UNITED AIRLINES
World Headquarters
July 8, 1998
Mr. 0. B. Schooley
Director, John Wayne Airport
3160 Airport Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Mr. Bruce B. Wetsel
Aviation Team Manager
10 Civic Center Plaza 2nd Floor
Santa Ana, CA 92701
SNA El Toro Master Plan Presentation
Dear O.B. and Bruce:
It was a pleasure meeting with each of you in Chicago to review the
status of the proposed El Toro airport. We remain committed to work with
you through the master planning process and to hopefully reach a mutually
acceptable resolution to the use of John Wayne Airport and El Toro.
In order to assist you with your ongoing master planning meetings,
I would like to summarize United's comments which were discussed at the
meeting:
-
United is opposed to a two airport system. They dilute operating efficiency,
substantially increase operating costs and could result in less service
to the community.
-
In the event two airports were put into operation, United would only
serve one airport. In choosing which airport to serve, United would consider
cost profitability, location to the central business area and consumer
preference.
-
United believes that any attempt to limit John Wayne Airport to short
haul markets would be anti competitive and unfair to existing carriers
whose service extends beyond the proposed perimeter rule, particularly
United.
-
The concept of a train system which would link both airports does not
appear to be economically viable, particularly when other transportation
modes are available. It is unlikely that there would be any connecting
traffic between the airports. We are not aware of any other similar train
system connecting two or more airports.
In addition to the above, there are several factors which concern United
about the proposed two airport system. These include operational safety,
runway restrictions, payload restrictions, curfews, slot controls and passenger
caps at either airport. In addition , the airlines are sensitive to the
fact that there are a limited amount of federal funds available for airport
development in all of California.
You have requested our assistance in reviewing the financial and
operational aspects of the master plan and we are happy to assist in any
way we can. Please let us know when you am ready to meet. We look forward
to working with you.
Sincerely,
Larry Clark
Vice President
Properties and Facilities
cc: Ron Ahlfeldt
Mike Gatzke
Click here for more on the county's plans
for a "two airport" system.