LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – The city of Ontario has sued Los Angeles in order to take over control of the Ontario International Airport. Attorney Roy Goldberg claims the facility has been neglected for years and Los Angeles caused “immeasurable harm” to Inland Empire residents because of the way it has dealt with the airport. Goldberg specifically said officials at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) didn’t “promote and expand air service” at the airport.
Since 2007, passenger levels dropped from 7.2 million to 3.9 million, according to the suit. “Los Angeles is focused on growth and development at LAX, not ONT, and the result has been an accelerating decline in ONT’s fortunes,” said Goldberg. LAWA’s Maria Tesoro, who said she hasn’t seen the suit, said airport officials will create an advertising campaign that “will encourage people to keep spreading the great news about the Inland Empire’s economic engine.” “It has been our hope that instead of a divisive relationship, we would have a partnership with the city of Ontario, to the benefit of all,” she said.
Ontario’s suit comes just weeks after LA airport officials denied claims LAWA badly managed the Ontario airport.
