Mexicana Airlines Suspends Bakersfield Flights

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The suspension means for the time being there are no international flights leaving Meadows Field Airport, although international trading will continue at the terminal.

Mexicana Airlines announced in late April that it was going to suspend flights for 30 days.

But airport authorities informed the Kern County Board of Supervisors at Tuesday morning's meeting that the suspension was going to continue indefinitely, at least until fuel prices drop or demand for flights will cover the costs of flying out of meadows.

According to spokeswoman for Kern County Airports Teresa Hitchcock, the reason for the indefinite suspension is the cost of fuel.

Specifically that the price for flights out of Meadows weren't paying for the fuel that’s required.

But the customs building, which was built with $7 million in federal aviation money is still getting use. “We could see service come back,” said Hitchcock.

However, the high price of fuel will more than likely not scare off domestic airlines from Medaows Field Airport because the costs for those flights covers expensive fuel costs.

Mexicana had three flights weekly from Bakersfield to Guadalajara.