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Los Angeles International

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Los Angeles

IATA: LAX – ICAO: KLAX – FAA LID: LAX

Summary

Airport type Public

Owner City of Los Angeles

Operator Los Angeles World

Serves

Location Los Angeles, , . Hub for .

. [1]

.

.

Elevation AMSL 126 ft / 38 m

Coordinates 33°56′33″N 118°24′29″WCoordinates:

33°56′33″N 118°24′29″W

Website www.lawa.org

Maps

FAA airport diagram

LAX

Location within the Los Angeles metropolitan area

Runways

Direction Length Surface ft m

6L/24R 8,925 2,720 Concrete

6R/24L 10,285 3,135 Concrete

7L/25R 12,091 3,685 Concrete

7R/25L 11,096 3,382 Concrete

Helipads

Number Length Surface

ft m

H3 63 19 Concrete

Statistics

Passengers (2011) 61,859,523

Aircraft operations (2011) 601,416

Source: Federal Aviation Administration[2]

Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX) is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, thesecond-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually. LAX is located in southwestern Los Angeles along the Pacific coast in the neighborhood of Westchester, 16 miles (26 km) from the downtown core and is the primary airport of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), an agency of the Los Angeles city government formerly known as the Department of Airports.

In 2011, LAX was the eighth busiest airport in the world after Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Capital International Airport, , , O'Hare International Airport, International Airport, and Haneda International Airport with 61,862,052 passengers.[3][4]

LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles Area, but other airports including Bob , , , and LA/Ontario International Airport also serve the region. LAX is also the busiest airport in California and the U.S. West Coast in terms of flight operations, passenger traffic and air cargo activity, leading it to be referred to as the "Gateway to the Pacific Rim."

Contents

[hide]  1 History

o 1.1 The "X" in LAX

o 1.2 Aircraft spotting

 2 Terminals

o 2.1 Terminal 1

o 2.2 Terminal 2

o 2.3 Terminal 3

o 2.4 Terminal 4

o 2.5 Terminal 5

o 2.6 Terminal 6

o 2.7 Terminal 7

o 2.8 Terminal 8

o 2.9 Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT)

 3 Airlines and destinations

o 3.1 Scheduled cargo services

 4 Traffic and statistics

 5 Terminal Connections

 6 Airport lounges

 7 Ground transportation

o 7.1 Freeways and roads

o 7.2 Bus

. 7.2.1 FlyAway Bus

. 7.2.2 Metro

. 7.2.3 Taxis and private shuttles

 8 Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles

 9 Flight Path Learning Center

 10 Other facilities

 11 Incidents involving LAX

o 11.1 1930s

o 11.2 1940s

o 11.3 1950s

o 11.4 1960s o 11.5 1970s

o 11.6 1980s

o 11.7 1990s

o 11.8 2000s

 12 Planned modernization

 13 In popular culture

 14 See also

 15 References

 16 External links

[edit]History

Los Angeles Municipal Airport on Army Day, c. 1931

Hangar No. 1 was the first structure at LAX, built in 1929, restored in 1990 and remaining in active use.[5]

Los Angeles International Airport withMarina Del Rey in the foreground and Palos Verdes Peninsula in the background

In 1928, the Los Angeles City Council selected 640 acres (1.00 sq mi; 260 ha) in the southern part of Westchester as the site of a new airport for the city. The fields of wheat, barley and lima beans were converted into dirt landing strips without any terminal buildings. It was named Mines Field for William W. Mines, the real estate agent who arranged the deal.[6] The first structure, Hangar No. 1, was erected in 1929 and is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[7]

Mines Field was dedicated and opened as the official airport of Los Angeles in 1930, and the city purchased it to be a municipal airfield in 1937. The name was officially changed to Los Angeles Airport in 1941, and to Los Angeles International Airport in 1949.[8] The main airports for Los Angeles had been Burbank Airport (then known as Union Air Terminal, and later Lockheed) and the Grand in Glendale. By 1940 most airlines served Burbank only; in late 1946 most airline flights moved to LAX, but Burbank always retained a few.[9]

Mines Field did not extend west of Sepulveda Boulevard (backwards 1939 aerial view); Sepulveda was rerouted c. 1950 to loop around the west ends of the extended east-west runways (now runways 25L and 25R), which by November 1950 were 6,000 feet (1,800 m) long. (Aerial viewlooking south) A tunnel was completed in 1953 allowing Sepulveda Boulevard to revert to straight and pass beneath the two runways; it was the first tunnel of its kind. For the next few years the two runways were 8,500 feet (2,600 m) long.[8]

On July 10, 1956 Boeing's 707 prototype (the 367-80) visited LAX. The Los Angeles Times said it was its first appearance at a "commercial airport" outside the area. [10]

The April 1957 Official Airline Guide showed 66 weekday departures on United Airlines, 32 American Airlines, 32 , 27 TWA, 9Southwest, 5 Bonanza Air Lines and 3 Mexicana Airlines; also 22 flights a week on Pan American World Airways and 5 a week on Scandinavian Airlines (the only direct flights to Europe).

In 1958 the architecture firm Pereira & Luckman was contracted to design a master plan for the complete re- design of the airport in anticipation of the "jet age." The plan, developed along with architects and Paul Williams, called for a massive series of terminals and parking structures to be built in the central portion of the property, with these buildings connected at the center by a huge steel-and-glass dome. The plan was never realized, and shortly thereafter the Theme Building was constructed on the site originally intended for the dome.

The distinctive white "Theme Building", designed by Pereira & Luckman architect Paul Williams and constructed in 1961 by Robert E. McKee Construction Co., resembles a flying saucer that has landed on its four legs. A restaurant with a sweeping view of the airport is suspended beneath two arches that form the legs. The Los Angeles City Council designated the building a cultural and historical monument in 1992. A $4 million renovation, withretro-futuristic interior and electric lighting designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, was completed before the "Encounter Restaurant" opened there in 1997.[11] Tourists and passengers are able to take the elevator up to the roof of the "Theme Building", which closed after the September 11 attacks for security reasons and reopened to the public on weekends beginning on June 10, 2010.[12]

American Airlines' 707-123s flew the first jet passengers out of LAX to New York in January 1959; the first wide-body jets were TWA's Boeing 747s to New York in early 1970.[8] All terminals were originally satellite buildings out in the middle of the tarmac, reached by underground tunnels from the ticketing area.[13]

In 1981 the airport began a $700 million expansion in preparation for the 1984 Summer Olympics. To streamline traffic flow and ease congestion the U-shaped roadway leading to the terminal entrances was given a second level, with the lower level for arriving passengers and the upper level for departing. Connector buildings between the ticketing areas and the satellite buildings were added, changing the gate layout to a "pier" design and completely enclosing the facilities. Two new terminals (Terminal 1 and the International Terminal) were constructed and Terminal 2, then two decades old, was rebuilt. Multi-story parking structures were also built in the center of the airport.[8]

On July 8, 1982, groundbreaking for the two new terminals were conducted by Mayor Tom Bradley and World War II aviator General James Doolittle. The $123 million, 963,000-square-foot (89,500 m2) International Terminal was opened on June 11, 1984, and named in Bradley's honor.[8]

On April 29, 1992 the airport was closed for violence and cleanups after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots over the Rodney King beating.

The airport was closed again on January 17, 1994 due to the Northridge earthquake.

In 1996 a $29 million, 277-foot-tall (84 m) air traffic control tower was built near the Theme Building. [8]

The Theme Building decorated with light displays for the Christmas season

In 2000, before Los Angeles hosted the Democratic National Convention, fifteen glass pylons up to ten stories high were placed in a circle around the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Century Boulevard, with additional pylons of decreasing height following Century Boulevard eastward, evoking a sense of departure and arrival. Conceived by the designers at Selbert Perkins Design, the towers and 30 foot "LAX" letters provide a gateway to the airport and offer a welcoming landmark for visitors.[14] Illuminated from the inside, the pylons slowly cycle through a rainbow of colors that represents the multicultural makeup of Los Angeles and can be customized to celebrate events, holidays or a season. This was part of an overall face-lift that included new signage and various other cosmetic enhancements that was led by Tokio Tanaka Architects. The LAX pylons underwent improvements in 2006, as stage lighting inside the cylinders was replaced with LED lights to conserve energy, make maintenance easier and enable on-demand cycling through various color effects.[15]

At various times LAX has been a hub for TWA, , Braniff International, , , Pacific , US Airways, Western Airlines, and the Flying Tiger Line.

Starting in the mid-1990s under Mayors Richard Riordan and James Hahn, modernization and expansion plans for LAX were prepared, only to be stymied by a coalition of residents who live near the airport. They cited increased noise, pollution and traffic impacts of the project. In late 2005, newly elected Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was able to reach a compromise, allowing some modernization to go forward while encouraging future growth among other facilities in the region.

It is illegal[dubious – discuss] to limit the number of passengers that can use an airport; however, in December 2005 the city agreed to limit their construction of passengers gates to 163. Once passenger usage hits 75 million, a maximum of two gates a year for up to five years will be closed, which theoretically will limit maximum growth to 79 million passengers a year. In exchange, civil lawsuits were abandoned, to allow the city to complete badly needed improvements to the airport.[16]

On March 25, 2007 Runway 7R/25L reopened after being shifted 55 feet (17 m) south to prevent runway incursions and prepare the runway for the Airbus A380. Additional storm drains and enhanced runway lighting were added. Runway 25L is now 800 feet (240 m) south of the parallel runway centerline to centerline, allowing a parallel taxiway between the runways; the taxiway was completed in 2008. On September 18, 2006 Los Angeles World Airports started a $503 million facelift of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Improvements include installing new paging, air conditioning and electrical systems, along with new elevators, escalators, baggage carousels, and a digital sign that will automatically update flight information. Also a large explosives-detection machine will be incorporated into the terminal's underground baggage system, and the federal government will fund part of the system.

According to the Los Angeles Times, in February 2007, many Pacific Rim carriers began reducing flights to LAX in favor of more modern airports, such as International Airport, due to the aging facilities at Tom Bradley International Terminal.[17]

On August 15, 2007 the Los Angeles City Council approved a $1.2 billion project to construct a new 10-gate terminal to handle international flights using the A380.[18] Adding the first new gates built since the early 1980s, the new structure is to be built directly west of the Tom Bradley International Terminal on a site that is occupied mostly by aircraft hangars, with passengers to be ferried to the building by a people mover extending from the terminal.[18] It is expected to be completed in 2012.

On March 19, 2007 the Airbus A380 made its debut at LAX, landing on runway 24L. Though LAX was originally supposed to be the first US city to see the A380, Airbus later decided to forgo LAX in favor of New York's JFK. After city officials fought for the super-jumbo jet to land at LAX, the A380 landed simultaneously in New York's JFK airport and LAX.[19]

On March 31, 2008 the Los Angeles Times reported that foreign carriers were once again flocking to LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal. The weaker dollar caused a surge in demand for US travel, resulting in airlines either adding new destinations or increasing frequencies to existing routes. New airlines that introduced flights to LAX are Virgin Australia and Emirates Airlines. Emirates has operations to Dubai. In 2011, nonstop service to 's Ataturk International Airport was inaugurated by Turkish Airlines, providing the first nonstop service between Los Angeles and Turkey, while Iberia Airlines reinstated nonstop Los Angeles- Madrid flights as part of its inclusion in the alliance. Meanwhile, Korean Airlines, Qantas, Air , and Air France have all augmented their services to Los Angeles by adding new flights to existing routes. The influx of new flights comes amidst the renovation of the airport and consolidates LAX's status as the premiere international gateway to the Western United States.[20]

Qantas launched service with the Airbus A380 on October 20, 2008, using the west side remote gates. Though initially deployed between LAX-SYD, Qantas' A380 service was extended to the popular LAX- route. In July 2011, Airlines began service with the Airbus A380 on a Singapore-Tokyo-Los Angeles routing, followed shortly by Korean Airlines, which initiated nonstop Seoul-Los Angeles service with the Airbus A380 in October 2011. In addition, Air France has announced its intent to launch A380 flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Los Angeles in May 2012. With the addition of these services, LAX boasts five daily flights on the Airbus A380. Today, the airport is a major hub for United Airlines, , American Airlines,[21] and Great Lakes Airlines and a focus city for Southwest Airlines, , Air New Zealand,Qantas, and Volaris. It also serves as an international gateway for Delta Air Lines. Following United's merger with Continental Airlines, the airport will be the seventh largest hub for United.

[edit]The "X" in LAX

Before the 1930s, existing airports used a two-letter abbreviation based on the weather stations at the airports. At that time, "LA" served as the designation for Los Angeles Airport. But with the rapid growth in the aviation industry the designations expanded to three letters c. 1947, and "LA" became "LAX." The letter "X" has no specific meaning in this identifier.[22] "LAX" is also used for the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro and by for in downtown Los Angeles.

[edit]Aircraft spotting

The "Imperial Hill" area (also known as Clutter's Park) in El Segundo from which the South Complex of the airport can be viewed is a prime location for aircraft spotting. Another spotting location sits under the final approach for runways 24 L&R on a lawn next to the Westchester In-N-Out Burger. This is one of the few remaining locations in Southern California from which spotters may watch such a wide variety of low-flying commercial airliners from directly underneath a flightpath.

[edit]Terminals

A terminal map of LAX.

LAX handled 28,861,477 enplanements, the total number of passengers boarding an aircraft, in 2008. This makes LAX the third busiest airport in the U.S. in terms of enplanements.[23] It was the world's sixth-busiest airport by passenger traffic[24] and eleventh-busiest by cargo traffic,[25] serving over 60 million passengers and more than two million tons of freight in 2006. It is the busiest airport in the state of California, and the third- busiest airport by passenger traffic in the United States based on final 2006 statistics.[26] In terms of international passengers, LAX is the second busiest in the U.S.(behind only JFK in )[27] and 26th worldwide.[28] The airport also claims to be "the world's busiest origin and destination (O & D) airport"in 2011[29] — i.e., the busiest airport as measured by the number of passengers who are not changing planes. The number of aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs) has steadily increased to 603,912 in 2011, up from 575,875 in 2010. [4]

LAX connects 87 domestic and 69 international destinations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania. Its most prominent airlines are United Airlines (18.24% of passenger traffic, combined with traffic), American Airlines (14.73%) and Southwest Airlines (12.62%). Other airlines with a presence on a lesser scale include Delta Air Lines (11.12%) and Alaska Airlines (4.74%).[30]

The LAX control tower and Theme Building as seen from Terminal 4

LAX has nine passenger terminals arranged in a "U," also called a "horseshoe." The terminals are served by a shuttle bus.

United Airlines/United Express operates the most departures from the airport per day (210), followed by American Airlines/ American Eagle (126), and Southwest Airlines (123).[30]

United Airlines operates to the most destinations followed by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines/Horizon. The largest international carriers at LAX include Qantas, Air New Zealand, Air , Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Korean Air.

In addition to these terminals, there are 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m2) of cargo facilities at LAX, and a heliport operated by Bravo Aviation.Qantas[31] has a maintenance facility at LAX even though it's not a hub.

[edit]Terminal 1

Terminal 1 has 15 gates: 1–3, 4A–4B, 5–14 and houses AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines and US Airways. AirTran Airways moved from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 on April 11, 2012 in an effort to combine operations with Southwest. Terminal 1 was built in 1984, it is the largest of all the terminals in terms of number of gates.

[edit]Terminal 2 Terminal 2 has 11 gates: 21–21B, 22–22B, 23, 24–24B, 25–28. It hosts most foreign airlines not using the Tom Bradley international Terminal along with a couple domestic airlines: Aeromexico, , Air China, Air France/KLM, Air New Zealand, Alitalia, , , TACA/Lacsa, , Volaris and WestJet. Former tenants of the terminal include and Pan American World Airways.

Terminal 2 was built in 1962 and was the original international terminal. It was completely torn down and rebuilt in stages between 1984 and 1988 at a cost of $94 million[32]. The rebuilt terminal was designed by Leo A Daly[33]. Terminal 2 has CBP (Customs and Border Protection) facilities to process arriving international passengers.

Note: Air France's A380 flight will utilize the International Terminal's A380-capable gates, which are lacking in Terminal 2. Some TACA/LACSA arrivals are processed at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

[edit]Terminal 3

Terminal 3 has 12 gates: 30, 31A–31B, 32, 33A–33B, 34–36, 37A–37B and 38 (gate 39 was removed to make room for Virgin Australia 777 operations at gate 38.) Terminal 3 opened in 1961 and was ' terminal. It formerly housed some American Airlines flights after that airline acquired and TWA in 1999 and 2001, respectively. Eventually, all American flights were moved to Terminal 4. As of April 2012, JetBlue, , Virgin Australia and Virgin America tenant Terminal 3.

AirTran Airways relocated to Terminal 1 on April 11, 2012 in an effort to combine operations with Southwest.

Note: Virgin America uses Terminal 2 for arrivals from Cancun and Virgin Australia uses Terminal 5 for arrivals from Australia.

[edit]Terminal 4

Interior view of Terminal 4

Terminal 4 has 14 gates: 40–41, 42A–42B, 43–45 (gate 44 is for the bus to the American Eagle satellite terminal), 46A–46B, 47A–47B, 48A–48B, 49A. Terminal 4 was built in 1961 and, in 2001, was renovated at a cost of $400 million in order to improve the appearance and functionality of the facility. The renovation was designed by Rivers & Christian[34]. It is home for American Airlines, which operates its West Coast hub at the Airport, and for its subsidiary commuter carrier, American Eagle. American is the only tenant at T4, other than daily Qantas departure to Brisbane. An international arrivals facility serving American Airlines flights was also added in the renovation in 2001.

Note: American Eagle flights operate from a remote terminal just east of Terminal 8. Gate 44 serves as the shuttle bus stop at Terminal 4. The remote terminal is also connected by shuttle buses to Terminals 2 (Gate 22A), 3 (Gate 35) and 5, because of Eagle's codesharing with Hawaiian, Alaska andDelta, respectively.

[edit]Terminal 5

Terminal 5 has 14 gates: 50A-50B, 51A–51B, 52A–52B, 53A–53B, 54A–54B, 55A, 56–57, 58, 59. Western Airlines occupied this terminal at its opening in 1962, and continued to do so until Western was merged with Delta Air Lines on April 1, 1987. Terminal 5 was re-designed by Gensler[35], expanded to include a connector building between the original satellite and the ticketing facilities and remodeled from 1986 through early 1988. It was unofficially named 'Delta's Oasis at LAX' with the slogan 'Take Five at LAX' when construction was completed in the summer of 1988. Northwest Airlines moved all operations to Terminal 5 and Terminal 6 alongside Delta Air Lines June 30, 2009 as part of their merger with the airline.

[edit]Terminal 6

A Virgin America Airbus A319 at Terminal 6 prior to the airline's move to Terminal 3.

Terminal 6 has 14 gates: 60–63, 64A–64B, 65A-65B, 66, 67, 68A–68B, 69A–69B. Parts of this terminal have changed little from its opening in 1961; in 1979, new gates were expanded from the main building, as is obvious from the rotunda at the end. Four of these gates have two jetways, which can accommodate large aircraft.

Terminal 6 hosts airline tenants with a variety of relationships with the Airport. Continental Airlines originally built the Connector Building (which links the Ticketing and rotunda buildings). United uses the connector gates, supplementing its base at Terminal 7. Delta leases space from the Airport in Terminal 6, in addition to its base at Terminal 5. Most of the rotunda gates can feed arriving passengers into a sterile corridor that shunts them to Terminal 7's customs and immigration facility. Other airlines, such as Frontier, lease space and operate at Terminal 6 under a monthly tariff agreement. Also, one foreign-flag airline, Copa, departs from Terminal 6.

Alaska Airlines in April 2011 agreed to a deal with Los Angeles World Airports to renovate Terminal 6. The airline moved its flights to Terminal 6 on March 20, 2012, and Spirit Airlines was relocated to Terminal 3.[36]

Both United and Alaska operate lounges in Terminal 6.

Former tenants of the terminal include Continental Airlines until it's memger with United Airlines in 2011 and went bankrupt in 1991.

[edit]Terminal 7

Terminal 7 has 11 gates: 70A–70B, 71A–71B, 72–73, 74A-74B, 75A–75B, 76A, 77A–77B. This terminal opened in 1962. Four of these gates have two jetways, which accommodate large aircraft. Terminal 7 is the home to United Airlines. The interior of the terminal was renovated between January 1998 and June 1999 at a cost of $200 million and was designed by HNTB. Added were new gate podiums, increased size of gate areas, relocated concessions, expanded restrooms, new flooring and new signage.[37] Also, the roof of the terminal was raised and new, brighter light fixtures were added in order to provide more overall lighting.[38] The terminal also contains a and International First Class Lounge.

[edit]Terminal 8

Terminal 8 has 9 gates: 80–88. This terminal was added for smaller jets and turboprops in 1988 and formerly served flights. In 2002, United moved all non-Express flights to Terminals 6 and 7. However, Terminal 8 is now used once again for United flights.

[edit]Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT)

Tom Bradley International Terminal in the early morning

Check-in counters in the Tom Bradley International Terminal

The Tom Bradley International Terminal has 12 gates, including six on the north concourse and six on the south concourse. In addition, there are nine satellite gates for international flights located on the west side of LAX. Passengers are ferried to the west side gates by bus. The terminal hosts most of the major international airlines, with the exception of those housed in Terminal 2.

This terminal opened for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games and is named in honor of Tom Bradley, the first African-American and longest serving (20 years) mayor of Los Angeles, and champion of LAX. The terminal is located at the west end of the passenger terminal area between Terminals 3 and 4. Tom Bradley International Terminal hosts 27 airlines, and handles 10 million passengers per year.

In 2010, modernization efforts resulted in additional space for inline baggage screening, three large alliance- aligned lounges plus one unaffiliated lounge (to replace the multiple airline specific lounges) and cosmetic upgrades in the departures and arrivals areas.

On November 17, 2008, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa unveiled design concepts for LAX's Bradley West and Midfield Concourse projects. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), along with city officials, selected Fentress Architects in association with HNTB to develop a design concept for the modernization of LAX. The emphasis of the modernization is to improve the passenger experience.

On February 22, 2010, construction began on the $1.5 billion Bradley West project. The project will add over 1,250,000 square feet (116,000 m2) of shops, restaurants, and passenger lounges, as well as new security screening, customs and immigration, and baggage claim facilities. The terminal's existing two concourses will be demolished and replaced with a larger pair with 18 gates, nine of which will be able to accommodate the A380. The terminal is expected to open in phases beginning in 2012, until the entire Bradley West extension completes in 2014.[39]

[edit]Airlines and destinations

LAX handles more "origin and destination" (i.e. not connecting) passengers than any other airport in the world.[40] It is the world's fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic as of 2011. [4] In terms of international passengers, LAX is the third-busiest in the U.S. (behind only New York-JFK and International Airport) and 26th worldwide as of October 2011.[28]

United Airlines/United Express operates the most departures from the airport followed by American Airlines/American Eagle and Southwest Airlines. United also operates to the most destinations, followed by American and Alaska Airlines/Horizon. Qantas operates the most trans-Pacific destinations (3), with nonstop service to , Melbourne, and Brisbane. Air Canada serves the most destinations in Canada (4). Lufthansa serves the most destinations in Europe (2), while Alaska Airlines serve the most destinations in Latin America (7).

Airlines Destinations Terminal

Aeroflot Moscow-Sheremetyevo TBIT

Aeroméxico , City 2

Hermosillo, León/Del Bajío

Aeroméxico Connect 2 Seasonal: Culiacán

Air Berlin-Tegel, Düsseldorf TBIT

Air Canada , Montréal-Trudeau, -Pearson, 2

Air China Beijing-Capital 2

1 Air France Papeete, Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2, TBIT

Air New Zealand Auckland, London-Heathrow, Rarotonga 2

Air Pacific Nadi TBIT

Air Tahiti Nui Papeete, Paris-Charles de Gaulle TBIT

AirTran Atlanta, Milwaukee [ends August 11, 2012] 1 Airways operated Airlines Destinations Terminal bySouthwest Airlines

Guadalajara, Ixtapa/, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, , Portland (OR), Puerto

Alaska Airlines Vallarta, San José del Cabo, Seattle/Tacoma, Vancouver,Washington-National 6 Seasonal: Anchorage

Alaska Airlines La Paz (Mexico), Loreto (Mexico), Mammoth Lakes, Medford, San Jose (CA), Santa Rosa operated byHorizon 6 Seasonal: Sun Valley Air

Alitalia Seasonal: Rome-Fiumicino 2

All Nippon Airways Tokyo-Haneda, Tokyo-Narita TBIT

Bellingham, Billings, Des Moines, Eugene, Fargo, Fayetteville (AR), Grand Junction, Idaho

Allegiant Air 6 Falls, Medford, Missoula, Pasco, Sioux Falls, Springfield (MO),Wichita

Austin, , Chicago-O'Hare, /Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, , Kahului, Kona, , Lihue, London- Heathrow, Miami, Nashville,New York-JFK, Newark, Orlando, St. Louis, San Francisco, San

American Airlines 4 José del Cabo, -Pudong, Tokyo-Narita, Toronto-Pearson, Washington- Dulles,Washington-National Seasonal: Eagle/Vail

Albuquerque, , El Paso, Fresno, -Intercontinental, Monterey, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, , ,San Jose (CA), Santa

American Eagle 4 (Satellite) Barbara, Santa Fe, Tucson Seasonal: Aspen

Arkefly Seasonal: Amsterdam 2

Asiana Airlines Seoul-Incheon TBIT

British Airways London-Heathrow TBIT

Cathay Pacific TBIT Airlines Destinations Terminal

China Airlines Taipei-Taoyuan TBIT

China Eastern Airlines Shanghai-Pudong TBIT

China Southern

Guangzhou TBIT

Airlines

Copa Airlines Panama City 6

Atlanta, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Detroit, Guatemala City, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Kansas City [begins August 14, 2012], Kahului, Kona, Lihue,Memphis, Miami, /St. Paul, New Orleans, New

Delta Air Lines 5,6 York-JFK, Orlando, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Sydney, Tampa, Tokyo-Haneda, Tokyo- Narita Seasonal: Cancún, Columbus (OH), Guadalajara, , Raleigh/Durham

Delta Kansas City [ends August 13, 2012], Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake Connection operated 5 City, San Diego, San Francisco by SkyWest Airlines

El Al -Ben Gurion TBIT

Emirates Dubai TBIT

EVA Air Taipei-Taoyuan TBIT

Frontier Airlines Springs, Denver 6

Frontier Airlines operated byRepublic Denver, Omaha 6 Airlines

[1] [41] Great Lakes Airlines Farmington, Merced, Prescott, Visalia 7 Airlines Destinations Terminal

Honolulu

Hawaiian Airlines 2 Seasonal: Kahului

Iberia Madrid TBIT

Japan Airlines Tokyo-Narita TBIT

JetBlue Airways Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York-JFK 3

KLM Amsterdam 2

Korean Air -Guarulhos, Seoul-Incheon, Tokyo-Narita TBIT

LAN Airlines Lima, Santiago de Chile TBIT

LAN Perú Lima TBIT

Lufthansa , Munich TBIT

Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo-Narita TBIT

Philippine Airlines Manila TBIT

2 Qantas Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney TBIT

Singapore Airlines Singapore, Tokyo-Narita TBIT

Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago-Midway, Denver, El Paso, Houston- Hobby, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Milwaukee [begins August 12, 2012], Nashville, New

Southwest Airlines 1 Orleans, Oakland, Phoenix, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, , San Francisco, San Jose (CA),Tucson Airlines Destinations Terminal

Chicago-O'Hare [ends September 5, 2012], Dallas/Fort Worth [begins April 25,

Spirit Airlines 3 2013],[42] Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas

Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul 2

Swiss International Air

Zürich TBIT

Lines

TACA Airlines San Salvador 2

TACA Airlines Guatemala City, San José (Costa Rica), San Salvador 2 operated byLacsa

Thai Airways Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Seoul-Incheon TBIT

International

Transaero Moscow-Domodedovo TBIT

Turkish Airlines Istanbul-Atatürk TBIT

Baltimore, Boston, Cancún, Chicago- O'Hare, , Denver, Guadalajara, Hilo, Honolulu, Houston- Intercontinental, Kahului, Kona, Las Vegas,León/Del Bajío, Lihue, London-

United Airlines Heathrow, Melbourne, Mexico City, New Orleans, New York- 6,7,8 JFK, Newark, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Puerto Vallarta, San Francisco, San José del Cabo, Shanghai-Pudong, Sydney, Tokyo-Narita, Washington-Dulles Seasonal:

United

Express operated Durango (Mexico) 6 byExpressJet Airlines

Albuquerque, Austin, Bakersfield, Boise, Carlsbad, Colorado Springs, Dallas/Fort Worth, El United Express Paso, Fresno, Imperial, Inyokern, Las Vegas, Monterey,Oklahoma City, Palm operated bySkyWest Springs, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San 7,8 Airlines Diego, San Jose (CA), San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Seattle/Tacoma, St. George, Tucson, Tulsa, Vancouver, Yuma Seasonal: Aspen, Bozeman, Hayden/Steamboat Springs [begins December 22, Airlines Destinations Terminal

2012], Jackson Hole, Montrose

US Airways Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix 1

US Airways

Expressoperated Phoenix 1 by

US Airways Express

operated by SkyWest Phoenix 1 Airlines

Boston, Cancún, Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, New York- [43] Virgin America JFK, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), San Francisco,Seattle/Tacoma, Washington- 3 Dulles

Virgin Atlantic London-Heathrow 2

Virgin Australia Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney 3

Aguascalientes, Culiacán [begins August 4, 2012], Guadalajara, Mexico

Volaris 2 City, Morelia, Zacatecas

WestJet Calgary, , Vancouver 2

Notes

. ^1 Air France operates from both Terminal 2 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

. ^2 Qantas flights to/from New York–JFK are only for non-domestic, connecting traffic. [edit]Scheduled cargo services

Airlines Destinations

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Portland (OR), San Francisco, San José

ABX Air (Costa Rica), Seattle/ Airlines Destinations

AeroUnion Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey

Air China Cargo Beijing-Capital

Air Transport

Toledo

International

Ameriflight Phoenix, Tucson

Asiana Cargo Seoul-Incheon

Atlas Air Fairbanks,

Cargolux Calgary, -Prestwick, Indianapolis, Luxembourg, Mexico City

Cathay Pacific Cargo Hong Kong, Vancouver

China Cargo Airlines Shanghai-Pudong

China Southern Cargo Shanghai-Pudong

EVA Air Cargo Anchorage, San Francisco, Taipei-Taoyuan

Burbank, Fort Worth/Alliance, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Memphis, Newark, Oakland, San

FedEx Express Diego, Sydney

Florida West

Bogotá

International Airways

Kalitta Air Honolulu Airlines Destinations

Korean Air Cargo Seoul-Incheon, Tokyo-Narita

Lufthansa Cargo Frankfurt

MasAir Guadalajara, Mérida, Mexico City, Quito, São Paulo-Viracopos

Nippon Cargo Airlines Tokyo-Narita

Polar Air Cargo Anchorage, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong

Singapore Airlines Amsterdam, Hong Kong

Cargo

Southern Air Seoul-Incheon

UPS Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth, Louisville

World Airways Baltimore, San Francisco, Seoul-Incheon

Yangtze River Express Shanghai-Pudong

[edit]Traffic and statistics

Busiest International Routes from Los Angeles (October 2010 – September 2011)[44]

Rank Airport Passengers Change YoY (%)

1 London (Heathrow), 1,447,630 4.4

2 Tokyo (Narita), Japan 1,114,251 9.2 3 Sydney, Australia 1,104,245 6.5

4 Seoul (Incheon), South Korea 896,055 0.0

5 Taipei (Taoyuan), Taiwan 894,670 8.4

6 Vancouver, Canada 805,000 6.1

7 Mexico City, Mexico 696,657 7.6

8 Guadalajara, Mexico 693,928 9.8

9 Paris (Charles de Gaulle), France 568,912 3.0

10 Toronto, Canada 538,047 22.5

Busiest Domestic Routes from Los Angeles (April 2011 – March 2012) [45]

Rank Airport Passengers Carriers

1 San Francisco, California 1,646,000 American, Delta, Southwest, United, Virgin America

2 New York (JFK), New York 1,558,000 American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Virgin America

3 Chicago (O'Hare), Illinois 1,209,000 American, Spirit, United, Virgin America

4 Las Vegas, 1,158,000 American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, United

5 Dallas/Fort Worth, 1,100,000 American, United, Virgin America 6 Honolulu, 990,000 American, Delta, Hawaiian, United

7 Denver, Colorado 941,000 American, Frontier, Southwest, United

8 Atlanta, Georgia 899,000 AirTran, Delta

9 Seattle, Washington 775,000 Alaska, United, Virgin America

10 Phoenix, Arizona 751,000 American, Delta, Southwest, United, US Airways

Traffic by calendar year

Aircraft Freight Mail Passengers Movements (tons) (tons)

1994 51,050,275 689,888 1,516,567 186,878

1995 53,909,223 732,639 1,567,248 193,747

1996 57,974,559 763,866 1,696,663 194,091

1997 60,142,588 781,492 1,852,487 212,410

1998 61,215,712 773,569 1,787,400 264,473

1999 64,279,571 779,150 1,884,526 253,695

2000 67,303,182 783,433 2,002,614 246,538

2001 61,606,204 738,433 1,779,065 162,629 2002 56,223,843 645,424 1,869,932 92,422

2003 54,982,838 622,378 1,924,883 97,193

2004 60,704,568 655,097 2,022,911 92,402

2005 61,489,398 650,629 2,048,817 88,371

2006 61,041,066 656,842 2,022,687 80,395

2007 62,438,583 680,954 2,010,820 66,707

2008 59,815,646 622,506 1,723,038 73,505

2009 56,520,843 544,833 1,599,782 64,073

2010 59,069,409 575,835 1,852,791 74,034

2011 61,862,052 603,912 1,773,215 80,442

Source: Los Angeles World Airports [46]

[edit]Terminal Connections

This section does not cite anyreferences or sources.(October 2010)

Most inter-terminal connections require passengers to exit security, then walk or use a shuttle bus to get to the other terminal, then re-clear security. Such connections can be time consuming and do normally require set minimum connections times. A few LAX terminals provide airside connections, which allow connecting passengers to access other terminals without having to re-clear through security. The following airside connections are possible: . Terminals 6, 7, and 8 are all connected airside via walking corridors allowing connecting passengers a seamless connection. The only exception applies to international-arriving passengers in Terminals 6/7 who are making connections. International arrivals still need to exit through customs, then re-clear through security to have access to the departures area.

. Terminals 5 and 6 are connected via an airside underground walkway. Terminal 4 was previously connected via this underground walkway but it is currently closed off.

. Some airlines provide an airside shuttle bus connection between terminals. For example, Qantas offers a late afternoon/evening shuttle bus for passengers arriving in Terminal 4 to connect with flights departing from the Tom Bradley International Terminal.[47] [edit]Airport lounges

. Terminal 1 (US Airways Club)

. Terminal 2 (Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Air New Zealand Koru Club, Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club, Air France Club)

. Terminal 4 (American Airlines Admiral's Club, American Airlines Flagship Lounge, Qantas Club)

. Terminal 5 (Delta Air Lines Sky Club)

. Terminal 6 (Alaska Airlines Board Room, United Club)

. Terminal 7 (United Airlines International First Class Lounge, United Club)

. TBIT ( Lounge, SkyTeam Lounge, Oneworld Lounge, reLAX Lounge) [edit]Ground transportation

This section needs additionalcitations for verification.(January 2008)

One of the large LAX signs that greet visitors to Los Angeles International Airport. This sign is at the Century Boulevard entrance to the airport.

[edit]Freeways and roads LAX can be reached primarily using the Century Boulevard exit (and several more northern exits) on Interstate 405, or the Sepulveda Boulevard (State Route 1) exit on Interstate 105.

[edit]Bus

Out of a number of bus systems, many routes (local, rapid and express) of the LACMTA, Line 8 of Torrance Transit, Line 109 of Beach Cities Transit, and the regular as well as the rapid buses of both the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus system's Line 3 and the Culver CityBus's Line 6 all make stops at the LAX Transit Center in Parking Lot C. on 96th St., where shuttle bus "C" offers free connections to and from every LAX terminal, and at the Green Line Station, where shuttle bus "G" connects to and from the terminals.

[edit]FlyAway Bus

Main article: FlyAway Bus

FlyAway Bus at Los Angeles Union Station.

The FlyAway Bus is a shuttle service run by the LAWA, which travels between one of four off-airport areas: San Fernando Valley (Van Nuys), downtown Los Angeles (Union Station), the Westside (Westwood) and Orange County (Irvine). The shuttle service stops at every LAX terminal. The service hours vary based on the line. All lines use the regional system of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to expedite their trips.

[edit]Metro

Shuttle bus "G" offers a free connection to the Aviation/LAX station on the Metro Green Line. The line was originally intended to connect directly to the airport, but budgetary restraints and opposition from local long-term parking lot owners impeded its progress. A Metro Rail extension to LAX is a part of both LAX and Metro's master plans. Shuttle bus "G" runs every 10–15 minutes (synched with the train schedule) from 5am– 1:30am. [48]

[edit]Taxis and private shuttles

Taxicab services are operated by nine city-authorized taxi companies and regulated by Authorized Taxicab Supervision Inc. (ATS). ATS maintains a taxicab holding lot under the 96th Street Bridge where, at peak periods, hundreds of cabs queue up to wait their turn to pull into the central terminal area to pick up riders. A number of private shuttle companies also offer limousine and bus services to LAX airport.

[edit]Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles

Main article: Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles

The airport also functions as a joint civil-military facility, providing a base for the United States Coast Guard and its Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles facility, operating 4 HH-65 Dolphinhelicopters, which covers Coast Guard operations in various Southern California locations, including Catalina Island.

Missions include search and rescue (SAR), Law enforcement, aids to navigation support (such as operating lighthouses) and various military operations. In addition, Coast Guard helicopters assigned to the air station deploy to Coast Guard cutters.

[edit]Flight Path Learning Center

The light towers, first installed in preparation for the Democratic National Convention in 2000, change colors throughout the night.

The Flight Path Learning Center is a museum located at 6661 Imperial Highway and was formerly known as the "West Imperial Terminal." This building used to house some charter flights (Condor Airlines) and regular scheduled flights by MGM Grand Air. It sat empty for 10 years until it was re-opened as a learning center for LAX.

The center contains information on the history of aviation, several pictures of the airport, as well as aircraft scale models, uniforms, and general airline memorabilia such as playing cards, china, magazines, signs, even a TWA gate information sign.

The museum claims to be "the only aviation museum and research center situated at a major airport and the only facility with a primary emphasis on contributions of civil aviation to the history and development of Southern California".[49] However, there are other museums at major airports including theUdvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum adjacent to Washington Dulles Airport, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Don Muang Airport, the Suomen ilmailumuseo (Finnish Aviation Museum) at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, the Frontier of Flight Museum at , and others.

[edit]Other facilities

The airport has the administrative offices of Los Angeles World Airports.[50]

Continental Airlines once had its corporate headquarters on the airport property. At a 1962 press conference in the office of Mayor of Los Angeles Sam Yorty, Continental Airlines announced that it planned to move its headquarters to Los Angeles in July 1963.[51] In 1963 Continental's headquarters moved to a two story, $2.3 million building on the grounds of the airport.[52][53] The July 2009 Continental Magazine issue stated that the move "underlined Continental's western and Pacific orientation."[54] On July 1, 1983 the airline's headquarters were relocated to the America Tower in the Neartown area of Houston.[55]

In addition to Continental, Western Airlines and Flying Tiger Line also had their headquarters on the LAX property.[56][57]