What happened
Boutique air carrier JSX is expanding its network to California's Bay Area with new flights from Santa Monica Airport (SMO) to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK). The route begins on Sept. 14, 2026, with up to three daily flights operated using 30-seat ATR 42-600 turboprops. Travelers can earn points in United Airlines' MileagePlus program or JSX's own Club JSX program on this route. This follows the end of a loyalty tie-up with JetBlue Airways in February. The use of turboprops at SO is due to local airport restrictions that limit jet operations. JSX currently offers three year-round nonstop routes from SMO: Las Vegas (LAS), Oakland (OAK), and Scottsdale (SCF), plus seasonal service to Napa County Airport (APC). The ATR 42-600s feature a 2-1 seat layout with white faux-leather seats, tables, and Starlink connectivity. JSX CEO Alex Wilcox described the turboprop deployment as an experiment that has shown no traveler aversion compared to their Embraer ERJ regional jets