Legislation introduced on Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) would facilitate the transfer of Ontario International Airport from the city of Los Angeles to the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).
“Inland Empire residents are ready to take back local control of Ontario Airport and I’m happy to take whatever steps are necessary to achieve that goal,” Calvert said. “This legislation has broad, bipartisan support and I’m hopeful Congress will approve it quickly. I’m looking to the day in the near future when the Inland Empire once again controls a major international airport.”
Ontario International Airport would be required to transfer $120 million in Passenger Facilities Charges (PFC) to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) over the next decade as a result of the structure of the agreement to transfer. A total of $50 million must be reimbursed to LAWA in five years with an additional $70 million paid back to LAWA/LAX in 10 years. The $120 million serves as a reimbursement of LAX PFCs that were transferred in the 1990s to Ontario International to aid in paying for the construction of a new terminal.
Because LAX and Ontario International will no longer be connected and PFCs under current law are only permitted to be applied to the airport or airport systems that are connected, the current legislation is necessary.
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate on Tuesday.