Meanwhile  20 miles away at the Modesto City-County Airport Modesto boosters are working to land a major airline connecting non-stop service between Modesto and Los Angeles.

An update on an effort to obtain $1 million in pledges in the form of ticket purchases in a bid to secure commercial airline service will be made today during a gathering at the Doubletree Modesto by Hilton in downtown Modesto between noon and 1:30 p.m. The community has until March 31 to generate the non-binding pledges.

Speaking are Modesto Mayor Garrad Marsh, CEO  David White of  Alliance, Jack Penning of DestinationLAX,  David Halvorson of  American Chevrolet, Kole Siefken of  DoubleTree Modesto by Hilton, and Jennifer Stolo, Make-A-Wish of Northeastern California and Northern Nevada.