Details of OIA deal emerge

Ontario will pay the city of Los Angeles $190 million to gain control of Ontario International Airport, which was announced Thursday.

The agreement that transfers control of the airport away Los Angeles will also give Ontario all land adjacent to the airport that is owned by Los Angeles World Airports, the agency that owns Ontario International.

Besides its annual payments, Ontario will be obligated to pay Los Angeles $30 million when the land transfer becomes official.

Officials from Ontario and Los Angeles held a news conference Thursday at Ontario International, during which officials from both sides praised the transfer-of-power agreement announced Wednesday as beneficial to both cities.

“This is a reasonable deal, and it’s a good deal for both sides,” Ontario Councilman Alan Wapner told the crowd, which gave him and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti a standing ovation when they arrived at the lectern. “It’s a good deal for Ontario and a good deal for Los Angeles, we hope it’s the start of more regional cooperation between both cities.”

Wapner, who is also president of the Ontario International Airport Authority, the agency that will manage the airport once the agreement is finalized, said local control of the airport is essential not just to Ontario but the entire Inland Empire.

“Ontario International is the number-one economic engine in this region,” Wapner told the assembled dignitaries. “It only makes sense that Ontario be in charge of it.”

Garcetti, who had advocated returning control of the airport to Ontario since he took office, said Los Angeles will benefit from a stronger Ontario International.

“A stronger Ontario International means less traffic around Los Angeles International,” Garcetti said.. “It will allow us to focus on the things we should be focused on.’

Several local boards, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, must still approve the agreement. That process is expected to be completed in a little more than a year, Garcetti said.

“Although with the federal government, you can never say for sure,” Garcetti said.

Los Angeles has operated Ontario International since 1967 under a joint powers agreement. It assumed ownership in 1985.

Passenger traffic has fallen to mid-1980s levels during the past few years, prompting Ontario to file a lawsuit in 2013 to get control of the airport.

That case was scheduled to go to trial Aug. 17 in Riverside County Superior Court, but the suit will be dismissed.

“Our apologies to the attorneys,” Wapner quipped. “They were the only ones who were profiting from what was going on here.”