Start-up carrier New Pacific Airlines cuts Las Vegas from network

US start-up carrier New Pacific Airlines has dropped Las Vegas, one of its primary markets, from its fledgling network due to ongoing ground delays at Harry Reid International airport. The Anchorage, Alaska-based carrier on 4 January confirmed that it had “withdrawn service” between Las Vegas and Ontario International airport outside of Los Angeles. It had previously operated the route twice-weekly with its Boeing 757-200s. ”The airline was consistently getting two- to three-hour ground delays arriving and departing” from Las Vegas, CE Rob McKinney tells FlightGlobal. The carrier now offers two routes – Ontario to Nashville, Tennessee and Ontario to Reno, Nevada. Those flights started in September, after New Pacific launched commercial service with its Los Angeles-Las Vegas route in July. Frontier Airlines has also reported frequent ground delays in Las Vegas amid the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. But such delays are particularly problematic on for short-haul routes that compete with ground-based transportation, such as Los Angeles to Las Vegas. <br/>