More passengers, flights at JWA by 2030? Airport panel to discuss limits today

The Orange County Airport Commission on Wednesday is expected to discuss a second extension of the agreement that governs parameters such as flight curfews, passenger limits and number of departures at John Wayne Airport. It includes proposed expansions of passengers and flights.

The agreement, first put in place in 1985, was signed by the county, the city of Newport Beach and two community groups, the Airport Working Group and Stop Polluting Our Newport. It was originally set to expire in 2005 but was extended in 2003 to last through 2015.

Under the proposed extension, the curfews would remain in place through 2035. Departures at the airport are limited to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. Arrivals are limited to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays.

The annual passenger limit would increase incrementally from the current 10.8 million to 12.2 million or 12.5 million by 2026. The number of passenger flights would increase incrementally from an average of 85 daily departures to 95 by 2030.

The Airport Commission is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. at the airport’s administrative offices, 3160 Airway Ave., Costa Mesa.

The commission’s recommendation will be passed along to the Orange County Board of Supervisors for a vote Sept. 30.

Orange County planners recommended approval of a draft environmental impact report for the extension Sept. 10.