After years of litigation, Los Angeles has agreed to transfer ownership of LA/Ontario Inter-national Airport (ONT) back to the city of Ontario, California.
An agreement was reached to transfer the ownership of ONT from Los Angeles World Air-ports (LAWA) to the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).
The deal is subject to approvals by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, Los Angeles City Council, Ontario City Council, the OIAA and the Federal Aviation Administration.
In a joint statement issued at a news conference at ONT on Aug. 6, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Ontario Mayor Pro Tem Alan D. Wapner said the settlement calls for Los Angeles and LAWA to be reimbursed for investments they have made in ONT, and provide job protection for the airport’s current employees.
It also settles a lawsuit between the two cities over the airport ownership.
Mayer Wapner commented, “On behalf of the coalition of counties and cities that have supported local control for ONT, I commend Mayor Garcetti for his commitment to airport regionalization.”
A formal approval process is expected to begin in October 2015, with the entire process, including FAA approval, expected to be completed within one year.
