JSX, the Dallas-based public charter airline, marked the official launch of passenger service at Santa Monica Airportthis week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, moving forward with operations despite an ongoing lawsuit from local residents challenging the return of commercial flights.

The launch coincides with an announced expansion of JSX’s Santa Monica service. The airline plans to increase flight frequencies to Las Vegas and introduce a new nonstop route to Scottsdale, beginning Jan. 22, 2026.

Starting in the new year, JSX will offer daily nonstop flights between Santa Monica Airport and Scottsdale Airport. Service between Santa Monica and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas will increase to twice-daily flights, with a further expansion to three daily flights scheduled for Feb. 5, 2026.

All Santa Monica routes will be operated using JSX’s ATR 42-600 turboprop aircraft, configured with 30 seats. The carrier promotes the service as a more efficient alternative to traditional commercial airports, featuring a streamlined check-in process that allows passengers to go from curb to aircraft in approximately 20 minutes.

“Expanding our Santa Monica service is a direct response to strong demand for smarter, more seamless regional travel,” said JSX CEO Alex Wilcox. “By increasing frequencies and adding new nonstop routes, we’re offering travelers a faster and more comfortable way to reach the destinations they care about most.”

JSX fares include at least two checked bags, including golf clubs and ski equipment, subject to size and weight limits. Onboard amenities include complimentary cocktails, in-seat device charging and business-class legroom. The airline also plans to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi across its ATR fleet in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory certification.

Tickets are available through jsx.com and the company’s mobile app, with one-way fares from Santa Monica starting at $215, including taxes.

The airline is operating under a three-year lease and commercial operations permit approved by the city in October. Initial plans call for at least six daily departures from Santa Monica Airport, with the possibility of expanding to nine flights per day.

Founded in 2016, JSX operates a fleet of 50 Embraer jets and two ATR 42-600 turboprops, branding itself as a “hop-on” public charter airline. The company currently serves about 29 airports across the United States and Mexico. JSX says more than 2,200 Santa Monica residents already use its services from other regional airports, accounting for more than 14,000 trips in recent years.

Wilcox has referred to Santa Monica Airport as “a natural gateway” for extending JSX’s regional travel model to local residents.

City officials approved JSX’s permit and lease following what they described as a comprehensive technical and legal review addressing safety, environmental, traffic and policy considerations. Both the Federal Aviation Administrationand the U.S. Department of Transportation have certified JSX to safely operate its 30-seat aircraft at the airport.

City Manager Oliver Chi said the approval is consistent with a 2017 federal consent decree requiring Santa Monica to keep the airport open through Dec. 31, 2028, while allowing qualified aeronautical users to operate under limited-term leases. JSX’s lease runs through Nov. 30, 2028, one month before the city would be permitted to close the airport.

The service launch, however, continues to face legal opposition. In November, Santa Monica residents and advocacy group Measure LC Defense filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s approval. The plaintiffs argue the city improperly relied on exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) rather than conducting a full environmental review.

City officials maintain that no additional CEQA review was required, concluding the permit does not constitute a new project or an expansion of airport use. They also note that federal law and the consent decree prevent the city from denying airport access to qualified aeronautical operators that meet established requirements.