City officials appeared upbeat at the two events despite a high stakes dispute between American Airlines and the City of Long Beach. In May, 2001, with 27 flight slots vacant, the City Council amended LB's flight slot ordinance to let carriers hold slots longer before flying them. JetBlue then took all 27 remaining vacant flight slots. maxing out the current 41.
AA blames City Hall for causing the current unavailability of permanent flight slots and says LB's unwillingness to provide additional permanent slots while only 17 of the 41 are currently being flown is unfair and harms AA's ability to compete.
AA has agreed to use temporary (and thus revocable) slots to begin additional LB Airport flights while using City Hall's administrative appeal process to challenge LB Airport's denial. That process could eventually escalate the city's noise budgeted flight limit to the City Council or a federal court. While insisting it hopes to avoid litigation, AA has repeatedly reserved its right to challenge LB's position in court.
American Airlines has told LBReport.com that on April 29, it presented a background paper to the City of Long Beach. AA and LB Airport both subsequently made the text available to LBReport.com on request. We post it verbatim on a link below. (A separate window will open; to return to this page, close the AA background paper text window).
AA's background paper is understandably an advocacy document promoting the company's interests. LB's interests, as viewed by the City of LB, and by LB homeowner and taxpayer groups, deserve similar presentation. When they are forthcoming, we intend to post them as newsworthy. And we will, of course, offer our editorial opinions.
To view AA's position paper, click AA background paper.
Meanwhile, LBReport.com has learned that Alaska Airlines, which last month formally requested three flight slots at LB Airport, has now also begun the administrative appeal process that could lead to the City Council.
5th district Councilwoman Jackie Kell and staff aide Tim Patton attended today's Airport promotional events, but were the only Council representatives we spotted. Also seen were Randy Gordon (LB Area Chamber of Commerce), Greg Whelan (Strategic Marketing, Inc.), Connie Sziebl (aide to Cong. Steve Horn), LB Public Works Director Ed Shikada, LB Airport Manager Chris Kunze and LB Airport Advisory Commissioner Derek K. Brown.
LBReport.com spotted Mr. Hagan (center of photo right) at a LB Airport media event accompanied by LB public relations maven Jeff Adler (right in photo; City Manager Henry Taboada at left). Mr. Adler is regarded as one of the city's most able P.R. and political hands. His communications firm handles clients including DDR (Pike at Rainbow Harbor developer) and has run or consulted a number of LB political campaigns.
JetBlue's CEO David Neeleman attended and spoke, as did the Mayor and 5th district Councilwoman Jackie Kell (all three pictured in photo, right).