City Panel OKs Study on FlyAway Expansion

A City Council panel on Tuesday authorized a study of the expansion of the Van Nuys Airport FlyAway terminal that provides San Fernando Valley residents with bus service to Los Angeles International Airport.

The council’s Commerce Energy and Natural Resources Committee endorsed efforts by the city Airport Department to expand and improve the facility, which is used by nearly 750,000 residents annually.

A recent report found that expansion was justified, because the 1,900 parking spaces in the terminal’s park-and-ride lot fill up quickly, especially during holidays. The study will look at options, including whether an expanded terminal should provide baggage checking and an information desk.

The expansion was also backed by Evelyn Jerome of the Van Nuys Airport Assn., a group of 100 businesses that operate at and near the airfield.

Jerome said the service is popular, because the cost of a round-trip ticket from Valley to Los Angeles International Airport is only $6, and parking is only $1 a day.

“As demand for air travel and the number of passengers traveling through LAX each year increases, even more San Fernando Valley residents will choose to take the FlyAway to the airport instead of making the long trek down the 405,” Jerome said.