News

Council approves LAX runway move, again; litigation is next major step

Daily Bulletin: By Rick Orlov and Brian Sumers
May 14, 2013

Despite a last-minute impassioned plea from Councilman Bill Rosendahl, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to an ordinance allowing the move of a Los Angeles International Airport runway by 260 feet to improve airfield safety.

Keep up fight for control of Ontario airport

Opinion Letter: David Liggett
May 13, 2013

Regarding your editorial on Ontario airport (“Keep pushing for local control of Ontario airport,” Our Views, May 1), the Inland Empire must do everything in its power to gain control of the airport.

There’s no doubt the Inland Empire is best-suited to operate the airport, as only it has the most concern for our communities.

As a frequent traveler, I use ONT exclusively. I’m happy with the ease of using the airport, its parking and service. I avoid LAX. It’s not worth the drive or the hassle. The Inland Empire can make ONT a competitive and high-value airport for all of us

LAX Expansion: The Other Shoe Drops

City Watch by: Ken Alpern
May 10, 2013

TRANSPO POLITICS- It's not hard to conclude that the LA City Council's approval of LAX Modernization Alternative 1 is just a smokescreen to camouflage it's disregard for the 78 Million Annual Passengers (78 MAP) limitation that was approved as a settlement for a lawsuit by Westchester, Inglewood and Culver City in 2006.

Now that Alternative 1 has been approved, Ontario and the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will join them in a new legal battle.

Ontario slams plan to boost passengers at LA/Ontario airport

Southern California Public Radio: By Corey Moore
May 9, 2013

Inland Empire leaders are criticizing a plan by Los Angeles airport commissioners to increase the number of passengers at the Los Angeles/Ontario Airport.

Since 2007 passenger volume at the L.A./Ontario International Airport has plummeted from 7.2 million to slightly more than four-million - a 40 percent decline.

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) owns the medium-sized regional airport.

The agency's board approved a marketing plan this week to increase passengers at the airport.

The agency's executive director is Gina Marie Lindsey.

Struggling Ontario Unimpressed With LA's Efforts to Help

LAcurbed.com by: Eve Bachrach
May 8, 2013

Officials in the Inland Empire threatened to sue Los Angeles a few weeks back in an attempt to wrest away control of the beleaguered LA/Ontario International Airport (which is run by LA-based Los Angeles World Airports; LAWA also controls LAX and Van Nuys). In response, LA airport commissioners voted yesterday to toss a little marketing help Ontario's away so the airport can get back on its feet following years of falling passenger traffic. The proposals would:

-- Reimburse airlines for half of their marketing expenses to promote new or existing Ontario flights.

San Bernardino County to join Ontario in fight against LAWA

Pasadena Star-News: by Liset Marquez and Joe Nelson
May 7, 2013

Ontario and the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will join Inglewood and Culver City in a legal battle over an environmental plan for LAX approved by the Los Angeles City Council last week.
The three cities and the county announced Tuesday that they are seeking legal mediation with Los Angeles over its approval of a $4.8 billion plan to modernize Los Angeles International Airport.

Officials believe the modernization program can further negatively impact LA/Ontario International Airport which has already seen a 40 percent drop in passenger traffic since 2007.

Los Angeles airport officials disappoint ONT supporters

Press-Telegram: by Brian Sumers
May 7, 2013

Los Angeles World Airports officials have a suggestion for business leaders and politicians in the Inland Empire who want airlines to add flights at LA/Ontario International Airport: Open your checkbooks.

LAWA executives on Tuesday backed off a proposal to give airlines generous incentives to establish new flights at ONT, saying agreements with existing airlines operating in Ontario essentially bar such a practice. Instead, they suggested civic leaders come up with money on their own to bring in new flights.

With Ontario, some don't know much about geography

Daily Bulletin: by David Allen
May 4, 2013

In an editorial last Sunday advocating that a long-discussed new runway be built at LAX, the Los Angeles Times ended with a putdown of Ontario International Airport:
"As for the so-called regional solution, it will at best be a supplement to a modern, efficient and safe LAX. And for goodness' sake, before trying to do anything else with Ontario airport, change the name so unhappy passengers who get rerouted there due to heavy coastal fog will at least know they're not being flown to a wind-swept wheat field somewhere in central Canada. "

EDITORIAL: Keep pushing for local control of Ontario airport

The Press Enterprise: Editorial
May 1, 2013

Official neglect will not reverse Ontario International Airport’s sagging fortunes. Los Angeles officials should work toward putting the Inland airport under local control, to give it a better chance of thriving. The airport needs management focused on ensuring the facility’s success, rather than on preventing it from draining traffic from Los Angeles.

Council OKs moving LAX runway as part of $4.76-billion upgrade

LA Times: by Dan Weikel
April 30, 2013

The ongoing modernization of Los Angeles International Airport gained momentum Tuesday when the City Council approved $4.76 billion in additional improvements, including a controversial plan to move the northernmost runway closer to homes in Westchester and Playa del Rey.

The vote was a defeat for airport activists and community organizations that have fought to halt the runway project, which they charge would lead to an expansion of the nation's sixth-busiest airport and increase air pollution, noise and traffic congestion in their neighborhoods.

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