ExpressJet closing shop in SB this fall

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

After offering flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego and Sacramento for less than a year, ExpressJet Airlines announced plans to discontinue the service later this fall due to rising fuel costs.
“If we had any other choice, we would not take this difficult action,” President and CEO Jim Ream said in a news release. “However, rising fuel prices has made the operation impossible to sustain.”

All ExpressJet locations are being closed as of Sept. 1, according to the release. Those holding tickets for travel prior to Sept. 2 will not be affected and the airline will continue offering seats on flights until closing shop.
Those with tickets for flights after the closing date can call 888-958-9538 to make a refund request.
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport officials said flights to Sacramento had been particularly popular since the airline began offering nonstop service in November of last year, typically filling 80 percent of the seats.
“We are saddened to see this pull-down of service but we will work with other airlines to replace the Sacramento service,” airport spokeswoman Terri Gibson said in a prepared statement.