The City of Santa Monica has reaffirmed its commitment to permanently close Santa Monica Airport at the end of 2028, even as officials weigh a proposal from commercial air carrier JSX to begin operations at the facility.
The Airport Commission recommended delaying approval of JSX's application for a commercial operations permit and lease, asking city staff to conduct additional study of the Dallas-based carrier's proposed operations. Despite the commission's recommendation, city officials emphasized that the airport's closure remains unchanged.
"Santa Monica Airport will close at the end of 2028, and nothing about this process with JSX Air changes that fact," said City Manager Oliver Chi. "To reach closure, the City must comply with the Consent Decree, which requires us to carefully review and allow qualifying aviation uses during the airport's remaining years of operation."
JSX submitted its application Sept. 18, proposing to launch daily flights in 2025 using the ATR 42-600, a 30-seat turboprop aircraft that the company says features advanced noise-reduction technology and lower fuel consumption than traditional jets.
The air carrier's proposal comes as the city operates under a 2017 Federal Consent Decree with the Federal Aviation Administration that requires Santa Monica to keep the airport open through Dec. 31, 2028, while complying with federal aviation laws and standards.
The consent decree also mandates that qualifying aviation uses be allowed to operate under limited-term leases during the airport's final years, creating a legal framework that could require the city to approve JSX's application if it meets federal standards.
The Consent Decree requires the City to operate Santa Monica Airport through December 31, 2028, in compliance with certain federal laws, regulations, and general aviation airport standards,
If approved, JSX's permit and lease would expire in November 2028, one month before the airport's scheduled closure. The operations would be subject to city rules, including noise restrictions, hours of operation limits and existing leasing policies.
JSX Chief Executive Officer Alex Wilcox said the company selected the turboprop aircraft specifically to address community concerns about noise and environmental impact.
"Our approach at SMO is centered on thoughtful, responsible operations that respect the neighborhood and align with the values of the Santa Monica community," Wilcox said.
The public charter jet service said it has identified existing demand from local residents, with more than 2,200 Santa Monica residents already using JSX services from other regional airports, accounting for over 14,000 trips in recent years.
JSX markets itself as a hop-on public charter service that offers streamlined check-in procedures, allowing passengers to arrive just 20 minutes before departure. The company operates at 29 airports across the United States and Mexico with a fleet of 50 aircraft.
The proposed Santa Monica service would target regional destinations while offering amenities including complimentary snacks and cocktails and planned high-speed internet service.
The city acknowledged community concerns about the proposal and said it is "carefully weighing all issues" as it prepares to make a final decision on the permit application.
While the Airport Commission's recommendation creates a procedural delay, the final decision rests with city officials who must balance community input with federal legal requirements under the consent decree.
The airport currently serves general aviation, flight training and charter services. A long-standing debate over the facility's future has included proposals to convert the land into parkland or housing after the 2028 closure.
City officials said they remain focused on "minimizing community impacts from airport operations and preparing for the transition to new community-serving park uses after 2028."