Mayor Garcetti Confirms LA Will Transfer Ownership Of Ontario Airport Back To Ontario

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A long legal battled for control of the Ontario International Airport has ended. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed Thursday that L.A. will give the airport back to the City of Ontario.

The ownership transfer is contingent on the approval of the L.A. and Ontario city councils, along with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The process is expected to take approximately a year.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles took over control of the airport in 1985 to draw more flights into the Inland Empire.

However, flight numbers have dropped dramatically over the past few years.

The City of Ontario is expected to reimburse Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) for its investment in the airport, the Times reported.

At this time, both Los Angeles International Airport and Ontario International Airport are run by LAWA and the City of Los Angeles.

The Airport Commission met during a closed-door session at 8 a.m. at Los Angeles International Airport to discuss future ownership of the airport.

At 1 p.m., city officials are expected to make an official announcement regarding the deal.