Getting to Los Angeles International Airport can feel like a trip before the trip even begins. Our local airport is one of the world’s busiest and biggest, and for Angelenos and visitors alike, getting there can mean battling traffic, finding parking, navigating a sprawling terminal complex, and arriving hours before takeoff.
Fortunately, travelers across the region have increasingly more options beyond the traditional airport hubs. One of them is now in Bakersfield, where a new daily flight connects the city directly to LAX.
Meet the brand new daily LAX-Bakersfield flight
United Airlines has officially launched a new daily route between Los Angeles International Airport and Bakersfield’s Meadows Field Airport, giving Kern County travelers a convenient alternative to driving to LAX.
The inaugural flight touched down at Meadows Field from LAX a few days ago before returning to Los Angeles that afternoon. The new service gives local travelers a direct way to reach LAX for trips to Los Angeles or connections to its extensive domestic and international network, without the roughly two-hour-plus drive south (depending on traffic).
The route also works in the opposite direction, giving Angelenos a new way to reach Bakersfield without committing to the lengthy road trip. The airport recommends that passengers arrive with plenty of time before departure to complete security screening and boarding.
Meadows Field, a historic SoCal airport
Meadows Field has been serving the Bakersfield area for nearly a century, with its roots dating back to 1926, when Kern County Airport No. 1 was established. Kern County acquired the airport in 1935, making it the first county-owned airport in the country. It was renamed Meadows Field in 1957.
Today, the airport has two runways, including one stretching more than 10,000 feet, and a dedicated passenger terminal serving commercial travelers. Its current nonstop network includes United flights to San Francisco and Denver, as well as American Airlines service to Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth.
