Merced carrier suspends flights to Las Vegas

Flights from Merced to Las Vegas have been suspended, at least for now, according to the air carrier.

San Francisco-based Boutique Air recently announced the change in its service to the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, which took effect this week, according to the company’s website.

The airline will continue to run its other services to Oakland and Los Angeles from Merced Municipal Airport, officials said.

Officials accused the airport of “economic discrimination,” citing policies they say privilege larger carriers. “Boutique Air will regretfully cease service while continuing to avidly search for a financially feasible solution for operating to the popular destination,” CEO Shawn Simpson wrote on the airline’s website.

The company has been in discussion with the Federal Aviation Administration, McCarran airport officials and state legislators in pursuit of a solution for future service, according to a statement.

On Feb. 5, according to airline officials, Boutique Air issued a formal complaint against McCarran’s executive leadership.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced last June that it had chosen the company to serve Merced’s airport under a two-year contract for Essential Air Service, a government program designed to ensure that small communities have access to adequate and affordable flights after the deregulation of airlines in the 1970s. The annual federal subsidy is $2.9 million, according to the city of Merced.

The Merced airport in 2014 was spared from losing its Essential Air Service program, which would have been a major blow to area business people, according to city leaders.

Boutique Air operates a modern fleet of Swiss-made Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.

Airline officials have directed questions to Boutique Air’s customer service email at cs@boutiqueair.com.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Merced carrier suspends flights to Las Vegas."