City Of Ontario Bids $50M To Take Back Struggling Airport
ONTARIO (CBS) — The city of Ontario is making a $50 million bid to take back its airport, which has been owned and operated by the group that runs LAX for more than 25 years.
Ontario International Airport has lost a third of its passengers since 2007, and some say Los Angeles World Airports has neglected the struggling airport.
Late last year, Republican Reps. Jerry Lewis of Redlands and Ken Calvert of Corona, who are concerned about the airport's future, sent a letter to both U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
They claim flights have been cut in half over the last four years, which has caused the decline in passengers.
They also say 8,000 airport-related jobs have been lost and blame LAX World Airports for higher fees and more expensive fares in Ontario.
Officials with the city of Los Angeles say they do not intend to sell the airport for a "foreclosure price" and will keep the airport for at least two more years.
