Ontario Airport Authority Caps Travel After $184,997 Reimbursement

Alan Wapner drew $184,997 from the Ontario International Airport Authority between March 2021 and June 2026. The former board member was reimbursed for 72 trips during that five-year period, according to records released under the California Public Records Act.

Wapner’s airport authority expenses were 64 times greater than the combined travel reimbursements of the other three board members. Board president Ron Loveridge received $2,865 for travel in the same timeframe. The remaining two members did not request reimbursement. Across five different agencies, Wapner reported 132 trips and collected a total of $283,630. The other four boards paid him a combined $98,632.

Travel funded by the airport authority took Wapner to Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, the Bahamas, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Madrid. He also made repeated visits to Hawaii. In January 2023, he billed $8,939.40 for a 17-day conference in Maui, which included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom house in Lahaina. A trip to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 cost $14,325 and included his wife. A September 2025 trip to Hong Kong cost $12,701, with airfare accounting for $7,437 of that total.

Wapner defended the expenses in an email, stating that his travel was necessary to be effective in his position. He said the trips provided access to airline executives, concession operators, and federal officials. Loveridge said the spending met authority rules at the time. He noted that commissioners did not know about the trips because Wapner did not report back to the full board. Loveridge added that the money came from airport revenue rather than tax dollars.

The FBI searched Wapner’s Ontario home on July 28. Agents also searched the homes or offices of Supervisor Curt Hagman, attorney Frank Lizarraga, and others tied to businessman James Su. Subpoenas were issued to Ontario International Airport and Ontario City Hall. As of October 22, no charges were known to have been filed. The City Council removed Wapner from all committee appointments, including the airport board. He has dropped a planned mayoral run and is seeking another term on the council, where he has served since 1994.

On September 24, the airport board approved bylaw changes. Monthly stipends are now capped at $1,000. Members are limited to one domestic conference per year and one international conference every other year, each requiring advance approval. Spouses’ travel can no longer be paid for. On October 19, the board voted to create an internal auditing program that includes a full-time auditor.

Catherine Lhamon of the UC Berkeley Edley Center on Law and Democracy said personal profit from public service is the definition of corruption. She called for clear rules and public scrutiny of officials. Wapner said the board was scapegoating him and that travel was a budget line item members could have questioned.