JetBlue requests customs facility at Long Beach

With the rains behind us, for now, a JetBlue takes off from Long Beach Airport with blue skies, snow caped mountains and the Boeing Co. office buildings behind it on a sunny morning.

With the rains behind us, for now, a JetBlue takes off from Long Beach Airport with blue skies, snow caped mountains and the Boeing Co. office buildings behind it on a sunny morning.

By Eric Bradley, Staff Writer

JetBlue on Monday formally requested Long Beach Airport apply for a federal customs facility, a move that would allow international travel at the city-owned airport.

In a letter sent to Airport Director Bryant Francis, Robert C. Land, JetBlue senior vice president for Government Affairs and associate general counsel, stated the airline has no interest in modifying the city’s airport noise ordinance.

“JetBlue will utilize only its current allotment of assigned Air Carrier slots and existing aircraft parking positions to fly internationally in addition to our current 11 domestic markets,” Land wrote.

Adding the customs facility, Land contended, would enhance Long Beach’s stature and improve the local economy through increased tourism, commerce and conventions.

“We look forward to working closely with the city to immediately proceed with the application process and begin the work required to secure an international flight designation for the city of Long Beach,” Land said.

A JetBlue representative said the company has nothing more to add at this time beyond the contents of the letter.

The Long Beach City Council hosted a study session last week on the 20-year-old airport noise ordinance effectively limiting flights to 41 commercial and 25 commuter flights daily.

City officials noted the ordinance has never been changed due to “lurking fear” the city could lose its grandfathered exemptions under the Federal Aircraft Compatibility Ordinance of 1990. Since the law’s passage, no other city has been successful in securing noise restrictions as stringent as those regulating aircraft at the Long Beach Airport.

On Monday, an airport spokeswoman, Stephanie Montuya-Morisky, confirmed the letter had been received but deferred comment to the City Manager’s office.

“We want to be as transparent as possible, and we want the discussion to happen at the City Council level,” Montuya-Morisky said.

Read more in Eric Bradley’s story CUSTOMS

 

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