=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2002/12/11/s= tate0547EST0021.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, December 11, 2002 (AP) John Wayne Airport to add more gates, passengers (12-11) 02:47 PST SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to add six gates and increase the number of passengers at John Wayne Airport to 10.8 million people a year by 2011. The board's vote Tuesday still must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The plan will modify and extend a 1985 court settlement that established noise limits, restricted the hours of airport operation and limited passenger volume to 8.4 million a year. The settlement, which ended a lawsuit over airport noise brought by Newport Beach and community groups, expires in 2005. The revisions approved by county supervisors would extend the settlement= 's terms until 2015 and would increase the number of gates from 14 to 20. The maximum number of commercial flights would be raised from 73 to 85 per day. Newport Beach, which sits next to the airport and has many flights pass over its skies, has long fought to keep the restrictions intact. City officials, the county and airlines that operate at John Wayne have asked the FAA to determine if the proposed passenger cap and gate additions comply with federal law. FAA officials say they will release their opinion in a few weeks. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002 AP