Airport Authority OKs Travel Policy

A travel policy for executives that restricts use of first-class flights and disallows reimbursement for trips by relatives or guests was approved Monday by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority.

The nine-member panel, despite opposition by Burbank representatives, also authorized its staff to submit an offer to Lockheed Martin Corp. for the purchase of about 140 acres for a new, larger passenger terminal.

Officials said later that the terms of a final deal are pending but that the sale appears imminent. Although no dollar figure was available Monday, early estimates placed the cost of the land at about $110 million.

“We still are in the position of putting together the offer itself,” said Thomas E. Greer, airport executive director. “There are just some things that have to go back and forth before I can get that specific.”

The new travel policy, which came in the wake of accusations of abuse by airport executives, calls for the authority president to approve airport-related travel by commissioners while the executive director will handle requests by executive staff members. Travel by the authority president or executive director will be monitored by the controller.

The policy states that commissioners and top staff may travel first class only if upgrades available through frequent flier programs place their costs “near-competitive” with coach fares.

The travel costs of relatives, guests or spouses, which at times were covered by the airport in what was described by authorities as a long-standing “de facto” policy, are not eligible for reimbursement, the policy states.

All airport executives are expected to maintain accurate records regarding meals, lodging, transportation, telephone calls, registration fees and tips when traveling on airport business if they expect to be reimbursed, according to the policy.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges against the airport authority for alleged misuse of public funds.

No charges were filed even though an 18-month investigation found that as many as seven authority members submitted false travel expense reports during the review period of Jan. 1, 1992, to May 31, 1995. Officials with the district attorney’s office said no evidence was found showing that any commissioner “willfully” and “knowingly” engaged in illegal acts, or that any of them intended to defraud the public.

Victor Gill, an airport spokesman, said Monday the authority still expects to seek a management audit by a third party regarding its travel policy. The authority has taken measures to correct problems, but would be willing to make further adjustments if necessary, he said.