AIRPORT FEE ROLLBACK IS URGED L.A. COUNTY BOARD OBJECTS TO HIKE IN ONTARIO.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

The County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday challenged the city of Los Angeles' 59 percent hike in landing fees at Ontario International Airport as a setback to expanding regional air traffic.

Supervisors, who were unanimous in calling for a rollback in fees, said the rate increase at the city-owned airport would discourage use of regional airports as alternatives to Los Angeles International Airport, which has lower fees. Plans for a massive expansion of LAX have met stiff resistance from city and county governments in Southern California.

``Los Angeles County needs to begin developing a regional airport network to help offset overcrowding at LAX,'' Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said. ``This action by the Los Angeles World Airport Commission only adds to the problem as airlines will begin limiting flights to Ontario, instead opting opting to increase traffic at LAX.''

The city airport commission, a policy-making board for airports operated by Los Angeles, voted July 19 to raise landing fees at Ontario from $1.25 per 1,000 pounds of aircraft to $1.99. The rate at LAX is $1.93.

The supervisors approved sending a letter to Mayor James Hahn and the airport commissioners urging the panel members to support a regional concept for the distribution of air traffic and take another vote on the issue.

``A 59 percent increase in landing fees does not seem consistent with the idea of bringing more air service to Ontario,'' said Supervisor Don Knabe, chairman of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority. ``The entire region has embraced the idea of a regional solution to expanding our airport network.''

Los Angeles airport officials declined to comment Tuesday.

The LAX expansion - a $12 billion project as originally proposed - has been the subject of controversy and lawsuits over the past several years. Neighborhoods near the airport and cities throughout the county say they prefer that a projected doubling of passengers in the area by 2025 be distributed among a dozen regional airports, including ones in Palmdale and Ontario.

In April, the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Council, a group of 71 local officials from throughout the six-county region, voted to recommend greater use of other airports to meet regional demand.

The supervisors also voted Tuesday to support federal legislation aimed at limiting the impact of expansion of LAX. The supervisors will send letters to the White House and members of California's congressional delegation urging support of legislation by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, intended to provide relief to those who live near the airport.

One of the measures, HR 2477, would prohibit construction projects that seek to increase air passenger and cargo capacity at LAX.

``The concept of a regional solution to airport system expansion is one that has gained bipartisan support,'' Knabe said. ``The benefits and burdens of having an airport as busy as LAX as a neighbor are obvious.''

This week, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, a San Fernando Valley-based business group, endorsed federal legislation designed to prevent local communities from obstructing airport expansion.