TWA Plans Nonstop O.C.-New York Flights

Targeting the large market for business travel, Trans World Airlines said it will launch the only nonstop service between John Wayne Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, starting Oct. 29.

The airline said it will offer one flight daily in each direction, with fare information available starting Saturday.

While this is the first direct commercial flight to New York from Orange County, there are presently two other nonstop flights to the East Coast. Continental Airlines offers flights to Newark International Airport, and USAirways flies nonstop to Baltimore Washington International Airport.

The TWA flights to New York are scheduled to leave Orange County at 7:55 a.m. Pacific time and arrive at 4:02 p.m. Eastern time. The return flight will leave New York at 6:10 p.m. and arrive in Orange County at 9:25 p.m.

John Wayne Airport handles about 7.5 million passengers per year.

In a company statement, Executive Vice President for Marketing Don Casey said the airline is aiming the flight, as well as new ones elsewhere in California, at business travelers.

TWA, which recently announced plans to expand its Southern California service, said it plans to add a fifth daily nonstop flight between Los Angeles International Airport and JFK, and a third daily flight between San Francisco International Airport and JFK. TWA also starts flying between LAX and Reagan National Airport in Washington on Sept. 10.

The airline said it will offer double frequent flier miles between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30 on all flights to and from Los Angeles, Orange County and Ontario airports.

The new flights will operate with Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft, the airline said.