Airport Shuttle Service Plan Dropped Because of Construction Work at LAX

Opponents of a plan to base a commuter air service at Fullerton Airport won a temporary reprieve Thursday when the proposal was withdrawn because of construction work under way at Los Angeles International Airport.

Golden Pacific Airlines, a Kingman, Ariz.-based company, had proposed starting a shuttle service with 10 daily flights to Los Angeles and Ontario airports, using a 19-passenger, twin-engine airplane, Fullerton Airport Manager Rodney L. Murphy said.

Many residents who live near the airport had opposed the plan, citing concerns about increased noise and safety problems at the airport.

About 40 opponents of the plan showed up at the Airport Noise and Safety Committee meeting Thursday night, many primed to speak against the proposal, only to hear Murphy announce that Golden Pacific had withdrawn the plan indefinitely.

Even though the committee did not consider the proposal, many opponents nevertheless argued that the city should not allow the service and further urged that the airport be shut down.

Roy Kobayashi, a resident of the area for more than 25 years, said he had taken a survey of about 60 of his neighbors and that the “overwhelming majority” had opposed the new shuttle service.

However, Murphy said the proposal was backed by the Chamber of Commerce and many businesses in the city.

Jerry Holm, president of Golden Pacific, said his company will resubmit the commuter plan in three or four months. Holm said the proposal was dropped because of plans by the Los Angeles airport to resurface one of its runways.

“We felt that it would create a lot of congestion and that we’ll be better off to wait until things get back to normal,” he said.