BURBANK SAYS AIRPORT IDEA IS GOOD MOVE; PLAN SHIFTS AIRLINES TO PALMDALE.

Byline: Lee Condon Staff Writer

Burbank officials welcomed Friday's news that an agreement had been reached over plans to develop Palmdale Airport for commercial airline service.

Locked in an intense war regarding the expansion of Burbank Airport for several years, they said Palmdale Airport could cut future growth at Burbank Airport. In Burbank, that's a good thing. Residents have complained for decades about jet noise and have pushed for controls on growth.

``I think it's great news,'' said Burbank Mayor Stacey Murphy. ``I think it's workable.''

While airline officials have expressed doubts that there is enough of a market in the Palmdale area to support commercial service, Murphy said she thinks North Valley residents will use Palmdale instead of Burbank Airport and LAX.

``I don't think anyone wants to go to LAX,'' Murphy said.

Steve Helvey, Burbank's assistant city manager, agreed.

``We'd be happy to see anything that will cause Burbank Airport to be less intrusive to our residents,'' Helvey said.

While the city of Burbank and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority have signed a framework deal that could allow Burbank Airport to expand, city officials are still interested in anything that will limit growth. The airport has projected that the number of passengers could double to 10 million by 2010 simply because of passenger demand.

Part of the deal they have cut calls for caps on the number of flights if the airport ever wants to achieve its long-term goal of expanding to a maximum of 19 gates. The airport now has 14 gates.

Victor Gill, a spokesman for Burbank Airport, said airport commissioners have been on record in favor of the commercial expansion of Palmdale Airport since 1982.

Still, Gill said, Palmdale Airport can only succeed if there is passenger demand.

``The real variable is how successful the renewed marketing effort to the airlines will be. You can't have a successful airport unless you have airlines providing service,'' Gill said.

He said that when Burbank Airport sends out surveys to its passengers, they all say they would like to use Burbank Airport for their flights. However, the airport does not provide long-haul service to destinations on the east coast or international flights. Most Burbank passengers also use LAX.

``Eighty percent of Burbank passengers are also LAX passengers,'' Gill said.

Peter Kirsch, the lawyer who represents Burbank on airport issues, said commercial service at Palmdale Airport will not likely subtract from future growth at Burbank Airport. He agreed with Gill that the whole plan depends on whether the airlines get on board.

``It's not likely going to have a significant impact. I'm skeptical that Palmdale would reach 10 million passengers within the foreseeable future,'' Kirsch said.

Assemblyman Scott Wildman, D-Glendale, serves as chairman of an Assembly select committee on airport capacity. Earlier this year the committee released a report recommending that commercial service be started at Palmdale Airport.

``This is the perfect solution for relieving the pressure for unbridled growth at Burbank Airport,'' Wildman said.