Court Battle Over SMO Continues This Week

It’s a big week in ongoing battle over Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), as the decades-old fight between airport users and city leaders heads to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on March 11 for oral arguments on the city’s claim that the document transferring SMO from federal hands to the city was faulty. Alex Gertsen, NBAA’s director of airports and ground infrastructure said, “The court has already ruled, the city appealed and we’re continuing to argue about this.” NBAA’s Western Regional Representatives Stacy Howard said the city continues to make it difficult for association members and holders of master leases at the airport to stay in business. However, NBAA remains steadfast in its support for SMO, and will continue to fight to keep SMO open.