City Reaffirms Santa Monica Airport Closure at End of 2028 as JSX Lease Considered

September 26, 2025 3:46 PM

Airport Commission Recommends to Delay Approval; Final City Decision Governed by Federal Consent Decree

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2025) – The City of Santa Monica reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to permanently close the Santa Monica Airport at midnight on December 31, 2028, as required under a 2017 Federal Consent Decree with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Earlier this week, the Airport Commission recommended that the City delay the approval of a proposed limited-term Commercial Operations Permit and lease for JSX Air until City staff can further study JSX’s proposed operations at the Santa Monica Airport. While the Commission’s recommendation is an important part of the review process, the City will make a final determination on the permit application and lease in accordance with the Federal Consent Decree and established City law and procedures.

Why this matters:

• 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.
• To safeguard the City’s authority to close the airport at the end of 2028, the Consent Decree requires that qualifying aviation uses – such as that proposed by JSX – be allowed to operate under limited-term leases during the airport’s final years.
• If approved, the proposed JSX permit and lease would expire in November 2028, prior to the airport’s closure date, and would require full compliance with City rules, including noise restrictions, hours of operation, and leasing policies.

“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.”

The City acknowledges the community’s concerns and is carefully weighing all issues as it prepares to make a final decision on the permit application and lease. In the meantime, the City remains focused on minimizing community impacts from airport operations and preparing for the transition to new community-serving park uses after 2028.

Media Contact

Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov