Xpress Shuttle

The April 1 launch date for reduced shuttle van operations at Los Angeles International Airport was thrown into question Thursday after a protest by small shuttle van operators delayed licensing of one of the three companies tapped for full-service operations at LAX. A dozen independent shuttle operators lodged a protest against Xpress Management Systems, which operates Xpress Shuttle, at a hearing of the state Public Utilities Commission in downtown Los Angeles.

Amtrak (800) USA-RAIL (872-7245) http://www.amtrak.com Greyhound (800) 231-2222 http://www.greyhound.com Airport Shuttles Xpress Shuttle (800) I ARRIVE (427-7483) http://xpressshuttle.com SuperShuttle (310) 782-6600 (323) 775-6600 (562) 498-6670 (213) 688-0444 http://supershuttle.com Prime Time Shuttle (800) RED-VANS (733-8267) http://primetimeshuttle.com Car Rental Agencies Advantage (800) 777-5500 http://www.arac.com Alamo (800) 462-5266 http://www.goalamo.

A fleet of fast-recharging electric-powered Chrysler minivans go into service today for Xpress Shuttle, which plans to use the five-passenger air-conditioned vehicles for trips between Los Angeles International Airport and downtown Los Angeles locations. The Electric Powered Interurban Commuter vans are DaimlerChrysler's entry in the electric vehicle market and will be leased to Xpress for $450 a month.

A fleet of fast-recharging electric-powered Chrysler minivans go into service today for Xpress Shuttle, which plans to use the five-passenger air-conditioned vehicles for trips between Los Angeles International Airport and downtown Los Angeles locations. The Electric Powered Interurban Commuter vans are DaimlerChrysler's entry in the electric vehicle market and will be leased to Xpress for $450 a month.

Amtrak (800) USA-RAIL (872-7245) http://www.amtrak.com Greyhound (800) 231-2222 http://www.greyhound.com Airport Shuttles Xpress Shuttle (800) I ARRIVE (427-7483) http://xpressshuttle.com SuperShuttle (310) 782-6600 (323) 775-6600 (562) 498-6670 (213) 688-0444 http://supershuttle.com Prime Time Shuttle (800) RED-VANS (733-8267) http://primetimeshuttle.com Car Rental Agencies Advantage (800) 777-5500 http://www.arac.com Alamo (800) 462-5266 http://www.goalamo.

The Los Angeles City Council pushed mom-and-pop van shuttle owners closer to the exits of Los Angeles International Airport on Friday by approving a controversial plan to slash from 38 to three the number of full-service firms operating at LAX.

Airport commissioners decided Monday to limit the number of full-service shuttle van companies operating at Los Angeles International Airport to three starting April 1. Only one of the three companies approved by airport commissioners to operate the new concession has so far obtained the required state permits. At least one of the others must obtain a license for the plan to move forward, airport officials said Monday.

In a sweeping overhaul of passenger van service that critics predict will lead to higher fares for consumers, airport officials voted Tuesday to essentially boot mom-and-pop shuttle operators from the curbs around Los Angeles International Airport as part of a plan to improve ground transportation at the nation's third-busiest airport.

A state regulatory panel Thursday cleared away most hurdles hindering efforts by Los Angeles International Airport to restrict shuttle van operations at the nation's third-busiest airport. The state Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to grant authorization allowing Prime Time Shuttle and Xpress Shuttle to be among three full-service passenger van companies allowed to troll the airport for walk-up customers.

Saying that questions about the shuttle companies' licensing compliance have been resolved, a Los Angeles Airport Commission panel has recommended that Prime Time Shuttle and two other van operators receive exclusive shuttle concessions at Los Angeles International Airport.

A state regulatory panel Thursday cleared away most hurdles hindering efforts by Los Angeles International Airport to restrict shuttle van operations at the nation's third-busiest airport. The state Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to grant authorization allowing Prime Time Shuttle and Xpress Shuttle to be among three full-service passenger van companies allowed to troll the airport for walk-up customers.

The April 1 launch date for reduced shuttle van operations at Los Angeles International Airport was thrown into question Thursday after a protest by small shuttle van operators delayed licensing of one of the three companies tapped for full-service operations at LAX. A dozen independent shuttle operators lodged a protest against Xpress Management Systems, which operates Xpress Shuttle, at a hearing of the state Public Utilities Commission in downtown Los Angeles.

Airport commissioners decided Monday to limit the number of full-service shuttle van companies operating at Los Angeles International Airport to three starting April 1. Only one of the three companies approved by airport commissioners to operate the new concession has so far obtained the required state permits. At least one of the others must obtain a license for the plan to move forward, airport officials said Monday.

The Los Angeles City Council pushed mom-and-pop van shuttle owners closer to the exits of Los Angeles International Airport on Friday by approving a controversial plan to slash from 38 to three the number of full-service firms operating at LAX.

In a sweeping overhaul of passenger van service that critics predict will lead to higher fares for consumers, airport officials voted Tuesday to essentially boot mom-and-pop shuttle operators from the curbs around Los Angeles International Airport as part of a plan to improve ground transportation at the nation's third-busiest airport.

Saying that questions about the shuttle companies' licensing compliance have been resolved, a Los Angeles Airport Commission panel has recommended that Prime Time Shuttle and two other van operators receive exclusive shuttle concessions at Los Angeles International Airport.

Starting today, airport shuttle customers who don't have reservations will be limited to a handful of shuttle operators for rides home from Los Angeles International Airport. The airport earlier awarded exclusive rights for walk-up business to three full-service shuttle companies and four long-distance carriers. In exchange, full-service operators must each pay the airport at least $1 million a year; the long-distance companies are exempt from the fee.

A judge has delayed a decision on whether to stop airport officials from reducing from 38 to three the number of full-service shuttle van companies operating at Los Angeles International Airport. Shuttle 2000, a consortium of 14 small van operators, had asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert O'Brien to issue a temporary restraining order preventing the city's Airport Board of Commissioners from awarding near-exclusive van concessions to SuperShuttle, Prime Time Shuttle and Xpress Shuttle.