Sacramentans can now fly to this ‘hot’ tourist locale and famous music festival

Want to go to the Coachella Valley music festival or play winter golf in the desert? It just got easier from the capital region.

Starting in September, travelers will be able to fly nonstop directly to Palm Springs from Sacramento for the first time in several years. Contour Airlines announced on Tuesday it will launch daily flights to the desert from Sacramento International Airport during the fall, winter and spring.

Introductory price is $99 each way.

The airline’s Sacramento-to-Palm Springs flight season will last from Sept. 16 to May 14. The airline fleet comprises Brazilian-made Embrarer ERJ turbojets and British Aerospace Jetstream turboprops, according to its website.

“We are thrilled to add another fabulous getaway destination, with Contour Airlines,” Cindy Nichol, Sacramento County Department of Airports Director said on Tuesday. “This new route is a great opportunity for us to restore service to an important intra-California market that has gone unserved since May 2014.”

Contour, a Tennessee-based low-cost carrier, launched its initial Sacramento service in January with flights to Santa Barbara.

The airline’s daily Palm Springs flights are scheduled to take off at 10:45 a.m. Return flights arrive in Sacramento at 2:30 p.m

Sacramento airport officials as well are promoting the capitol city as a good vacation spot for Palm Springs-area residents as well, offering access to the Napa Valley and Amador wine regions.

This story was originally published June 25, 2019 at 11:18 AM.