JSX will continue to operate its hop-on service in one of its largest markets following recent action by the Orange County (California) board of supervisors. The board voted to strike language from leases with its FBOs at John Wayne Airport (SNA) that would have prevented JSX from using their facilities for scheduled charter service.
"We are pleased by recent action by the county and look forward to establishing our permanent home at John Wayne Airport,” said JSX CEO Alex Wilcox.
According to the board's meeting minutes, it directed the director of SNA to amend and execute revised lease agreements with ACI Jet, Clay Lacy Aviation, and Jay’s Aircraft Maintenance to omit the following language: “Lessee shall not permit the operation of a Regularly Scheduled Commercial User as defined in section 2.40 of John Wayne Airport’s Phase 2 Commercial Airline Access Plan and Regulation, as may be amended from time to time.”
The board’s action follows JSX’s December 14 filing of a lawsuit seeking to continue operations at SNA. Later that month, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order permitting JSX to continue operations at the airport.
The legal flap began when the board approved new lease agreements in September between the county-owned airport and ACI Jet and Clay Lacy Aviation that prohibited JSX from leasing space at ACI for its operations, a key element to the company providing service there.
An airport spokeswoman told AIN officials couldn’t comment on the development because of pending legal action. JSX doesn't plan to drop its lawsuit at this time, a spokeswoman told AIN.