To use a flight metaphor, California Pacific Airlines is taxiing toward the runway, waiting to be cleared for takeoff. If things go its way, after approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regulatory agencies, the airline will be conducting regular flights to western cities from McClellan-Palomar Airport. Soon after its launch, California Pacific Airlines, the brainchild of 89-year-old entrepreneur Ted Vallas, plans to expand its offering to business and leisure travelers by adding weekend routes to Cabo San Lucas.
The airline would fulfill a dream that Vallas, the company's chairman and CEO, has had for 30 years. Though he's made his name in business as an owner of golf resorts, aviation runs deep in Vallas' veins. He was a World War II Navy flight crewmember aboard aircraft carriers flying SBD Dauntless dive bombers and TBF torpedo aircraft. Over the years he's held both fixed wing and helicopter private and commercial pilot's licenses. The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce honored Vallas with its "Lifetime Business Achievement" award in 2010.
In 1980, Vallas received air carrier permits and approvals from the FAA to operate an airline from Carlsbad to a number of cities in California, Arizona and Mexico. When those plans fell through, he moved the airline to Lindbergh Field. Vallas Air Resorts operated out of San Diego's Lindbergh Field for 17 years.
A Q & A with Ted Vallas, Chairman and CEO of California Pacific Airlines
Could you describe your company in one paragraph?
California Pacific Airlines will be a full-service carrier serving a number of cities throughout the western United States and later into Mexico and Canada. The current plan is to serve multiple daily non-stop flights to San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Phoenix using 70-passenger Embraer 170 twin jet aircraft.
What are the duties of your position?
As chairman of the board and chief executive officer it is my responsibility to see this project is properly planned, funded, and put into operation.
What drew you to CPAir?
Since 1980, when I started Air Resorts airline, which I operated out of Lindbergh Field until 1997, I've envisioned a "hometown" airline for Carlsbad and the entire San Diego North County region.
What's your vision for the company?
To build a strong business which will provide much-needed jobs for our region. We anticipate hiring some 100 people in our first phase, now planned to begin the end of this year. Eventually, (probably within five years) we will have more than 500 people employed. One of the best factors in our plan of operation is that all of our employees will be based here in San Diego North. All of our planes will return and overnight at Palomar Airport, hence there will be little or need in putting crews in hotels at the various destinations. Flights into Mexico and later into Canada might be an exception.
What are the challenges ahead for the company?
Our first challenge is to become certified as a domestic air carrier by the FAA and the Department of Transportation. Secondly, we need to secure the necessary funding in order to lease aircrafts. We anticipate beginning operations early next year with two or three E-170s. The third hurdle is hiring and training qualified flight crews before beginning any flight operations. We've already been working more than two years and we're beginning to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel.
What are some of the conditions that will allow the company to succeed?
Air travel isn't fun anymore. The hassle of driving through traffic to either San Diego's Lindbergh Field or Los Angeles International is a big headache, then there's the long lines for security. It can take as long as an hour to get from your car to your departure gate and that's not counting the drive-time to the airport. Palomar Airport is a convenient commute from nearly every city and neighborhood in North County. Parking is just $5 a day and getting through security checks at the new terminal takes only a few minutes. We anticipate that our travel clients will be in the air and well on the way to their destination, while if they were going south to the airport they may still be on the road.
While you're on one of our flights, you won't have to pay a baggage fee and you won't have a middle seat to climb over. We'll have two-by-two seating with plenty of leg room.
You've been through the FAA approval process before. Has anything changed in the process? Can you describe what's ahead for CPAir?
When I was operating Air Resorts, government requirements to maintain a certificate for both domestic and foreign operations were only a couple of manuals for safety and maintenance procedures. Today it's 32 very large manuals. It's taken us more than two years and a couple of million dollars to develop these manuals.
Can CPAir revolutionize the airline industry? What's at stake for the company?
We're not going to be a budget or low-cost airline. We'll have assigned seating and at a fair, market-based price. One of my jobs will be to ensure our passengers have a pleasant and enjoyable flight experience, something that's missing in most of today's airline travel. Our motto is: "We'll Put The Smile Back Into Flying!"
What is the best business advice you've ever received?
Provide a good product at a fair price, delivered with friendly service.
The airline would fulfill a dream that Vallas, the company's chairman and CEO, has had for 30 years. Though he's made his name in business as an owner of golf resorts, aviation runs deep in Vallas' veins. He was a World War II Navy flight crewmember aboard aircraft carriers flying SBD Dauntless dive bombers and TBF torpedo aircraft. Over the years he's held both fixed wing and helicopter private and commercial pilot's licenses. The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce honored Vallas with its "Lifetime Business Achievement" award in 2010.
In 1980, Vallas received air carrier permits and approvals from the FAA to operate an airline from Carlsbad to a number of cities in California, Arizona and Mexico. When those plans fell through, he moved the airline to Lindbergh Field. Vallas Air Resorts operated out of San Diego's Lindbergh Field for 17 years.
A Q & A with Ted Vallas, Chairman and CEO of California Pacific Airlines
Could you describe your company in one paragraph?
California Pacific Airlines will be a full-service carrier serving a number of cities throughout the western United States and later into Mexico and Canada. The current plan is to serve multiple daily non-stop flights to San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Phoenix using 70-passenger Embraer 170 twin jet aircraft.
What are the duties of your position?
As chairman of the board and chief executive officer it is my responsibility to see this project is properly planned, funded, and put into operation.
What drew you to CPAir?
Since 1980, when I started Air Resorts airline, which I operated out of Lindbergh Field until 1997, I've envisioned a "hometown" airline for Carlsbad and the entire San Diego North County region.
What's your vision for the company?
To build a strong business which will provide much-needed jobs for our region. We anticipate hiring some 100 people in our first phase, now planned to begin the end of this year. Eventually, (probably within five years) we will have more than 500 people employed. One of the best factors in our plan of operation is that all of our employees will be based here in San Diego North. All of our planes will return and overnight at Palomar Airport, hence there will be little or need in putting crews in hotels at the various destinations. Flights into Mexico and later into Canada might be an exception.
What are the challenges ahead for the company?
Our first challenge is to become certified as a domestic air carrier by the FAA and the Department of Transportation. Secondly, we need to secure the necessary funding in order to lease aircrafts. We anticipate beginning operations early next year with two or three E-170s. The third hurdle is hiring and training qualified flight crews before beginning any flight operations. We've already been working more than two years and we're beginning to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel.
What are some of the conditions that will allow the company to succeed?
Air travel isn't fun anymore. The hassle of driving through traffic to either San Diego's Lindbergh Field or Los Angeles International is a big headache, then there's the long lines for security. It can take as long as an hour to get from your car to your departure gate and that's not counting the drive-time to the airport. Palomar Airport is a convenient commute from nearly every city and neighborhood in North County. Parking is just $5 a day and getting through security checks at the new terminal takes only a few minutes. We anticipate that our travel clients will be in the air and well on the way to their destination, while if they were going south to the airport they may still be on the road.
While you're on one of our flights, you won't have to pay a baggage fee and you won't have a middle seat to climb over. We'll have two-by-two seating with plenty of leg room.
You've been through the FAA approval process before. Has anything changed in the process? Can you describe what's ahead for CPAir?
When I was operating Air Resorts, government requirements to maintain a certificate for both domestic and foreign operations were only a couple of manuals for safety and maintenance procedures. Today it's 32 very large manuals. It's taken us more than two years and a couple of million dollars to develop these manuals.
Can CPAir revolutionize the airline industry? What's at stake for the company?
We're not going to be a budget or low-cost airline. We'll have assigned seating and at a fair, market-based price. One of my jobs will be to ensure our passengers have a pleasant and enjoyable flight experience, something that's missing in most of today's airline travel. Our motto is: "We'll Put The Smile Back Into Flying!"
What is the best business advice you've ever received?
Provide a good product at a fair price, delivered with friendly service.