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LAX celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the ‘Jet Age’ terminals

LAWA issued this progress report for LAX:

This composite image shows the Central Terminal Area of LAX in the 1960s (left) and today. Over the past 60 years, the airport has reimagined itself several times, and is once again on the cusp of the most ambitious modernization of any U.S. airport.

A MESSAGE FROM JUSTIN ERBACCI
CEO, Los Angeles World Airports

In May of 1961 the New York Times proclaimed there was a “spectacular airport opening in Los Angeles.” It was a pronouncement that the “Jet Age” of airport design was here, as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) set new standards for air travel around the world with its revolutionary design and unrivaled passenger amenities.

On opening day, June 25, 1961, the new LAX offered six new satellite terminals with a radical modular layout and underground passageways, 5,000 parking spaces, and the now iconic Theme Building – which offered admission to its observation deck at a cost of 50 cents for adults or 25 cents for children, with a coffee or cold drink included. The world was greatly impressed at this progressive, elegant airport that was the epitome of mid-century design, and that revitalized the golden age of travel using aircraft that were modern miracles of aviation.

Today, we acknowledge our proud history and heritage with the 60th anniversary of the Jet Age terminal dedication at LAX. More importantly, we also celebrate our future, which has never been brighter. For an airport that has evolved constantly during its nearly 100-year history – from a bean field in Westchester to one of the busiest airports in the world – there is a historical significance to this moment in time. We find ourselves once again on the cusp of unveiling yet another new age for air travel in Los Angeles.

Our $14.5 billion modernization is reimagining the LAX experience. The Automated People Mover train will fundamentally transform how tens of millions of people access the airport each year. Every terminal has been or will be modernized with the latest in technology and amenities. We are creating a digital marketplace in which passengers will be able to control most of the aspects of their journey from their phone, from reserved parking with automatic payment to streamlined mobile food ordering and delivery. And we will do so sustainably, with bold goals to become carbon neutral by 2045.

These and other projects allow LAWA to continue in its role as an important driver of the Southern California economy, providing thousands of local jobs and business opportunities.

At the same time, we are preparing to meet the demands of the future while staying within our existing footprint, with the environmental review process underway for airfield safety improvements, a new concourse and terminal, and elevated roadways to separate airport traffic from neighborhood traffic. We are doing all of this while being responsible, first-class neighbors to our community and engaging with local residents as we build the future world-class airport Los Angeles deserves ahead of the spotlight of the 2028 Olympics.

Below is a snapshot at how far we have come, and where we are going, as our history of innovation and imagination repeats itself at LAX.

Justin Erbacci
Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports

The Past (1961)

In December 1957, Los Angeles embarked in one of the West’s most complex construction projects with the construction of the modern LAX. When the satellite terminals opened in the summer of 1961, they were a modern marvel that reset public expectations of what air travel could be. New technology included automated doors, moving walkways, automatic parking pay machines, a telephone system that took four years to engineer, covered jet bridges and complex baggage conveyers. The airport was configured around a Central Terminal Area and saw daily activity including 20,000 passengers, 40,000 visitors and 32,000 workers employed by 158 tenants. Click here to view the 1960s documentary, “#1 World Way, the Story of Los Angeles International Airport.”

Terminals: In the summer of 1961, the new Jet Age LAX opened with six satellite terminals and a seventh concourse (connected to the United Airlines ticketing building). This new, modern facility made up the original Central Terminal Area (CTA) at the airport. Each satellite building was connected to its ticketing building (located on World Way) by a 300- to 400-foot tunnel. This was a radical new approach that influenced airport design for a generation.

Airlines: Operations at the redesigned LAX began at Terminal 7 in August 1961, and a total of 19 airlines served the airport at the time. International carriers flew from Terminal 2, with Trans World Airlines at Terminal 3, American Airlines at Terminal 4, Western Air Lines at Terminal 5, a group of regional airlines at Terminal 6 and United Airlines at Terminal 7 and the connected concourse.

Shops and Dining: Each of the new satellite terminals included a coffee shop and a sit-down restaurant with an attached cocktail lounge. A total of 21 dining rooms, bars, gift shops and newsstands were open. Each of the locations had a California or Western theme, including “Early Days of the Movie Industry” and “Famous Sights of Los Angeles.” They were constructed at a cost of $3 million to be “among the most spectacular in Southern California,” according to a 1961 press announcement. It was predicted the restaurants would sell 580,000 hamburgers each year.

Parking and Access: Most parking in the Central Terminal Area was in surface lots, including the site of the future Terminal 1, with a capacity of 5,000 cars, making it the world’s largest airport parking facilities at the time. Some metered parking also was available at a cost of 25 cents for three hours. The Central Terminal Area had only the ground-level roadway until a second level was constructed in the 1980s.

Airfield: Three runways were available in 1961, two on the south side of the airfield and one on the north side. FAA controllers worked from a 172-foot tall tower that was among the first structures to open in the new Central Terminal Area. The FAA tower managed 1,000 flight operations every 24 hours with eight controllers on duty.

Theme Building: A central point of the new Jet Age facilities, the Theme Building quickly became the symbol of mid-century design and synonymous with LAX. Upon opening, the building included an observation deck, a Bank of America branch, a “Sky Gourmet Restaurant,” barber shop, gift shop, employee cafeteria and central kitchen and commissary which served all the satellite terminal restaurants and lounges. The building was designed by a team that included famed LA architect Paul Revere Williams.

Technology: The new satellite terminals featured new technology including an underground, automated baggage movement system with magnetic coding for sorting bags. Other innovations were pre-recorded information boards activated by push button, automatic flight information display boards and covered loading bridges.

“Believe it or Not Facts” as published by the Los Angeles Times (1961)

The project included 1.2 million square feet of buildings and 175 acres of pavement, including parking lots and airfield surface
The drainage complex utilized six miles of reinforced concrete pipe
19 miles of underground electrical conduit were laid
Three miles of sewer lines were installed
Thirty miles of underground lines carrier jet fuel
38,000 miles of wire and cable were installed by Pacific Telephone Co.
6,500 rolls of roofing felt covered the new terminals
A half-million square yards of plaster was installed, enough for 900 average homes at the time
29,000 lighting fixtures were installed
165,000 tons of concrete was used

The Present (2021)

LAX has become the economic engine for the Los Angeles region, generating 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The airport is in the midst of a $14.5 billion modernization program, which will fundamentally transform how people access and experience Southern California’s premier international airport. With the 2028 Olympics around the corner, LAX is setting the stage for the next 60 years of air travel with fully modernized facilities, new technology, enhanced amenities and reimagined access via an Automated People Mover train.

Modernization: The $14.5 billion modernization of LAX continues to make significant progress, focused on not only modernizing the terminals, but creating new and better ways to access the airport. After breaking ground on four of these projects in 2019, 2021 is a year of ongoing progress and completions. So far this year, the stunning new West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal and an extension to Terminal 1 have both opened. Later this year, a new approximately 4,300-space parking facility will open to the east of the airport, followed by the opening of a new Airport Police Facility. Meanwhile, the Automated People Mover train system and Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility continue to see significant progress. Click here to learn more.

Operations: In 2019, LAX served nearly 88.1 million passengers and offered an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 113 destinations in the U.S. and 1,200 weekly nonstop flights to 91 markets in 46 countries on 72 commercial airlines. In 2019, LAX was the third-busiest airport in the world. LAX’s cargo operations also continue to grow, and so far in 2021 LAX is the No. 3 airport for total global trade by value among U.S. airports.

Technology: LAX is an industry leader with the newest technology including biometric self-boarding gates, the latest-generation Wi-Fi service, touchless check-in kiosks, mobile food ordering and gate delivery via LAXOrderNow.com. The West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal includes the most advanced baggage handling system in the country today, along with touchscreen kiosks that can send directions and information directly to passenger phones. LAX partnered with the TSA to be the first U.S. airport to include automated photo identification scanners at every security checkpoint. In the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station, a Simplified Arrivals process uses biometric photo identification to automate formerly manual document checks and saves up to 45 minutes by eliminating the need to line up a second time.

Parking: LAX in transforming its parking into a $303 million smart system that will enable a passenger-controlled journey that includes reservations, automatic payment and exit, valet service and available space overhead identification. The upgrades also include additional EV charging stations with reservations available and enhanced wayfinding. This summer, LAX will open an approximately 4,300-space parking facility east of the airport.

Mobility: Los Angeles World Airports’ new Mobility Strategic Plan lays the framework for revolutionizing landside access to LAX. This plan is a comprehensive roadmap for mobility policy, programs and initiatives that will define how passengers and employees travel to and from the airport into the 2020’s and beyond. Planning is underway to take full advantage of the Automated People Mover upon its completion, and a rejuvenated FlyAway® service is anticipated soon.

Sustainability: LAX is leading the aviation industry in sustainability practices with the LAX Sustainability Action Plan, “Boldly Moving to Zero,” setting ambitious targets for becoming carbon neutral by 2045. Those efforts have already resulted in moving to an all-electric airfield bus fleet, expanding a food donation and waste diversion program to all concessions and lounges, promoting the use of sustainable aviation fuel and investing in solar generation at Los Angeles World Airports facilities. In 2019, LAX received Level III ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airport Councils International-Europe.

Equity and Inclusivity: Los Angeles World Airports is committed to supporting the local business community and providing jobs for local workers. In 2020, the airport updated its procurement standards to ensure that commitments to employ local, small, disadvantaged businesses and local workers factor significantly in vendor selections for the approximately $500 million in goods and services that LAWA purchases annually. This new policy helps translate LAWA’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into strong, enforceable contract language for companies doing business at LAWA. The HireLAX apprenticeship readiness program is preparing people for a career in skilled construction, and has so far connected more than 170 people from the local community with rewarding career opportunities and earned graduates more than $7 million in wages to date.

Community Engagement: LAX continues to reimagine our support for local communities in ways that reflect our commitment to the region. We focus on being good neighbors and continue to offer beneficial programs, services and opportunities as involved members of the airport community. LAX maintains a strong community presence by participating and representing LAX in a wide array of community and civic organizations. We also support tomorrow’s leaders in a variety of ways including our annual Aviation Careers Education Academy, Aviation Career Day, Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship, Read Across America Day Celebration, LAX Job Shadow day, Santa Fly-In and more.

The Future

LAX is in the midst of a $14.5-billion Capital Improvement Program that will completely transform LAX into a world-class airport. With the Automated People Mover train system opening in 2023, passengers and employees will find a much easier way to access the busy Central Terminal Area, and the long-awaited connection to regional transportation. Terminals 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are also undergoing modernization projects to enhance the guest experience greatly once completed. And, the airport has proposed a Concourse 0 and Terminal 9, along with improved roads to access the airport and relieve traffic in the area. LAX is on the cusp of a reimagined airport that will be built with the future in mind.

Automated People Mover: The 2.25-mile elevated guideway is now more than 60% complete, while station construction has commenced at three of the six station locations. The assembly and testing of train cars is underway in Pittsburgh, as the first of 44 train cars that will run on the system will be delivered to LAX in 2021. The first of six steel structures for pedestrian bridges that will connect terminals to the People Mover stations was placed in June, with the remaining to be installed over the next year.

Terminals: Several terminal projects within the Central Terminal Area have made significant strides as well. The extension of Terminal 1, which provides increased baggage and screening areas, as well as a future connection to the Automated People Mover system, opened in May. The renovations of Terminals 2 and 3 took advantage of the downturn in traffic at LAX by closing Terminal 3 to the public, which in turn is helping to accelerate the project schedule by approximately 18 months, with a targeted completion date of 2023.

Intermodal Transportation Facility-West: The Intermodal Transportation Facility-West is a new, approximately 4,300 stall parking structure that will open later this summer, offering both short-and long-term parking. The facility will provide an economy option for travelers when it opens, and will feature the latest in smart-parking technology to create a streamlined parking experience. In 2023, the facility will connect to the Automated People Mover train system, while a shuttle bus will transport travelers to and from the Central Terminal Area in the interim.

Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility: What will become the largest rental car facility in the world once completed is visible from the 405 freeway. The three buildings that comprise the 6.3 million square foot facility – the Ready Return, Idle Storage and Quick Turn Around – will top off in concrete in July. The facility will connect to an Automated People Mover station and provide a streamlined rental car experience for the hundreds of thousands of travelers who rent cars each year.

Airport Police Facility: The new 160,000-square-foot facility will consolidate police operations into one location on the north side of Westchester Parkway. The project officially topped out in August as it moves toward completion in the fall of 2021.

LAX Fact Sheets

Click on the links below to learn more about LAX.

Terminal move sets the stage for Allegiant’s LAX expansion on May 19

Allegiant Travel Company (Allegiant Air) is setting the stage for its next phase of growth at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Las Vegas-based airline, which has served LAX since 2009, will relocate its operations to Terminal 1 and the new, state-of-the-art West Gates at Tom Bradley. Allegiant will begin service from its new LAX location on Wednesday, May 19.

The move affords the leisure travel-focused carrier opportunity to offer even more of the affordable, nonstop flights which are its hallmark. Anticipating the busy summer travel season, Allegiant will increase its capacity in Southern California by locating a fourth Airbus A320 aircraft at LAX. Los Angeles has been a full-time base for Allegiant aircraft and crew since 2016.

Allegiant’s all-nonstop network is unique among U.S.-based airlines, focused on bringing leisure travelers from small-to-medium sized cities to premier vacation destinations with convenient local access and affordable fares. Allegiant customers reach the people and places that matter most without the extra time and hassle of stops, connections and layovers.

Photo: LAX.

Allegiant currently serves 33 cities in 21 states from LAX, including new service to Indianapolis, Ind. beginning May 28; to Omaha, Neb. and Rapid City, S.D. beginning June 4; and to Shreveport, La. Beginning July 2. More than half the cities Allegiant serves from LAX are unique to the airline. Since starting service in 2009, Allegiant has flown more than 4.2 million passengers through LAX.

Top Copyright Photo: Allegiant Air Airbus A320-216 N273NV (msn 3076) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 945314.

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

LAX’s runway 7R/25L gets $17.3 million overhaul

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has used the downturn in traffic to accomplish airfield enhancements. LAX issued this statement:

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) began a $17.3 million overhaul of Runway 7R/25L and two taxiways on the south side of the airfield on Friday, Feb. 26, requiring the temporary closure of the runway.

The work, which is not expected to have a noticeable impact on passengers, includes removal and replacement of about 6,000 feet of the runway’s asphalt surface along with Taxiways H6 and H7. In addition to the asphalt overlay, new energy-efficient LED runway centerline lights will be installed. The work is scheduled to take a little over two months to complete, and the runway is expected to reopen in early May.

“At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we challenged ourselves to use this time of a reduction in air traffic to complete repairs and airfield improvements more efficiently than ever before,” said Bernardo Gogna, Chief Development Officer, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). “The replacement of the asphalt on Runway 7R/25L is an example of how we are investing in the long-term health of our airport and completing work that would have been much more disruptive if done when we were operating at full capacity.”

The work, which is being performed by Sully-Miller Contracting Co. at a cost of $17.37 million, also includes replacing the runway concrete approach slabs at the bridge over Sepulveda Boulevard. The LED lighting improvement will reduce maintenance costs as well as energy use. The new wearing surface is expected to last about a decade.

Runway 7R/25L is typically used for arriving flights. The parallel Runway 7L/25R, which is closer to the terminal buildings and typically handles departures, will be converted to use for both departures and arrivals, with some arrivals moved to the north runway complex.

Because Runway 7R/25L is an outboard runway, noise impacts are expected to be minimal, and overnight over-ocean operations will not be affected.

Contractors use a compaction roller on a test strip on the LAX airfield in January, ahead of a project that will rehabilitate approximately 6,000 feet of Runway 7R/25L and two taxiways.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)LAX, the third-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States in 2019, is in the midst of a $14.3-billion capital improvement program that will touch on all nine passenger terminals and build new facilities, including an Automated People Mover (APM) train, Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility and a 12- to 15-gate Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) addition to the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

In 2019, LAX served nearly 88.1 million passengers and offered an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 113 destinations in the U.S. and 1,200 weekly nonstop flights to 91 markets in 46 countries on 72 commercial airlines.

LAX generates 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

LAWA is leading the aviation industry in sustainability practices, with initiatives related to water management, energy (electricity) management, air quality, recycling and natural resources management. In 2019, LAX received Level III ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airport Councils International-Europe.

American Airlines, Los Angeles World Airports break ground on $1.6 billion reimagining of Terminals 4 and 5 at LAX

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Today, American Airlines and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) officially broke ground on a $1.6 billion modernization project to fully reimagine Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminals 4 and 5. The project marks American’s largest individual investment at an airport in its 92-year history and reaffirms the airline’s commitment to Los Angeles.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/294818626

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Councilmember Joe Buscaino and LAWA Commissioner Sean Burton and CEO Deborah Flint joined American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker, Senior Vice President of Los Angeles Suzanne Boda and frontline team members for a ceremony to unveil the project and begin construction in Terminal 5.

“Los Angeles stands at a global crossroads — a place where the world comes to meet, innovate and create,” Garcetti said. “American’s commitment to the reinvention of Terminals 4 and 5 will create good, middle-class jobs and better connect Los Angeles to the world.”

“Our mission to create a world-class airport can only be realized in collaboration with our airline partners like American Airlines, and we are grateful for the substantial commitment they have made to improving our guests’ experience at LAX,” Burton said. “We have set high expectations for LAX, and the project we are kicking off today will raise the bar for both American and this airport.”

In June 2017, American signed a letter of intent with LAWA, which set the framework for the carrier’s record investment. Now, less than 18 months later, construction is officially underway.

“Today marks an important milestone in the journey to creating an airport experience second to none,” said Flint. “The improvements included in the lease agreement between Los Angeles World Airports and American Airlines are ones that go to the heart of the guest experience. Working together with our airline partners as we reimagine our airport, we will transform LAX into the gold-standard airport that this city deserves.”

“American has proudly served Los Angeles for more than 70 years,” Parker said. “From the very beginning, when LAX first became a commercial airport in 1946, we’ve played a major role in keeping Southern California connected to the world. This remains one of the most important and fastest-growing markets for American, and today is a tremendous step forward as we continue to grow and strengthen our presence in the City of Angels.”

“Our $1.6 billion investment will not only transform the customer experience at LAX, it will also give our team members a better place to work every day,” Boda added. “It’s an exciting time for American Airlines. We’re investing back into our business and the communities we serve. That’s exactly what we’re doing here in Los Angeles, and thanks to our strong partnership with LAWA, the airport experience at LAX will soon set an example for the world.”

Renderings of the $1.6 billion modernization project to fully reimagine Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminals 4 and 5.

The future of LAX begins

The project will fully modernize and update the infrastructure of LAX’s two busiest domestic terminals. When completed, the new facility will create a world-class customer experience from end to end, with open and efficient check-in and security processing areas; more inviting gate areas with increased seating and access to modern amenities; and greater ability for airline operations to quickly adapt to and incorporate rapidly evolving new technologies.

Renderings released at the event show the unified departure hall, which will combine the entranceway of Terminals 4 and 5. Together with the secure-side bridge connecting Terminal 4 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), which was completed by American and LAWA in 2016, movement between terminals for connecting passengers will become significantly easier and more convenient.

The project will also reimagine the workspace of American’s 7,300-plus team members at LAX. Collaborative and open spaces will be designed to meet modern needs, with renovated break rooms; multi-use small and large meeting rooms; and team gathering spaces incorporated throughout the terminals.

Construction is now underway to reconfigure the Terminal 5 ticket lobby, allowing for the buildout of the Landside Access Modernization Project (LAMP) Core, a new facility being built in between Terminals 4 and 5 that will provide vertical circulation (elevators, escalators and stairs) for passengers arriving from the new Automated People Mover (APM) train system. From there, the project will continue in a carefully planned, phased approach that will move from curbside to gate areas.

In total, the project is expected to generate more than 6,000 jobs with more than 30 percent dedicated to local labor and 20 percent for minority- and women-owned business participation.

Additional benefits and features include:

Fully upgraded and modernized Terminal 4
Unified 300,000-plus square-foot, 28-gate complex for Terminals 4 and 5
Less roadway congestion thanks to access from public transportation via the new APM train system
A spacious new departure hall that allows direct natural sunlight throughout the building to reduce energy consumption
Reconfigured ticket counter and check-in areas to reduce wait times before security screening
Seamless access from check-in area directly to security screening areas
16 lanes for security screening with automated technology
Transparent design with modern signage to intuitively guide passengers to their gates
Modern, state-of-the-art finishes and restroom facilities
Upgraded amenities at gate areas, including more access to power outlets and world-class dining and retail options

Strengthening the Los Angeles community

American was one of LAX’s first commercial carriers and the airline continues to grow and strengthen its presence of 70-plus years at the hub through significant direct and indirect investments in the region.

In May 2017, Boda was named Senior Vice President of Los Angeles for American, a newly created position charged with developing and achieving the airline’s strategic goals in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. Since 2013, the carrier has increased its employee presence in Los Angeles by nearly 60 percent, including the hiring of nearly 200 Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking flight attendants and customer service agents. Today, American is the largest airline employer at LAX with more than 7,300 team members based at the hub, producing a $13.4 billion total economic output (direct, indirect and induced combined) in the greater Los Angeles area.

On Nov. 8, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) will recognize American as the 2018 Corporate Honoree at the 22nd annual Eddy Awards®. The Eddy Awards celebrate exceptional contributions to economic development in the L.A. region, consistent with LAEDC’s focus on increasing shared prosperity for residents and communities.

American is the largest carrier at LAX with more than 200 daily flights on peak days to 70 destinations and is the only airline with nonstop service to five continents. Since 2015, the carrier has added service to 26 new destinations from LAX, including Sydney; Hong Kong; Tokyo (Haneda Airport); Beijing; Auckland, New Zealand; and, most recently, Buenos Aires, making American the first and only airline to offer nonstop service from LAX to Argentina’s capital city.

In addition to strengthening the local economy, American has established strong partnerships with community organizations focused on education, human services and military/veterans initiatives. Highlights include:

Donating 10,000 premium amenity kits to the Los Angeles Mission, enough to reach nearly one in five who experience street homelessness each night
Helping to open Flagship Compton, a gourmet food truck built from a World War II Douglas DC-3 aircraft that now serves as a fundraising tool for Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, a living classroom in South Los Angeles that brings aviation history to life and is empowering the dreams of more than 5,000 local youth to take flight
Strengthening the partnership with Stand Up To Cancer through a collaborative, multifaceted awareness campaign with Marvel Studios
Supporting the Gary Sinise Foundation’s military and veterans programs, including Snowball Express in which 12 chartered American aircraft will fly to more than 35 locations, picking up children and spouses of those who have died in service to our nation for a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando for five days.

The most premium amenities at LAX, complimented by a premium airport experience

With three Admirals Club lounges and the recent addition of a Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining, American offers the most premium amenities of any carrier at LAX.

The opening of Flagship First Dining last December gives American’s customers traveling in first class on qualifying international flights or on nonstop transcontinental flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) exclusive access to a preflight tableside restaurant experience that offers complimentary, full-service dining with seasonal, locally inspired dishes and drinks. It is the first product of its kind to be offered by a domestic carrier at LAX.

The newly renovated Flagship Lounge, which also opened in December, allows customers flying in international first class or business class or on nonstop transcontinental flights to JFK an exclusive space to unwind, work or refresh before their flight. Customers can enjoy a range of food options, including a robust hot and cold buffet and a chef action station with freshly made-to-order dishes, along with the ability to pair meals with premium wine, champagne and spirits, or a refreshing drink from the “build your own cocktail” station.

The addition of Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining are part of a $200 million investment in American’s premium travel experience. At LAX, other dedicated investments include a new Admirals Club in Terminal 5, a redesigned and renovated Admirals Club in Terminal 4 and a new Admirals Club in the American Eagle terminal.

Thoughtful planning to ensure a world-class experience

Construction at Terminals 4 and 5 will occur in a carefully planned, phased approach to ensure a world-class experience for American’s nearly 16 million annual customers and more than 7,300 team members at LAX. The majority of the public-facing components of the project are expected to be complete in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

During construction, customers are encouraged to use the following tips and tools:

Download the American App before you fly to check in, access your mobile boarding pass, track your bags, stay informed of your flight status and more.
Visit aa.com prior to arriving at LAX for special updates, airport details and ticket counter hours.
Arrive early to allow plenty of time to navigate traffic and secure parking.

LAX’s New International Concourse

Southwest to offer international service from Los Angeles to Costa Rica

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/Southwest-Airlines-Current/i-SjhWgXN

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) has announced plans to complement its growing portfolio of international routes by offering nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia/Guanacaste, Costa Rica beginning in April 2016. Southwest® expects to operate the service daily from LAX Terminal 2, adjacent the carrier’s domestic operation in LAX Terminal 1.

The new international service comes as Southwest achieves several milestones in a revitalization of its LAX facilities at Terminal 1. As part of the $508 million modernization project unfolding now in partnership with Los Angeles World Airports, a new ticketing lobby and baggage claim facility is set to open early next year. Additional facility construction will bring new entrances, additional capacity in the security checkpoint expected to open in 2017, new food options, and an overall enhanced Customer experience. The project is expected to be completed fully by 2018.

Southwest Airlines began flying to California in 1982 and now serves nine airports in the Golden State, offering more daily departures in California than any other airline. 143 of those flights takeoff and land within the state, connecting 18 unique city-pair combinations within California. By summer 2016, Southwest’s nine California airports will offer Customers a combined peak weekday schedule of 678 departures to destinations across the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Following its launch of service in April 2013 to the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Southwest began its international journey in July 2014 with service to three Caribbean nations and, after adding service points across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, will end 2015 ‘twelve for twelve,’ so to speak: the carrier now serves a dozen destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean from a dozen gateway airports on the U.S. mainland. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will become the carrier’s thirteenth gateway airport in the 48 contiguous states.

Southwest Airlines Gateway Cities within the 48 contiguous states (as of 12/31/2015, listed alphabetically):

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore/Washington
• Chicago Midway
• Denver
• Ft. Lauderdale
• Houston Hobby
• Milwaukee
• Orange County/Santa Ana
• Orlando
• San Antonio
• Tampa Bay

Southwest Airlines Service across Latin America and the Caribbean (as of 12/31/2015, listed chronologically by start of service):

• San Juan, Puerto Rico
(began Apr. 14, 2013)
• Oranjestad, Aruba
(began July 1, 2014)
• Nassau, The Bahamas
(began July 1, 2014)
• Montego Bay, Jamaica
(began July 1, 2014)
• Cancun, Mexico
(began Aug. 10, 2014)
• San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico
(began Aug. 10, 2014)
• Mexico City, Mexico
(began Nov. 2, 2014)
• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
(began Nov. 2, 2014)
• San Jose, Costa Rica
(began Mar. 10, 2015)
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
(began June 7, 2015)
• Belize City, Belize
(began Oct. 15, 2015)
• Liberia, Costa Rica
(began Nov. 1, 2015)

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-76N N7706A (msn 32661) departs from Los Angeles International Airport.

Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show:

American Airlines announces Los Angeles – Havana charter flights

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and Cuba Travel Services plan to operate the first charter flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) in Havana later this year, providing travelers the only nonstop service connecting the West Coast to Cuba since travel restrictions were eased.

American’s new charter service between Los Angeles and Havana will be sold by Cuba Travel Services and will operate on Saturdays beginning on nDecember 12 with Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

In addition, American will operate a Saturday flight between Miami International Airport and Havana, also sold by Cuba Travel Services.

American has operated charter flights to Cuba since 1991. With these additions, American will offer 22 weekly flights from Miami, Tampa and Los Angeles to five destinations in the country: Camaguey, Cienfuegos, Havana, Holguin and Santa Clara. This year, American will operate approximately 1,200 charter flights to Cuba, more than any other airline. American also is the leading carrier to the Caribbean with up to 150 daily flights to more than 30 destinations.

With the addition of Havana, American will have launched nine international flights from its LAX hub this year. Additions include a second daily flight to London’s Heathrow Airport; Vancouver, Canada; Belize City, Belize; Guadalajara, Mexico City and Mazatlan, Mexico; Sydney (pending regulatory approvals) and Tokyo-Haneda (pending Japanese government approval).

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-823 N823NN (msn 29560) departs from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Philippine Airlines to start nonstop Cebu – Los Angeles service

Philippines (Philippine Airlines) (Manila) on March 15, 2016, will launch three weekly flights from Cebu, the capital city of Cebu Province in the Philippines, and Los Angeles. The new service will be operated with Airbus A340-300s per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A340-313 RP-C3435 (msn 302) approaches the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

Philippines aircraft slide show:

American to increase Embraer 175 operations from Los Angeles

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) is assigning more routes to Compass Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul) from Los Angeles International Airport. Starting On September 9, Compass will operate its Embraer 175s on American Eagle flights from LAX to Fayetteville (Northwest Arkansas), Fresno, Oklahoma City and Reno.

This will be followed on November 5 with the Los Angeles – El Paso route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Operated by Compass Airlines, Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N202NN (msn 17000467) approaches the runway at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

American Eagle-Compass aircraft slide show:

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/American-Eagle-Compass

Thai is dropping Los Angeles and Rome

Thai Airways International (Bangkok) is ending two long-haul routes per Airline Route. The flag carrier will drop the Bangkok (BKK) – Seoul (ICN) – Los Angeles route on October 25. The route is currently operated four days a week with Boeing 777-300 ERs. This means Thai will no longer serve the United States.

Thai is also ending the Bangkok – Rome (FCO) route on the same day.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-3AL HS-TKP (msn 41525) approaches the runway at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Thai aircraft slide show: