The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved a motion to support the transfer of Ontario International Airport (ONT) to local control. Currently the Ontario Airport is managed by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the City of Los Angeles; the City of Ontario has requested control
Supervisor Knabe issued the following statement: “I am not at all surprised at the City of Ontario’s desire to get back control of its airport. We have seen significant reductions in passenger traffic at Ontario, which cannot all be explained away by the economy. LAWA has not shown a good faith effort to regionalization, which would benefit all of Southern California.
In 2006, LAWA made a commitment to mitigate the impacts on LAX operations on traffic, noise, health risks and quality-of-life in communities surrounding LAX by relieving the pressures for future growth at LAX through a regional effort to meet air transportation demand at other airports in the region. It’s time they did that by negotiating a solution that would allow for local control of ONT.”
With today’s approval, a letter confirming support for this key action to regionalize air travel will be sent to the Mayors of the Cities of Los Angeles and Ontario, Los Angeles World Airports, and other affected agencies.
A report on airport regionalization from the County’s Chief Executive Office will be discussed at the May 14, 2013 Board of Supervisors meeting. Knabe, along with fellow Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, requested the CEO report in a motion passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors on February 26, 2013.