Los Angeles gives control of Ontario Airport back to city

ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- The city of Los Angeles struck a tentative agreement with the city of Ontario to sell and return the Ontario Airport to local control Thursday.

Ontario Councilman Alan Wapner is set to head the newly formed Ontario Airport Authority, which will oversee the airport.

In order to get the airport back, it is going to cost the Inland Empire $240 million to buy back the airport, but Wapner said there will be benefits.

"The Ontario International Airport Authority and the city of Ontario are committed to bringing down the cost of flying as well as increasing the amount of flights that are available to here," he added.

The workers at the airport aren't sure what the agreement means for them. It will be some time before the agreement can take effect as other governing bodies need to approve it. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said it may take as long as a year.