LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A Westchester-based organization is waiting on a response from LAX Tuesday after sending a letter to airport leadership regarding alleged violations of a 2016 agreement limiting gate operations.
In its letter sent Aug. 1, the Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion said it is providing a notice of default/right to cure against the airport for exceeding the 153 commercial passenger aircraft gate cap limit in May with 154 gates in operation, which they allege might be further over the limit with up to 163 gates. ARSAC says a monthly report — produced by LAX detailing a summary of operational gates — supports its claims.
ARSAC officials said they are hoping to meet and confer with LAWA to resolve the issues, and will provide 30 days for airport leadership to address its concerns.
ARSAC also alleges that LAX is not meeting its commitment to limit the number of gates in terminal groupings, and has allowed for “double parking” of aircrafts that are actively enplaning or deplaning passengers at three gates in violation of the agreement at the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal, formerly known as the Midfield Satellite Concourse North.
In 2016, ARSAC and Los Angeles World Airports — the city department that oversees the LAX and Van Nuys Airport — entered into a memorandum of understanding to settle litigation over a proposed move of the airport’s north runway 260 feet closer to the neighborhoods of Westchester and Playa del Rey.
As part of the agreement, ARSAC would not file legal claims to block the LAWA’s Landside Access Modernization Program. In turn, LAWA made commitments to not move the north runway, to limit its operation of boarding gates to 153 through December 31, 2024, and to implement gate controls on its terminals through December of 2030.
“The MOU was supposed to represent a new era of cooperation, but has proven to fall very short of that objective,” ARSAC President Denny Schneider said in a statement on Aug. 14. “LAWA has forgotten its commitment to be a first class neighbor during work to make LAX a world class airport.”
LAX’s public relations department denied ARSAC’s allegations, and noted that LAWA will be responding to ARSAC’s letter.
ARSAC says LAWA is “regularly difficult to deal with,” and that in 2013 the organization successfully filed a mediation claim when LAWA violated a 2006 settlement agreement.
“Since February 2024, ARSAC has made concerted efforts to meet with the new LAWA CEO John Ackerman to discuss the MOU to avoid these violations,” Robert Acherman, ARSAC vice president, said in a statement. “He has never agreed to any of our meeting requests and sadly our first meeting may be in mediation.”
LAX’s Landside Access Modernization Program is a multibillion-dollar capital improvement project aimed at improving passenger experience, relieving congestion and enhancing the airport. Several projects are underway to reach these objectives such as the Automated People Mover, Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility and a connection to Metro’s K Line (Crenshaw to LAX line).
On Aug. 16, the Los Angeles City Council increased the total cost of LAX’s significantly delayed Automated People Mover from $2.9 billion to $3.34 billion to settle legal claims and set a date of operation for January 2026.
According to the L.A. Board of Airport Commission, the extra $400 million-plus was needed to address claims filed by the contractor, LAX Integrated Express Solutions, also known as LINXS, over issues related to compensation and production.
The settlement agreement largely covers already completed extra work by LINXS dating back to August 2018, and a longer than anticipated construction timeline.
The project could be completed on Dec. 8, 2025, and begin operation in January 2026 — in time for world events taking stage in the Los Angeles region, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The electric train system on 2.25 miles of elevated rail with six stations will be available to ticketed passengers, their guests and airport employees for free.
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