John Wayne Airport’s neighbor to the north may add international flights after Long Island City, N.Y.-based JetBlue Airways Corp. asked Long Beach Airport to apply for a federal customs facility, according to a news report.
Approval would allow JetBlue to fly to international destinations from Long Beach.
About 100,000 passengers come through customs at JWA a year, said airport spokesperson Jenny Wedge. It pays a user fee for customs and border protection, and charges airlines $1.4 million a year for the service.
The report in the Long Beach Press-Telegram said the airport there also would pursue a user fee arrangement.
JetBlue said it would fly internationally under current airport noise limits and flight and parking allotments.
The airport can make 41 commercial and 25 commuter flights a day under the noise ordinance, the report said.
A memo from the Long Beach city manager’s office—the city owns the airport—said if the request advances it would take at least three years to complete the process and add the customs facility.
