, four more than Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, and eight more than Frontier Airlines.
Santa Maria represents American’s second new California destination this year. The carrier began serving Carlsbad, north of San Diego, in February with twice-daily Embraer E175 service to Phoenix operated by Envoy Air. American Eagle previously served Carlsbad in 1999 with flights to Los Angeles.
Key Takeaways
- American Eagle launched twice-daily Phoenix service to Santa Maria on Oct. 15, doubling the airport’s routes from one to two.
- The service restores hub connectivity lost when United Express exited Los Angeles and San Francisco routes in 2015-2016.
- Early morning 5:03 a.m. departure connects to 50-plus destinations at Phoenix during American’s peak morning bank.
- SkyWest operates 76-seat CRJ900 aircraft on the 429-nautical-mile route, with overnight aircraft positioning at Santa Maria.
- American now serves 17 California airports in November, leading all U.S. carriers in state coverage.
