Southeast : New No-Frills Air Carrier Suspends Flights to Chicago

Sterling One, a new air carrier that in December launched no-frills flights between Long Beach and Chicago for as low as $99 one way, suspended service Tuesday.

Flying under the slogan “no peanuts, no plastic,” Sterling hoped to attract traffic-weary business travelers with Long Beach Airport’s freeway access and smaller crowds than competing Los Angeles and John Wayne airports.

The airline, which had one flight daily arriving from and departing for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, is an indirect air carrier that contracted with a Georgia-based charter airline, AvAtlantic, to fly a 160-passenger Boeing 727-200.

Sterling President Lita-Nadine Quetnick said “severe, debilitating problems too numerous to mention” caused the suspension of service.

AvAtlantic could not be reached for comment, but Quetnick said as soon as difficulties are resolved, Sterling One will take to the sky again.

“We’re here in Long Beach for the long-term, we are not abandoning the market,” Quetnick said, noting that the company has spent “hundreds of thousands of marketing dollars” to attract passengers.

Passengers holding Sterling One tickets can call 1-800-SKY-SAVER for information.