Catalina Express
An American passenger ferry service connecting mainland Southern California with Santa Catalina Island.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Catalina Express is an American passenger ferry service operating scheduled, year-round connections between mainland Southern California and Santa Catalina Island. The company is branded publicly as Catalina Express and is associated with its earlier corporate name, Catalina Channel Express. Its principal island destinations are Avalon, Santa Catalina Island's main community, and Two Harbors, a smaller settlement on the island's isthmus. Mainland departures operate from San Pedro in the Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Dana Point. The business began service in 1981 when Doug Bombard, his son Greg Bombard, and their friend Tom Rutter sought to improve access to Two Harbors for visitors. They acquired a sport-fishing vessel formerly operating from Portland, Oregon, rebuilt it with an enclosed passenger cabin, new engines, and a roll-control system, and renamed it Catalina Express. The refitted boat carried roughly 55 to 60 passengers. From the start, the company emphasized regular, year-round schedules rather than purely seasonal excursion service. Its initial timetable included several daily round trips from San Pedro, serving commuters, island residents, hunters, campers, and visitors. Demand led to a rapid expansion of both capacity and route frequency. In 1983, Catalina Express added the 149-passenger Avalon Express. By 1985, the fleet had grown to four vessels, including the Two Harbors Express and another Catalina Express, while the original vessel was renamed Channel Express. Additional high-speed craft joined the fleet in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These vessels increased passenger capacity and reduced the usual crossing from approximately 90 minutes to about one hour on suitable routes. The company expanded geographically as well. It opened a Long Beach port near the Queen Mary around 1990, introduced Dana Point service in the summer of 1998, and moved into Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach in early 2000. During the late 1990s, the Catalina Island ferry market became more competitive, with Catalina Cruises introducing a large high-speed catamaran and Catalina Express responding with its own catamaran service. Catalina Cruises ceased operations in 2001, after which Catalina Express acquired the Catalina Jet. Catalina Express has continued to develop a high-speed vessel fleet, including catamarans and other fast passenger ferries. The service can make the approximately 30-mile crossing in roughly one hour to 90 minutes depending on the route, vessel, and operating conditions. The company has described operations of up to 30 round trips per day, with San Pedro providing the only mainland service to Two Harbors. In addition to its core island transportation business, Catalina Express manages or operates Long Beach Transit ferry services including Aquabus and Aqualink. A related Bombard-family venture, Avalon Freight Services, was established in 2016 to provide freight transportation between San Pedro and Santa Catalina Island, but it is a separate business from the passenger brand.
History
Catalina Express traces its origins to 1981, when Doug Bombard, his son Greg Bombard, and Tom Rutter formed Catalina Channel Express to improve transportation to Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island. The founders purchased a sport-fishing boat that had previously operated from Portland, Oregon. They rebuilt it for scheduled passenger transportation by installing an enclosed cabin, seating acquired from Continental Airlines, new engines, and a roll-control system. The refitted boat was renamed Catalina Express and initially carried approximately 55 passengers. The first operation used a consistent year-round timetable from San Pedro. One morning departure was intended to bring commuters to Avalon, followed by a trip serving hunters and campers traveling toward Two Harbors, and an additional afternoon run to Avalon. Regular service quickly became useful to island residents as well as visitors. The company therefore developed as a scheduled transportation operator rather than solely as a sightseeing or seasonal excursion business. Fleet growth began in 1983 with the addition of the 149-passenger Avalon Express. By 1985, the company had four vessels, including the Two Harbors Express and a second vessel named Catalina Express. The original boat was renamed Channel Express. Further additions included Super Express in 1989 and a new Avalon Express in 1990. These 149-passenger vessels used larger engines and could reach approximately 32 knots, reducing the typical crossing time from around 90 minutes to approximately one hour. Around 1990, Catalina Express expanded its mainland presence by opening a port near the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The operator later experimented with larger catamarans. In 1991, it introduced Jet Cat Express, a 360-passenger vessel using water jets rather than conventional propellers. In 1994, the company replaced that vessel and two other boats with Islander Express and a new Catalina Express designed to maintain the speed needed for approximately one-hour crossings. The route network continued to broaden in the late 1990s. Dana Point service began in the summer of 1998, while the company moved its Long Beach operation into Catalina Landing in early 2000. Competition intensified in 1999 when Catalina Cruises introduced the 450-passenger Catalina Jet. Catalina Express responded with Starship Express, a 300-passenger catamaran capable of making the crossing in roughly 45 to 55 minutes. Catalina Cruises stopped operating in 2001, and Catalina Express acquired the Catalina Jet. In 2004, the operator added another Jet Cat Express, identified as its fastest vessel at the time, with a stated maximum operating speed of 42 knots. Catalina Express operates from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point to Avalon, with San Pedro also providing daily service to Two Harbors. The company has operated up to 30 round trips per day and maintains year-round service. Its fleet has evolved from the original small converted fishing boat into a group of high-speed passenger vessels. Beyond its principal Catalina Island routes, Catalina Express holds contracts to operate or manage Long Beach Transit services known as Aquabus and Aqualink, which serve Long Beach Harbor and Alamitos Bay. A related freight operation emerged in 2016 when Greg Bombard and his brother Tim Bombard co-founded Avalon Freight Services with Harley Franco. Avalon Freight Services received an exclusive contract from the Catalina Island Company for use of dock and warehouse facilities on the island's eastern end and transports freight using the Catalina Provider landing craft and a tug-and-ramp-barge combination. This freight business is connected to the Bombard family but is distinct from Catalina Express's passenger ferry operations.
- 2016
Related freight company is founded
[1]Greg and Tim Bombard co-found Avalon Freight Services with Harley Franco for island freight transportation.
- 2004
Faster Jet Cat Express is added
[1]The company adds a Jet Cat Express described as capable of speeds up to 42 knots.
- 2001
Catalina Jet is acquired
[1]Catalina Express acquires the Catalina Jet after Catalina Cruises ends its operations.
- 2000
Long Beach operation moves to Catalina Landing
[1]The company's Long Beach operation relocates to the Catalina Landing terminal in downtown Long Beach.
- 1999
Starship Express enters service
[1]Catalina Express introduces a 300-passenger high-speed catamaran during heightened competition with Catalina Cruises.
- 1998
Dana Point service begins
[1]The operator adds a third mainland departure market in Dana Point.
- 1994
Fleet replacement for faster crossings
[1]Islander Express and a new Catalina Express replace three earlier vessels, supporting crossings of about one hour.
- 1991
First catamaran experiment
[1]Jet Cat Express begins an experimental catamaran operation using water-jet propulsion.
- 1990
Long Beach port opens
[1]The company opens a port near the Queen Mary and adds new 149-passenger, approximately 32-knot vessels.
- 1989
Super Express is introduced
[1]Catalina Express adds another high-speed passenger vessel to its expanding fleet.
Products and positioning
A year-round, high-frequency passenger ferry operator focused on convenient and relatively fast access from mainland Southern California to Santa Catalina Island.
Passenger transportation · 1981
Scheduled Catalina Island passenger ferry service
Catalina Express provides scheduled, year-round passenger crossings between mainland Southern California and Santa Catalina Island. Routes serve Avalon from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point, while San Pedro also provides service to Two Harbors. The approximately 30-mile crossing generally takes about one hour to 90 minutes depending on the route and operating conditions. The service is used by island residents, commuters, campers, hunters, and leisure travelers.
Ferry fleet · 1983
High-speed passenger vessel fleet
The fleet developed from a single converted sport-fishing boat into a collection of high-speed passenger ferries and catamarans. Successive vessels such as Avalon Express, Super Express, Starship Express, Islander Express, and Jet Cat Express increased passenger capacity and reduced crossing times. The vessels are designed for frequent coastal service rather than long-distance ocean travel.
Harbor ferry service
Aquabus and Aqualink
Catalina Express operates or manages Long Beach Transit ferry services known as Aquabus and Aqualink. These services operate around Long Beach Harbor and Alamitos Bay, extending the company's marine transportation activity beyond its Catalina Island routes.
Brand decisions
2001
Acquisition of Catalina JetM&ABackground
Catalina Cruises ceased operations after a period of competition in the Long Beach-to-Catalina market.
Action taken
Catalina Express purchased the Catalina Jet from Catalina Cruises.
Aftermath
The acquisition added a large high-speed catamaran to Catalina Express's fleet.
1998
Expansion to Dana PointStrategyBackground
The operator already served Catalina Island from San Pedro and Long Beach and sought to broaden its mainland access network.
Action taken
Catalina Express began service from Dana Point in the summer of 1998.
Aftermath
Dana Point became the company's third mainland departure location.
1994
Replacement of early high-speed vesselsGeneration changeBackground
Catalina Express continued optimizing its fleet for approximately one-hour crossings and regular high-frequency service.
Action taken
The company replaced Jet Cat Express, Two Harbors Express, and the 1985 Catalina Express with Islander Express and a new Catalina Express.
Aftermath
The replacement vessels were intended to provide the speed required for faster scheduled crossings.
1991
Experiment with Jet Cat ExpressProduct launchBackground
The company sought to test a larger, faster catamaran design for the Catalina Island crossing.
Action taken
Catalina Express introduced the 360-passenger Jet Cat Express, using water jets instead of propellers.
Aftermath
The vessel was later replaced as the company adjusted its fleet strategy.
Sources2 sources
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