Shuttle Owners Sue Over LAX Exclusion

Mom-and-pop van shuttle owners fighting to remain at Los Angeles International Airport have moved their battle into the courtroom, succeeding in delaying a city council vote on a plan to give three shuttle companies near-exclusive rights to operate at LAX.

Shuttle 2000, a coalition of 14 small van shuttle operators, filed a lawsuit late last month asking for an injunction that effectively would require LAX officials to reopen the bidding process and consider additional competitors.

The Los Angeles City Council had been expected to vote on the three-company plan as early as Wednesday. But the matter has been postponed to at least Oct. 23 after Shuttle 2000 secured an Oct. 21 injunction hearing, according to Bernard LeSage, attorney for the mom-and-pop shuttle owners.

“All we want is a fair shake,” LeSage said. “We just want the same chance to compete as the big guys.”

The lawsuit is just the latest round in what has been a long and contentious fight to overhaul shuttle service at LAX. Concerned about traffic snarls, air pollution and consumer complaints about lousy service, airport officials earlier this year selected three full-service carriers for LAX, down from the current 38.

Consortiums led by SuperShuttle, Prime Time Shuttle and Xpress Shuttle prevailed in the lengthy bidding process. These carriers agreed to pay a minimum of $1 million annually to LAX for the near-exclusive rights to pick up passengers there.

Mom-and-pop van companies were outraged at the airport’s decision, claiming that the bidding process had been structured to favor big carriers such as SuperShuttle and Prime Time.

The Shuttle 2000 lawsuit alleges that the Board of Airport Commissioners violated the city’s public contracting laws by altering the bidding process to allow the three winners extra time to get state Public Utilities Commission licensing--a privilege not extended to rejected bidders.

The suit also alleges restraint of trade and claims airport officials relied on faulty information regarding consumer complaints, air quality and traffic congestion when it made the decision to slash the number of van shuttle competitors at LAX.

Senior Assistant City Atty. Brent Lobner declined to discuss the lawsuit, except to say that he expects the city to prevail.

“Sometimes there are people who don’t get selected and they sue,” Lobner said. “Hopefully it won’t delay anything.”

Shuttle 2000 member Barry Bordbar says he knows the injunction is a longshot, but he says the court is his last chance to protect his livelihood.

“As soon as they kick us out of the airport, we’re out of business,” he said.

Barring an injunction, the city council is expected to sign off on the three-company plan. Airport officials say it could be implemented as quickly as 60 days after the council’s approval.