HAHN PICKS UP ENDORSEMENTS FOR LAX, OFFICE AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION BACKS MODERNIZATION PLAN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Mayor James Hahn picked up key endorsements Monday for his effort to push through his $9.1 billion plan to modernize LAX, as well as his campaign for re-election next year.

At an early morning news conference, Hahn announced the Air Transport Association, which represents 95 percent of the carriers at Los Angeles International Airport, was backing the compromise improvement plan he developed with Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski.

``This is a major step forward for us,'' Hahn said. ``There have been a lot of bumps in the road to get here, but we finally have picked up their support.''

Standing in front of the LAPD's Devonshire Division less than two hours later, Hahn was endorsed for re-election by Bert Boeckmann, a key San Fernando Valley political figure who was a major supporter of the 2002 secession movement that Hahn vehemently fought against.

``We have had our disagreements,'' Boeckmann said. ``But, when it came down to it, the mayor is as concerned with quality-of-life issues as I am, and I support his re-election.''

Boeckmann, a former Police Commission member, was accompanied by Councilman Greig Smith, who restated his support for the mayor.

Smith said the mayor had always supported his efforts on local matters - from finding funds to repair the Northridge pool to backing efforts opposing the reopening of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

Hahn said the endorsements represented major victories for him in his effort to modernize the airport and heal wounds from the secession campaign.

The transport association had been cool to Hahn's plans for a major overhaul of LAX, but is more accepting of the compromise, which deals more with immediate improvements.

``The challenge was finding an acceptable flight plan to reach that objective that all parties could agree on,'' ATA president James May said. ``Admittedly, there was a little turbulence after takeoff. But, we believe the consensus plan is moving us in the right direction.''

May said the ATA and airlines are concerned about the size of the investment - $3 billion in the initial phase - as well as a cap of 78 million passengers a year, a ceiling designed to contain growth.

But the need to improve runways and terminals to ensure passenger safety far outweighed any opposition the airlines had, he said.

Miscikowski, who crafted the compromise, said she believes the ATA endorsement will also help with resident groups that have been skeptical of the plans.

``I think what convinced them, and will convince others, is that we do have a real stakeholder interest written into this, so that all parties will be involved in future decision-making,'' Miscikowski said.

Alan Wayne of United Airlines called the endorsement a ``historic move'' by the ATA and for the future of LAX.

``We desperately need to modernize this airport to keep it competitive with other hub airports, like in San Diego and Las Vegas,'' Wayne said.

Councilman Bernard Parks, who is challenging Hahn for mayor and has offered a rival plan for LAX, discounted the ATA endorsement.

``Jimmy Hahn and his special-interest airline supporters and contributors have their heads in the sky when it comes to an LAX plan to help his contributors,'' Parks said. ``It doesn't help the people and is opposed by community groups, environmentalists and land use experts.

``In fact, the only people who seem to support it are those that stand to benefit financially. We need an airport plan that makes sense by putting the people first.''

The City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee has scheduled its first hearing on the plan for Wednesday. Miscikowski said she hoped to see it adopted before the end of the year.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com