Passenger traffic at LAX continued to recover throughout 2022, with domestic traffic nearing pre-pandemic levels. International travel, while still well below those seen in 2019, was up by 52% over 2021. LAX totaled just under 63 million passengers in 2022, an increase of 37% compared to 48 million passengers in 2021. LAX recorded a total of 556,913 aircraft movements (takeoffs and landings) in 2022 with an increase of 10% from 2021.
Air Cargo Operations, Calendar Year 2022
2021 cargo volumes had shattered all previous records for LAX by more than 20%. Cargo volumes are still extremely high in 2022 and remain well above pre-pandemic levels. However, we did see some reduction from the peak 2021 levels. Beginning in March 2022, we saw the beginning of the normalizing of cargo operations with somewhat reduced levels when compared to the historical highs during the pandemic. Cargo volumes totaled 2,754,570 tons, representing a 7.5% decrease from the previous year, but again still well above pre-pandemic levels. Freight volumes declined by 7.7%, while mail volumes saw just a 2.2% decrease. Federal Express continues to be the dominant airfreight carrier at LAX, accounting for 11.75% of total freight cargo, followed by Polar Air Cargo and Atlas Air Inc with 7.5% and 7.25%, respectively. Kalitta Air LLC continued as the top mail carrier accounting for 45.85% of total mail cargo.
LAX Air Cargo (in US Tons)
An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. 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.
In 2022, Los Angeles International Airport’s trade up 9.93 percent
Los Angeles International Airport is a key transportation center for one of the world’s most dynamic economies. In 2022, trade at Los Angeles International Airport was valued at $153.13 billion, an increase of 9.93 percent compared to 2021. Exports totaled $61.46 billion, up 8.28 percent while imports were valued at $91.67 billion, up 11.07 percent.
Los Angeles International Airport ranked No. 9 by value and No. 80 by tonnage among the nation’s 450-plus airports, seaports, and border crossings. Ranking it just against other airports, it ranked No. 3 by value and No. 5 by tonnage. Among U.S. airports, seaports, border crossings, LAX ranks number 10.
The Southern California region accounts for a majority of the state’s multi-billion dollars in international trade. Many of the largest industrial companies headquartered in the state are located in the greater Los Angeles area. Los Angeles is a leading high-technology center for the nation in the entertainment, electronics, biomedical, computers, and aerospace industries.
The convenience and efficiency of LAX as a major distribution center for air cargo is supported by the ready availability of vital allied services, especially for Pacific Rim traders. The LA-area cargo trade also engages more than 800 freight forwarders and 360 customs house brokers, who are in the LA area to expedite the region’s air cargo delivery. U.S. banks with international operations have offices in Los Angeles, as do foreign banking institutions.
