A STUDY OF U. S. AIRPORT LANDING FEES

The Torrance landing fee program was instituted by Council to reduce operations in response to neighbor complaints. The early draft of the program created by City staff excluded based aircraft except those that were part of a fleet of 3 or more. This was an obvious shot at the flight schools (Sling especially) and was evidence of the City's intent. The City legal staff recognized that this would be criticized as discriminatory and a clear violation of the equal access concept. The proposal was amended to include all aircraft, except a curious carve out for Robinson Helicopter.

Comparing the program to others at similar airports suggests that the intent of the city of Torrance was reducing operations rather than generating revenue. A substantial number of programs at similar airports offer exclusions for based aircraft, and smaller aircraft. With the lighter weights, the amount of revenue to be had from these operators is small and based aircraft are already paying for the operation of the airport with hangar/tie down rent. Of 95 airports examined, 67 have no fees for any based aircraft. When the size of aircraft is considered, the number of airports that charge landing fees to based aircraft under 4000 lb. drops to 9 (out of 95). Two of these are private and not eligible for federal funds (DeLaurentis, Boerne Stage Airfield), 3 more are large air carrier airports (Atlantic City International, Dallas Love Field, Long Island MacArthur). One more has substantially reduced fees for based aircraft (Brookhaven). That leaves the following:

• East Hampton Town Airport
• Santa Monica Airport
• Torrance Municipal Airport

We know that Santa Monica is slated for closure and doing their best to discourage airport use. East Hampton is under similar pressure. Their motives are likely similar to those of Torrance; to use landing fees as an illegal access restriction.

Editor's notes:
Peter used data from Vector PlanePass.

• In 2024, Vector billed Torrance Airport customers a total of $284,235 for landing fees and those customers paid Vector $220,950. The City of Torrance received a total of $172,342--61% of the amount billed by Vector.
• In 2025, Vector billed Torrance Airport customers a total of $282,882 for landing fees and those customers paid Vector $229,903. The City of Torrance received a total of $179,329--69% of the amount billed by Vector.
• Click here to see Peter's analysis spreadsheet.

The City claimed that landing fees were "necessry to fund the operation and maintenance of the airport" in spite of the fact that they annually transfer approximately $10 million out of the Airport Fund into the Generl Fund because "the funds are not needed for airport operation and maintnance."