Redmond to Los Angeles air service is taxiing for takeoff.

American Airlines is expected to start daily service from Redmond Airport to Los Angeles International Airport as early as June, after local business leaders raised $350,000 during a 10-day ticket-selling campaign.

Bringing the flight to Redmond hinged on selling $350,000 in prepaid tickets before 5 p.m. Friday, to show American Airlines there’s enough demand to start the service.

“I’m proud of how the community reacted,” said Roger Lee, executive director of Economic Development for Central Oregon.

“It was across-the-board support. The whole thing was on such short notice. So often with an effort like this, the difference between success and failure is how the community reacts.”

While officials met the deadline, the deal isn’t quite in stone yet: EDCO officials still need to collect most of the funds from donors by the end of next week, Lee said.

Most of the donors made pledges, and some had not provided the money as of Friday afternoon. American Airlines gave EDCO another week to collect those funds, Lee said.

But he fully expects American Airlines to announce a two-year commitment, with a 50-seat commuter jet leaving Redmond Airport each morning and returning from Los Angeles International Airport in the evening.

A total of 124 businesses and individuals donated $2,000 or more to the effort, buying prepaid American Airlines tickets redeemable for a year.

EDCO and the Central Oregon Visitors Association announced the ticket-selling push March 6. They had talked with American Airlines officials several months before, thinking the airline was eyeing a Redmond-to-L.A. flight some time next year.

But the airline pivoted, Lee said, moving up its schedule to this summer and giving business advocates less than two weeks to raise the money.

Airlines often ask smaller communities to sell tickets in advance through an effort known as an air travel bank, before they set up a flight. A similar effort helped Redmond land air service to Salt Lake City in 2005.

Redmond hasn’t had flights to L.A. since Horizon Air dropped the service in August 2010. Horizon started twice-daily flights from Redmond to L.A. in 2006, according to The Bulletin’s archives. The airline cut back to one flight in 2008 before scrapping it two years later.

Many details of the new American Airlines flight haven’t been determined, including the exact date the service will start, departure and arrival times, or ticket prices. Lee said American will discuss those specifics after EDCO delivers the funds.

Redmond Airport also has to work with the airline to set up operations and office space, Airport Manager Kim Dickie said.

But the airport has the space, with Allegiant Air ending all air service — flights to Las Vegas, Oakland and the Phoenix area — last year.

“Certainly the airline has a game plan that they will need to share with us, but I think we’re prepared to respond pretty quickly,” Dickie said. “We’re obviously very excited about the opportunity.”

Redmond Airport currently offers direct flights to and from Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Denver.

Los Angeles International has been one of the world’s 10 busiest airports, based on passenger counts, for more than a decade, according to the Airports Council International. It offers 84 domestic and 60 international nonstop flights.

Paying for tickets

Central Oregon businesses and individuals who pledged funds but haven’t paid them yet are asked to bring their checks to the Economic Development for Central Oregon office, 705 S.W. Bonnett Way, Suite 1000. EDCO officials will deliver them to American Airlines.

Those who made pledges will receive airline travel cards through Mid Oregon Credit Union. They’ll be good on any American Airlines flight for up to a year.