Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Sin City send-off

Elvis turns up for Biz Air's inaugual flight from Carlsbad to Las Vegas

Elvis sings on board Biz Air Shuttle
Elvis sings on board Biz Air Shuttle
Place

McClellan-Palomar Airport

2192 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad

Elvis impersonator George Thomas was belting out "Viva Las Vegas" and other Elvis tunes as a crowd gathered in the terminal at Carlsbad’s Palomar-McClellan airport. On July 30, city and county leaders, media, and paying passengers, were on hand for the inaugural Las Vegas service by North County’s only airline, Biz Air Shuttle.

Folks arriving for the celebration enjoyed breakfast and having their picture taken with Elvis, using a green-screen backdrop of the famous picture spot — the Welcome to Las Vegas sign found on the Vegas strip at the south end of town. Even the TSA officers had smiles on their faces, welcoming the group.

Elvis with Chris Champine & Dustin Steiner from Supervisor Horn's staff

Representing most of North County on the Board of Supervisors, Bill Horn said, “This Sin City send-off is an event fit for a king,” as he and his staff panned for photos with Elvis. Both Horn and Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall pointed out Biz Air’s promotional fares to Vegas are around $154 one-way.

Sponsored
Sponsored

John Kampfhenkle of Oceanside was the first to board the 10:30 a.m. flight. He paid $530 full fare for a roundtrip ticket — a last-minute reservation. He said the cheapest he could get out of San Diego was $480 round trip.

As a private pilot, Kampfhenkle was planning to fly himself over to Vegas but didn’t think he could fly high enough above the thunderstorms forming over the mountains. That’s why he needed a last-minute commercial flight.

“I fly a lot for business. Being able to fly out of Carlsbad is huge for me,” said Kampfhenkle. “Anything that makes my life more convenient, I’m all for.”

Once in the air, the full 30-passenger Dornier 328 jet took only 52 minutes to touch down at Vegas’s airport, even after having been directed by FAA flight control to fly north along the coast, all the way up to the Orange/L.A. county line, prior to being slotted eastward into Vegas. “They originally wanted us to fly over LAX,” said the pilot. “Its just the way the air traffic is moving today.”

Biz Air’s owner, Dan Cretsinger, took the last seat available on the maiden flight. During the trip over and back, he helped flight attendant Robin Rossi pass out snacks and drinks. “They’re always free on Biz Air,” he proudly advised. So it will be with baggage and reservation changes, no extra fee. The airline also offers free wine, beer, and harder stuff, at no cost.

As the plane began its descent over the California desert into Vegas, Elvis took requests, with an impromptu changing of the lyrics to help promote Biz Air — “Are you lonesome tonight? Catch a Biz Air flight.” He even let passengers, over the PA, complete popular lyric lines of the famous songs. The Elvis impersonator will be aboard several Vegas flights over the next few weeks.

John O’Rielly sits on the county’s Palomar Airport Advisory Board. “Biz Air flying out of Carlsbad is a big economic impact for North County,” he said during a catered lunch for arriving passengers, near the Biz Air gate inside the Vegas terminal. “This will take pressure off of San Diego [Lindbergh Field] and having to drive down I-5,” he added.

A happy author with his boarding pass, and green-screen generated Vegas sign

Biz Air’s director of operations, Ricardo Gomez, said they have yet to secure a major airline as a flight partner for connecting flights. “It takes time to establish those relationships,” he said. “But we can transfer baggage to any airline.” He said the airline plans to begin service to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix later this fall.

Owner Dan Cretsinger says he wants to add more passengers on his LAX flights; he’s looking to going into Oakland and San Jose, through LAX.

Biz Air Shuttle filled a void when United/Sky West Airlines pulled out of Carlsbad in April. Biz Air started two-daily flights to LAX on June 18. For now, Las Vegas will be served with flights on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego Reader 2024 Music & Arts Issue

Favorite fakers: Baby Bushka, Fleetwood Max, Electric Waste Band, Oceans, Geezer – plus upcoming tribute schedule
Elvis sings on board Biz Air Shuttle
Elvis sings on board Biz Air Shuttle
Place

McClellan-Palomar Airport

2192 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad

Elvis impersonator George Thomas was belting out "Viva Las Vegas" and other Elvis tunes as a crowd gathered in the terminal at Carlsbad’s Palomar-McClellan airport. On July 30, city and county leaders, media, and paying passengers, were on hand for the inaugural Las Vegas service by North County’s only airline, Biz Air Shuttle.

Folks arriving for the celebration enjoyed breakfast and having their picture taken with Elvis, using a green-screen backdrop of the famous picture spot — the Welcome to Las Vegas sign found on the Vegas strip at the south end of town. Even the TSA officers had smiles on their faces, welcoming the group.

Elvis with Chris Champine & Dustin Steiner from Supervisor Horn's staff

Representing most of North County on the Board of Supervisors, Bill Horn said, “This Sin City send-off is an event fit for a king,” as he and his staff panned for photos with Elvis. Both Horn and Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall pointed out Biz Air’s promotional fares to Vegas are around $154 one-way.

Sponsored
Sponsored

John Kampfhenkle of Oceanside was the first to board the 10:30 a.m. flight. He paid $530 full fare for a roundtrip ticket — a last-minute reservation. He said the cheapest he could get out of San Diego was $480 round trip.

As a private pilot, Kampfhenkle was planning to fly himself over to Vegas but didn’t think he could fly high enough above the thunderstorms forming over the mountains. That’s why he needed a last-minute commercial flight.

“I fly a lot for business. Being able to fly out of Carlsbad is huge for me,” said Kampfhenkle. “Anything that makes my life more convenient, I’m all for.”

Once in the air, the full 30-passenger Dornier 328 jet took only 52 minutes to touch down at Vegas’s airport, even after having been directed by FAA flight control to fly north along the coast, all the way up to the Orange/L.A. county line, prior to being slotted eastward into Vegas. “They originally wanted us to fly over LAX,” said the pilot. “Its just the way the air traffic is moving today.”

Biz Air’s owner, Dan Cretsinger, took the last seat available on the maiden flight. During the trip over and back, he helped flight attendant Robin Rossi pass out snacks and drinks. “They’re always free on Biz Air,” he proudly advised. So it will be with baggage and reservation changes, no extra fee. The airline also offers free wine, beer, and harder stuff, at no cost.

As the plane began its descent over the California desert into Vegas, Elvis took requests, with an impromptu changing of the lyrics to help promote Biz Air — “Are you lonesome tonight? Catch a Biz Air flight.” He even let passengers, over the PA, complete popular lyric lines of the famous songs. The Elvis impersonator will be aboard several Vegas flights over the next few weeks.

John O’Rielly sits on the county’s Palomar Airport Advisory Board. “Biz Air flying out of Carlsbad is a big economic impact for North County,” he said during a catered lunch for arriving passengers, near the Biz Air gate inside the Vegas terminal. “This will take pressure off of San Diego [Lindbergh Field] and having to drive down I-5,” he added.

A happy author with his boarding pass, and green-screen generated Vegas sign

Biz Air’s director of operations, Ricardo Gomez, said they have yet to secure a major airline as a flight partner for connecting flights. “It takes time to establish those relationships,” he said. “But we can transfer baggage to any airline.” He said the airline plans to begin service to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix later this fall.

Owner Dan Cretsinger says he wants to add more passengers on his LAX flights; he’s looking to going into Oakland and San Jose, through LAX.

Biz Air Shuttle filled a void when United/Sky West Airlines pulled out of Carlsbad in April. Biz Air started two-daily flights to LAX on June 18. For now, Las Vegas will be served with flights on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Centennial Salute to San Diego’s Military, East Village Block Party, Birding Basics Class

Events March 29-March 30, 2024
Next Article

2024’s Best Bitcoin & Crypto Casinos – Play BTC Casino Games Online

Best Bitcoin Casinos (2024): Top 10 Crypto Casino Sites for BIG Payouts
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.