Airlines Ask for Rehearing on City Control of Airport Noise

Several of the nation’s commercial airlines have requested a rehearing of last month’s ruling that gave Long Beach the authority to control noise at its municipal airport.

The decision, hailed as a victory by city officials who have fought for nearly a decade to regulate noisy jets and smaller planes that fly in and out of the busy facility, has been challenged by the airlines as “bad law,” according to attorney John J. Lyons, who represents the airlines.

The airlines contend that, if allowed to stand, the decision by the U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals could severely cripple air travel across the nation by submitting commercial flights to arbitrary noise rules.

City officials had hoped to avoid further litigation in the 8-year-old lawsuit, which has already cost Long Beach roughly $1 million in legal fees. The airlines, however, have asked that the full panel of 12 appellate justices review the ruling, which was issued by three of the justices.

A decision is expected in the next few weeks, Lyons said.