JSX Operating Permit and Lease Approved at Santa Monica Airport, Consistent with 2028 Airport Closure Plan

December 2, 2025 4:56 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Dec. 2, 2025) – Following a rigorous technical and legal review, the City of Santa Monica has issued a Commercial Operations Permit (COP) and executed a three-year lease agreement that will allow JetSuiteX (JSX) to operate at the Santa Monica Airport (SMO) through Nov. 30, 2028.     

The decision affirms the City’s commitment to permanently close the airport at midnight on Dec. 31, 2028, as authorized under a 2017 Federal Consent Decree with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Compliance with that agreement safeguards Santa Monica’s legal right to close the airport on schedule while ensuring current operations comply with federal and local standards.   

In evaluating the JSX proposal, city staff and legal counsel conducted a multi-disciplinary assessment covering safety, environmental, traffic, and policy considerations: 

•   Aircraft Safety and Runway Operations: 
  JSX is federally certified by the FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate its 30-seat ATR 42-600 aircraft safely at SMO. While the airport’s operational runway length is 3,500 feet, there are additional 300-foot runway safety areas at each end. There is also a City-operated Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle staffed by trained Santa Monica Fire Department personnel. 
•   Environmental and Noise Compliance: 
  Noise modeling and historical monitoring data show that Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) contours remain within the airport fence line, even during higher-activity periods when the runway was longer. JSX operations must comply with the City’s 95 dBA SENEL noise limit, all local environmental standards, and South Coast AQMD thresholds. The City determined no new environmental review was required under CEQA, as the permit does not represent a new project or an expansion of existing use. 
•   Traffic and Security Review: 
  JSX operates under 14 CFR Part 380 and is subject to 49 CFR Part 1544, which require charter operators to implement TSA-approved security protocols consistent with commercial airline standards. The City reviewed traffic and parking assumptions and will continue to monitor access impacts throughout the lease term. 
•   Compliance with Federal Law and City Policies: 
  Federal law and the 2017 Federal Consent Decree prohibit Santa Monica from denying airport access to qualified aeronautical users who meet established standards. The City’s review confirmed that JSX’s proposal is consistent with the City’s Airport Leasing and Licensing Policy and its Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Services. 

Additional details related to the City’s Airport Leasing and Licensing Policy and the Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Services at SMO can be found here. 

Issuance of the JSX permit and execution of the lease will not delay or complicate the planned airport closure. Under the 2017 Federal Consent Decree, the City must allow qualifying aviation operations under limited-term leases until the closure date. By doing so, Santa Monica ensures full compliance with its federal obligations while preserving its closure authority. 

“All Santa Monica Airport leases will expire, or be terminated by the City, before the closure date,” City Manager Oliver Chi said. “By adhering to the Consent Decree today, we are safeguarding the City’s ability to close the airport on Dec. 31, 2028.” 

JSX must comply with all airport operational restrictions, including hours of operation, noise limits, and environmental standards. City staff will continue monitoring compliance throughout the lease term and provide regular public updates. 

For more information about the City’s airport transition plan and the community-driven process to design a future park at the airport site, visit smacproject.com. 

Media Contact

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

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