Imperial County will have a new air service provider.

The U. S. Department of Transportation has officially selected Advanced Air, LLC as the Essential Air Service provider for Imperial County Airport. Advanced Air is headquartered in Hawthorne, California. The new agreement provides for 24 nonstop round trip flights per week, 12 weekly round trips to Phoenix Sky Harbor and 12 weekly runs trips to Hawthorne Municipal Airport. Hawthorne Municipal Airport is approximately a 15-minute shuttle ride to Los AngelesInternational Airport. The new air service is expected to fly 9-passenger Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft. Advanced Air has an interline agreement with Alaska airlines. Advance Air will receive a $5.35 million subsidy for the first year of the four-year agreement. The new carrier replaces Southern Airways Express effective November 1, 2026.