What is the regional aviation solution?

It depends on where you live or what interests you serve. Some LAX neighbors want the regional solution to be in Orange County. John Wayne neighbors wanted the solution to be in South County at El Toro. South County wants the solution to be in the Inland Empire. But everyone wants a "regional solution".

LA City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter: “It is Galanter's contention that [Mayor Richard] Riordan and Los Angeles World Airports officials have concentrated all their efforts into LAX expansion, which she opposes. In doing so, they have neglected plans to develop regional airports” and particularly at Palmdale and Ontario which LAWA own.(Antelope Valley Press November 17, 2000)

Assemblyman George Nakano - Noise, air quality, traffic, and other impacts associated with airports will adversely affect the environment and quality of life in local communities and may place an unfair burden on some communities . . . It is in the interest of the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Imperial, and Riverside to distribute the burdens and benefits of commercial aviation fairly throughout the region. (Assembly Bill AB2333)

Governor Gray Davis - "The potential adverse impacts of airport expansion require the consideration of regional strategies to decentralize aviation demand. This demand will likely be met by the expansion of existing commercial airports and the development of former military air bases. However, the term 'fair share distribution' of commercial aviation burdens is not defined in this bill. As such, I am concerned the Association's interpretation may be vulnerable to challenge by other regional participants." (Governor's Veto message regarding Nakano's AB 2333, September 19, 2002)

El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon - "The Governor ignored the will of all of Southern California in favor of a wealthy few around Irvine." (Re Davis' veto of Nakano bill - LA Daily Breeze, September 21, 2002)

Mike Stevens, Inglewood - "LAX No, El Toro Yes" (T-shirt)

Airlines group - "Airlines that carry almost half the passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport criticized key components of Mayor James K. Hahn's $9.6-billion renovation plan . . . [including] an effort to cap use of the airport at 78 million annual passengers. The letter states: 'Constraining the capacity of LAX to induce traffic at other airports that are already constrained could result in the inability of the Southern California region to accommodate air traffic demand at reasonable levels of customer service.'" (LA Times, August 3, 2002)

Ontario Councilwoman Debbie Acker - [Commenting on Los Angeles airport officials' action raising landing fees at Ontario] "Los Angeles said they support regionalization of airports, but all they have supported is LAX expansion." (LA Times Inland Valley Edition, July 27, 2001)

Southern California Association of Governments- "The short-term prospects for March as a commercial passenger airport are problematic, since within 30 miles of its location is a well-established airport--Ontario--that is currently building a major new terminal that major airlines have committed to finance, as well as another airport--San Bernardino International--that is refurbishing its terminal and is several years ahead of March in the re-use process." (SCAG Joint Use Feasibility Study, November 20, 1996)

O.C. Supervisor Charles Smith - Right now we have demand for about 12-million annual passengers out of Orange County. About four million of those have to drive to either LAX or Ontario. That demand is expected to more than double in the next 20 years. And without an airport, that means that that demand is going to have to be furnished by LAX. And right now LAX cannot expand enough to handle the demand for the entire region. (Which Way L.A? July 17, 2001)

Bruce Nestande, Citizens for Jobs and the Economy - "People in Los Angeles and Riverside should be able to not allow Orange County residents to fly out of their airports, or should be able to impose a surcharge on Orange County passengers and cargo for using their airports." (Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2002)

Irvine Mayor Larry Agran - "How smart do you have to be to see that some communities want airport construction and airport expansion while others are opposed? Pull the plug on the unpopular and divisive El Toro International Airport; retain reasonable limits on John Wayne Airport; and look to the Inland Empire." (Los Angeles Times, January 17, 1999)

Newport Beach Councilman Gary Adams - We need to start looking for a long-term solution. I think it does need to be a regional solution and that might include El Toro." (Daily Pilot, October 15, 2002)

Former LA Mayor Richard Riordan - "He now advocates a regional solution for the ever-increasing demand for flights in Southern California. 'That has to include expanding LAX, dramatically expanding Ontario and Palmdale, and it also means that you need some more facilities in and around Orange County,' Riordan said… But he stopped short of saying what should be done within the county's borders." (Daily Pilot, November 15, 2001)

Mr. R. W. Baker, Executive Vice President of Operations of American Airlines -  "We would urge the selection of an airport to serve the [OC] area be carefully considered since American could not support operations from both [JWA and El Toro] locations." (September 18, 1998 letter)

County of Orange Planning and Development Department - "The alternatives . . . should analyze the effects of an international airport at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. It appears it may no longer be justified to reject this alternative . . ." (October 23, 2000 letter to the Southern California Association of Governments)
 
City of Newport Beach vision for 2025 - "The City must work with the Federal Government to solve airport congestion problems. Ideas include: Create an international airport at Camp Pendleton" (Newport Beach - A Step to the Future, August 2002)

V-Plan proponent Russell Niewiarowski - "Seal Beach is, in fact, an ideal location for an international airport." (May 2002 e-mailing)

Lydia H. Kennard, LAWA executive director - "With the City of Palmdale, we are putting a new piece of the regional transportation solution into place. Palmdale Airport can begin to take its rightful place in a regional aviation system that continues to fuel tremendous economic growth and vitality in Southern California." (October 19, 1999)

Allan Songstad, Chairman of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) - “Now is the time for all of us to focus on a regional solution that sites airports where our future population growth will be." (ETRPA press release, March 6, 2002)