The outlook for the fate of Santa Monica Airport remains grim, but all hope is not lost. The U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit has referred a controversial agreement between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica, California, to close Santa Monica Airport to a “merits panel” for further review regarding the legality of the settlement agreement.
Court Orders Review of FAA Deal To Close Santa Monica Airport
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. Court of Appeals will review the legality of a settlement agreement between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica to close Santa Monica Airport (SMO) by December 31, 2028, and shorten its runway.
- This ruling defers the FAA's motion for dismissal of the review, which was initiated by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
- NBAA argues that the FAA failed to follow established procedures and consider the detrimental effects of the settlement on airport operators, businesses, and the National Airspace System.
- Although the court denied NBAA's request to immediately stop the runway shortening, the legal challenge to the overall settlement agreement will proceed with a "merits panel" review.
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