United Airlines will pull service from L.A./Palmdale Regional Airport on Dec. 7, dealing a massive setback in the effort to divert air traffic from Los Angeles International Airport to outlying facilities.

Record-high fuel costs and a general lack of traveler interest hampered United since it launched service between Palmdale and San Francisco on June 7, 2007.

The most recent effort to launch commuter airline service out of Palmdale began with a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant was not renewed this year, despite pleas from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other local politicians.

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