The FAA has thrown in the towel in the fight for Santa Monica Airport, striking a compromise deal with local officials that will permit the city to shorten the runway from about 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet within a year and close the airport forever at the end of 2028.
Bowing to City Pressure, FAA Agrees to Close Santa Monica Airport
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA and Santa Monica city officials reached a compromise deal allowing the city to shorten the Santa Monica Airport (SMO) runway within a year, effectively preventing large business jets, and permitting its permanent closure by the end of 2028.
- This agreement resolves longstanding legal disputes, preventing the city from perpetual airport operation and the FAA from setting a precedent for immediate airport closures.
- Aviation advocacy groups, such as the NBAA, expressed strong opposition and intend to continue fighting for unrestricted access to SMO.
- Controversy surrounds the deal, with some reports suggesting the Trump administration might reverse it, though the FAA explicitly denies these claims.
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