Officials working to direct flights away from LAX

Los Angeles airport officials are in the midst of creating an office to encourage airlines to direct flights away from bustling LAX to regional airports, such as Ontario International Airport, but John Wayne Airport is not included in the plans.

“AirFair supports the efforts of Los Angeles World Airports/LAX to lend a helping hand to Ontario Airport, which has suffered more than any other Southern California airport in the current economic downtown of the airport industry. At the same time, AirFair will continue to stand firm regarding any further expansion of John Wayne Airport,” said Melinda Seely, president of the local airport activist group AirFair.

Sponsored by Los Angeles World Airports, the Office of Regionalism would encourage airlines to fly out of smaller airports including Palmdale Regional Airport, Van Nuys Airport and Ontario. Airport officials also want improve ground transportation to the airports.

“Regionalization, if it is to take place, needs to focus on ways to get passengers, especially those in central and northern Orange County, including Disneyland vacationers, to turn to Ontario Airport for their air travel needs, not JWA,” Seely said.

— Brianna Bailey