Rep. Takano Sends Letter to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Asking for Continued Negotiations for Local Control of Ontario Airport

Washington DC – Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) sent a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti requesting negotiations continue regarding local control of Ontario International Airport (ONT).

 

In the letter, Rep. Takano expresses the importance of Ontario International Airport to the Inland Empire saying, “As the Inland Empire continues to grow in population, the region needs the Ontario International Airport to be under local control. It is a vital economic resource to my region and my constituents, with the potential to serve 30 million passengers annually. I respectfully request that you consider our request and continue negotiations to move Ontario to local control as it is a critical element of the Inland Empire’s continued growth in the post-Recession economy.”

 

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has operated Ontario International Airport since 1967 and acquired it in 1985 at no cost. At its peak, Ontario International Airport served nearly 7 million passengers and was a major contributor to the economic expansion of the Inland Empire.

 

 

 

October 24, 2013

 

The Honorable Eric Garcetti

Mayor, City of Los Angeles

200 N. Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

 

Dear Mayor Garcetti:

 

I am writing today in the hopes of working with you to continue negotiations regarding local control of Ontario International Airport (ONT). As you know, since the 1960’s, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has operated the Ontario facility, but has focused more on boosting traffic at Los Angeles International (LAX), than air traffic at other airports under their control. Ultimately, I believe that there is a conflict of interest for LAWA to continue to run both airports competing for business in the region.

 

Since the recession, the economies of Los Angeles and the Inland Empire have both struggled to recover. However, while airline flights at LAX continue to increase, the number of flights available at Ontario has plummeted 47 percent since August 2007, and the number of available flight destinations has been cut by almost 60 percent. Furthermore, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, the passenger traffic at Ontario has fallen 40 percent since its peak of 6.9 million passengers and now serves fewer than 5 million passengers annually - a level last seen 25 years ago.

 

The reduction of flights not only makes it difficult to serve the Inland Empire, it also makes flights more expensive, creating a damaging cycle. The airport’s fixed-costs for operations must be spread across fewer flights, which increases costs for the consumer. Ontario must also pay an annual multi-million dollar administration fee to LAWA, which could be used to promote the airport individually, if under local control. All of these factors combine to make Ontario International Airport one of the most expensive airport facilities in Southern California.

 

While the number of flights offered has decreased, the demand and need for those flights have not disappeared. Aviation industry consultants estimate that 2 million passengers a year are forced to drive to Los Angeles or other regional airports due to the lack of flights and connections offered at Ontario. It is estimated that the region has lost nearly 8,000 jobs and $400 million in yearly business activity due to the mismanagement of Ontario.

 

As the Inland Empire continues to grow in population, it needs the Ontario International Airport to be under local control. It is a vital economic resource to my region and my constituents, with the potential to serve 30 million passengers annually. I respectfully request that you consider my request and continue negotiations to move Ontario to local control as it is a critical element of the Inland Empire’s continued growth in the post-Recession economy.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mark Takano

Member of Congress