Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles, and Alan D Wapner, mayor of Ontario, have agreed to the transfer of ownership of LA/Ontario International Airport in California to the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).
The city of Ontario is located 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and its airport is currently managed and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). The Settlement Agreement Term Sheet signed by both parties sets out measures so that the city of Los Angeles and LAWA will be reimbursed regarding the investments they have made in the airport over the years. It is hoped that the deal will be completed in under a year once the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, Los Angeles City Council, Ontario City Council and the Federal Aviation Administration have approved the plans.
Garcetti said, “Together, we’ve reached a deal that will benefit everyone: Inland Empire residents, Angelenos, LAWA, Ontario Airport and the dedicated employees who work at our airports. This agreement resulted from hard work and courage on both sides of the table. I have supported the transfer of Ontario Airport to local control since my first day in office and am thrilled that we can stop litigation and focus on a partnership that expands Southern California’s commitment to superior air travel.
“As we continue our revitalization of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to make it a world-class airport befitting our global city, we are equally committed to the excellence of Ontario in serving its own regional customer base.”
Wapner, who also serves as OIAA president, said, “On behalf of the coalition of counties and cities that have supported local control for the airport, I commend mayor Garcetti for his commitment to airport regionalization. This action will help ensure that Southern California has the airport capacity to meet the long-term demand for air travel and restore the region’s most important economic and jobs engine. This also represents a major step forward in regional cooperation that is so essential to the economic vitality of Southern California and our quality of life.