Chartered flights at Van Nuys Airport raise community concerns

Seeking to address what she described as community concerns over an increase in chartered flights at Van Nuys Airport, Council President Nury Martinez introduced a motion Wednesday asking for an analysis of the regulations of charter operations at the airport.

The Van Nuys Airport has seen an increase of “chartering by the seat,” where passengers pay to reserve a single seat aboard a chartered flight rather than flying commercial, according to the motion.

“This practice, while approved under the Part 380 regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has raised concerns regarding increased operations and associated impacts to the surrounding community,” the motion states.

The airport has also been used by celebrities — including Kylie Jenner and Mark Wahlberg — to take short flights in their private planes, raising environmental concerns, according to Los Angeles Magazine.

The motion calls for Los Angeles World Airports, which oversees the airport, and the City Attorney’s office to report back on how the city could address the increase of scheduled charter flights from the airport.

Martinez also filed a separate motion on Wednesday seeking to address concerns over noise and air pollution impacting the community surrounding the airport. Soot and exhaust are being blown into nearby homes, according to the motion.

Airport operations are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration, but Los Angeles “does have some tools at its disposal in terms of land use,” according to the motion.

Martinez asked for a report back on what the city can do to regulate activity at the airport.

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