American Eagle will begin new daily, roundtrip air service between the Santa Fe Municipal Airport and Los Angeles LAX beginning November 19. The announcement was made shortly after the first of American Eagle’s direct service flights between Dallas and Santa Fe landed.

“I am thrilled that American Eagle is leading the way in returning commercial air service to Santa Fe with flights now to Dallas and soon to Los Angeles,” said NM Governor Bill Richardson. “Commercial air service is the key to the economic development of the area and to growing New Mexico’s thriving tourism and film industries.”

American Eagle’s non-stop service between Dallas and Santa Fe uses the 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 jet. The $20 million aircraft cruises at 500 mph and 40,000 feet. It is, “one of the newest and most modern planes in the fleet,” according to American Eagle’s Managing Director of Sales, Brian Coutts.

The Santa Fe Municipal Airport was recently upgraded to handle regional jets like the Embraer. It is not clear what aircraft will be used for the Santa Fe/Los Angeles service.