It has provided daily passenger service since 1988[2] from the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, California to the city of Avalon located on Santa Catalina Island.

[2] It carries an eight-person crew,[5] and features a sundeck, full-service lounges and large view windows.

The Catalina Flyer makes one round trip daily,[5] leaving Newport Beach for Avalon in the morning and returning from Avalon to Newport Beach in the early evening.

In addition to regular passenger service, the vessel is also available for private charter.

In the fall and winter of 2010–2011, the Flyer's service was temporarily suspended, in order to upgrade the ship's engines to meet the environmental requirements of California's Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation.