Imagine ditching the hassle of crowded airports and long drives just to hop on a quick flight to your favorite getaway—sounds like a dream, right? Well, boutique airline JSX is making that dream a reality with its exciting push into turboprop travel from Santa Monica Airport. But here's where it gets a bit controversial: can luxury-loving flyers really warm up to these petite propeller planes that hark back to a bygone era? Stick around, and let's dive into the details of how JSX is shaking things up in regional aviation.
I'm Edward Russell, a long-time aviation enthusiast who spent eight years covering the airline industry for FlightGlobal, plus stints in finance hubs like New York and Hong Kong. Writing for The Points Guy keeps me in the loop on all things travel rewards and trends.
Dated December 27, 2025, this article clocks in at about 3 minutes of your time—perfect for a quick read while sipping your morning coffee.
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JSX, that innovative U.S. carrier known for its boutique vibe, is ramping up operations at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) starting in January—just a month after kicking off the airport's debut commercial flights. This quasi-private public charter operator has big plans: They'll introduce a daily nonstop route to Scottsdale Airport (SCF) near Phoenix on January 22, 2026. Then, come February 5, they'll boost their service to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas from one flight a day to three.
In a company statement, JSX CEO Alex Wilcox summed it up perfectly: 'Expanding our Santa Monica service is a direct response to strong demand for smarter, more seamless regional travel. By increasing frequencies and adding new nonstop routes, we’re giving travelers a faster, more comfortable way to connect to the destinations they love.'
What Wilcox didn't explicitly mention is that this expansion hinges on JSX's shiny new toy: the ATR 42-600 turboprop. These flights launched on December 19 with a single daily trip between SMO and LAS.
For those new to aviation jargon, turboprops are propeller-driven planes that might remind you of smaller aircraft from the past. JSX outfits them with just 30 seats, matching their Embraer ERJ regional jets, but here's the game-changer: they need only half the runway length and consume half the fuel. That efficiency lets JSX tap into twice as many airports, bringing convenience closer to home. Imagine landing at an airport practically in your neighborhood instead of battling traffic to a major hub—that's the kind of smarter travel Wilcox is talking about.
And this is the part most people miss: Turboprops aren't just fuel-sippers; they represent a revival of a once-common travel option. Back in the day, these planes were the go-to for U.S. regional routes until the 1990s, when bigger regional jets took over. Even major carriers like Alaska Airlines relied on them through their affiliate Horizon Air, but they phased out their last De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 in January 2023. So, JSX is betting big on bringing turboprops back into the fold.
Wilcox was candid in September, admitting, 'We need to prove that our customers will get on a turboprop airplane. For the reasons I already outlined—because it’s going to be so much more convenient to them, because the airports we’re going to choose for it are so much closer to where they live and where they want to go—I’m supremely confident it's going to happen but we still need to prove it before we can put real money behind it.'
The fact that JSX is already growing its ATR fleet suggests they're spotting real potential here. Even if the turboprops haven't hit it big yet, the airline is investing to make them a hit.
Looking ahead, Wilcox revealed in September that JSX aims to add more gems to its network, like Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) in Colorado and Truckee Tahoe Airport (TKF) in California. Picture skiing straight from a cozy mountain airport or soaking up desert vibes without the detour—it's all about that seamless travel experience.
But here's a controversial twist: While JSX's partner, United Airlines, lets you redeem MileagePlus points on JSX flights, the new SMO-LAS and SMO-SCF routes aren't popping up as point-booked options on United's site just yet. Flyers can still rack up Club JSX rewards (JSX's loyalty program), JetBlue TrueBlue points, or even more United MileagePlus miles on these trips. For example, if you're a JetBlue fan, every JSX flight could boost your TrueBlue balance, potentially unlocking perks like free seats or upgrades down the line.
As for costs, one-way fares in January kick off at $215 from SMO to LAS and $279 from SMO to SCF, straight from JSX's website. That's affordable for a premium, direct flight—think of it as a premium ride without the premium airport chaos.
Featured image courtesy of JSX.
One final thought before we wrap: Is JSX onto something genius by reviving turboprops for luxury travelers, or are we kidding ourselves thinking propeller planes can compete with sleek jets? Do you think the convenience factor outweighs any nostalgia or stigma? Share your takes in the comments—do you agree JSX is innovating, or is this a risky gamble? Let's chat!
Editorial disclaimer: The views here are solely mine as the author, not reflecting any banks, card issuers, airlines, or hotel chains. They haven't been vetted or endorsed by anyone else.
