Today, Van Nuys is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world, averaging over 230,000 takeoffs and landings annually.

[5] After years of negotiations, LAWA sold its interest in ONT to the newly formed Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) in December 2015 for a total of US$190 million.

[8] From 1969 to 1983, LAWA acquired over 17,500 acres through voluntary acquisitions and eminent domain to develop an intercontinental airport.

[9] Development of "Palmdale Intercontinental Airport" never materialized due in part to lack of demand for commercial air services, environmental litigation, and opposition from the United States Air Force (USAF) whose Plant 42 is located adjacent to LAWA-acquired land.

The agency eventually entered into a lease agreement with the USAF to use Air Force Plant 42 runways and to build and operate a small terminal.

LAWAPD has patrolled jointly with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) since the opening of the current terminal area in 1961.

On December 9, 2021, LAWA celebrated the opening of its new-state-of-the-art Airport Police Facility (APF)headquarters.

LAWA still owns over 17,500 acres of land in the Antelope Valley that was acquired for the never-developed "Palmdale Intercontinental Airport" and generates revenue by leasing portions of it.

[17] LAWA is a branch of the city of Los Angeles and is governed by a seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners.