Santa Monica, Calif., Jan 17, 2026, 05:17 PST
- JSX has begun operating ATR 42-600 turboprops on the Santa Monica to Las Vegas route and will launch flights to Scottsdale on Jan. 22
- ATR is pushing turboprops to plug the gap left by retiring 50-seat regional jets
- Santa Monica Airport is set to shut down by the close of 2028, with JSX’s operations facing legal challenges
JSX is betting on a comeback for turboprops among U.S. travelers, launching ATR 42-600 flights from Santa Monica to Las Vegas and setting a Santa Monica-Scottsdale route to start Jan. 22. “The reason we’re running the experiment is to run the experiment,” CEO Alex Wilcox told The Points Guy. (The Points Guy)
The wager comes as turboprops — those propeller planes mostly gone from U.S. scheduled flights — reemerge as a cost-effective fix for thin routes. ATR pointed to the phaseout of older 50-seat regional jets, calling it a “connectivity gap.” Wilcox described the 30-seat ATR 42-600 as “a game-changer.” (Runway Girl)
The Santa Monica launch complicates matters: the city says the airport can only operate through Dec. 31, 2028, per a federal consent decree with the FAA. City Manager Oliver Chi emphasized the city is “safeguarding the City’s ability to close the airport on Dec. 31, 2028.” (Santamonica)
JSX launched its inaugural Santa Monica to Las Vegas flight in December, marking the end of a lengthy period without scheduled passenger service at the 103-year-old airport, according to travel outlet Afar. David Drabinsky, JSX’s chief commercial officer, said, “We want to be the convenient option.” (AFAR Media)
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the airport this week officially kicked off passenger service, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. Wilcox cited “strong demand” as the reason behind the Santa Monica launch. However, residents and the advocacy group Measure LC Defense filed a lawsuit in November, challenging the city’s approval under California’s Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, the paper noted. (SMDP)
JSX offers seats on “public charter” flights, a setup governed by U.S. charter regulations instead of the usual scheduled-airline framework. According to the carrier’s booking site, these flights are run by Delux Public Charter. (Jsx)
The Santa Monica flights feature a 30-seat cabin arranged in a 2-1 layout, with single seats and side tables on the left. JSX touts the aircraft as quieter than older turboprops, and Wilcox called it “shockingly quiet.”
The Las Vegas hop is set to take roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, travel reports show, while Scottsdale should clock in near 1 hour 30 minutes. JSX’s ATRs, previously operated by Silver Airways, are still in use, and the company has announced a second plane will arrive by late January.
JSX aims to equip its ATR fleet with Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, though the rollout hinges on regulatory sign-offs and installation timelines. For now, the airline is focusing on essentials: speedy access at smaller airports, a premium cabin, and short hops where passengers might choose convenience over jet speed.
The downside is clear. If customers hesitate on turboprops, JSX can just return leased planes. Plus, any expansion at Santa Monica faces a firm closure deadline and ongoing legal battles over environmental reviews and airport effects.
Right now, JSX and ATR are treating Santa Monica as a showcase: a brief runway, short-haul flights, and a real-world experiment to see if prop planes still have a shot in the U.S. market.
