LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS TO CONDUCT MASTER PLAN STUDIES FOR ONTARIO AND PALMDALE AIRPORTS

(Los Angeles, California – December 19, 2000) The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners authorized today the preparation of a Request for Proposals for developing airport master plans for Ontario International and Palmdale Regional Airports. The studies are expected to better define land-use and facilities needed to accommodate future Southern California regional air service demands in the next 20 to 30 years.

According to Jim Ritchie, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) deputy executive director for long-range planning, "We believe starting the master plan processes at these two airports now is consistent with our commitment to implementing a regional approach to our growing demand for passenger and air cargo services."

The planning studies will build upon existing studies done for the Los Angeles International Airport Master Plan that have forecasted passenger, airport operations, and cargo activity. The studies will evaluate and determine the potential for increased business at both ONT and PMD. Then concepts will be developed and evaluated to establish facility requirements for improving the safety, efficiency, and capacity of airfield, terminal, cargo and ground-access facilities.

Ritchie said that master plans for both airports are needed because of marketing efforts and growth at ONT have lead to an increase in demand for more space and facilities at ONT. Seven new flights have been added since the opening of the new terminals, a three-times-a-week route to Mexico was added last week, and four weekly cargo flights to China will begin April 2001.

Ritchie said that the Palmdale Airport study will primarily involve forecasting, analysis, and study to assess the area’s aviation-related demand. According to Ritchie, "It is our strong desire to have Palmdale Airport fully operational and viable."

Ritchie said that LAWA staff would work closely with officials of both Ontario and Palmdale in these studies. The LAWA team will be established immediately to develop the Request for Proposal to be released by March 2001.