Cal Jet Elite Air
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Carlsbad, California , United States |
Area served | Regional (Carlsbad to Las Vegas) |
Key people | Robert Daly (CEO), George Wozniak (President and CMO), Jim Buntz (VP Business Development), Tim Smith (VP Business Sales/Marketing) |
| Products | Air transportation services |
Cal Jet Air, also referred to as Cal Jet or Cal Jet Elite, was an airline based in the United States with its main office located in Carlsbad, California. Established in 2015, the airline designated McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad as its central hub. In August 2017, Cal Jet initiated daily nonstop flights to Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport through a collaboration with Elite Airways, branding the service as Cal Jet by Elite Airways. Despite this effort to penetrate the regional market, Cal Jet halted its operations in 2018 and currently does not operate any flights. The carrier’s business strategy emphasized providing seamless regional air travel, encapsulated by the tagline Say Goodbye to I-5.
Launch of service
On August 16, 2017, Cal Jet revealed plans to offer daily nonstop flights connecting Carlsbad, California and Las Vegas, Nevada, with services commencing on September 28, 2017. These flights were operated by Elite Airways and included two departures daily from McClellan–Palomar Airport at 9:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., returning from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport at 11:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. This initiative represented the return of commercial air service to McClellan–Palomar Airport after a hiatus of more than two years following the discontinuation of United Airlines' Los Angeles route. The aircraft used was a Bombardier CRJ700 outfitted with a seating arrangement of 7-14 Business Class seats and 56 Economy seats.
Temporary suspension
In February 2018, Cal Jet paused its Palomar to Las Vegas route for a two-week period, reportedly reallocating its aircraft to support transportation needs for NCAA Basketball teams.
Discontinuation of service
Operations on the Carlsbad-Las Vegas route continued until April 18, 2018, when Cal Jet ceased services to restructure its operational approach. The revised strategy aimed to broaden nonstop daily flights from Palomar Airport to new destinations such as Oakland, San Jose, Phoenix, and Sacramento in addition to Las Vegas. However, by December 2019, the airline’s website indicated that operations were still suspended and had gone offline by June 2019. Furthermore, social media activity ceased after April 2018, impacting passengers who relied on the convenience of McClellan Palomar Airport.
Fleet
| Aircraft | Seating Capacity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| CRJ700 | 63 |
Configured with two classes: between 7 and 14 Business Class seats at the front and 56 Economy seats behind. Business Class passengers were offered complimentary snacks and alcoholic drinks. |
Management
- Robert Daly, CEO – former chairman and chief executive officer of Sun Country Airlines, contributing seasoned leadership and industry expertise.
- George Wozniak, President and CMO – previously CEO of Hobbit Travel and Trilogy Tours, bringing extensive marketing experience within aviation.
- Jim Buntz, VP Business Development – with a 25-year career at AT&T in executive roles across sales and operations, focused on driving business expansion.
- Tim Smith, VP Business Sales/Marketing – ex-president of Global Point Travel with significant sales leadership experience in the airline industry.