LAX FLYAWAY BUS FARES FROM VAN NUYS AND UNION STATION TO INCREASE EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2009

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today approved a fare increase for the LAX FlyAway bus service originating from Van Nuys and Union Station.  The new $7 one-way fare for these two non-stop routes to Los AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX) will start August 1, 2009.  The fare for a third route, Westwood to LAX, will remain unchanged at $5, since it is still an emerging market.

            “This $1 fare increase is another step toward closing the multi-million dollar gap between revenues and expenses for operating the FlyAway bus network,” saidLos Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey. “Along with cost reductions in operations, the fare increase will move FlyAway toward becoming a self-sustaining transportation network and closer to our goal of full cost recovery.” 

            The $7 fare still compares favorably to fares for shared-ride shuttle vans and limousines, which range from four to seven times as much.

            LAWA’s ability to recover its operating costs comes exclusively from the routes’ bus fares and parking fees at the Van Nuys FlyAway Station.  This fare increase is expected to result in an additional $1.5 million annually in revenues.

            Discount fares on all three FlyAway routes will be discontinued when the new fare starts.  Officials said the number of riders qualifying for a discount fare is very low and consists mainly of airport employees.  The conversion to a flat-fare system is expected to improve customer convenience by increasing the speed to process all passengers and by reducing the wait time for boarding during peak hours           

            Despite a decline in air travel, the demand for LAX FlyAway bus service has increased in recent years to meet the demand -- resulting in higher operating costs. FlyAway buses carried more than 1.5 million passengers in 2008, an increase of 14 percent compared to 2007.  

            LAX airport passenger traffic was down 11 percent from January to April 2009, while the FlyAway network experienced only a one percent decrease in ridership over the same period.   FlyAway ridership is expected to grow, but at a slower rate until the economy and air travel  recover.   

            On a separate matter, it was announced that the contract for the service from Westwood is due to expire January 2010, and that Irvine, California, is being evaluated as a future FlyAway location.  The Board approved release of a Request for Proposals for a contractor to operate FlyAway bus service between LAX and Westwood, and LAX and Irvine.  A use agreement with the City of Irvine could be finalized within the next 60 days.  The new Irvine FlyAway route will not begin service until that agreement is in place.

            Expansion of the bus service is a requirement of the LAX Master Plan Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), which stipulates a total of nine LAX FlyAway sites  to be established by 2015.

            Bus schedules, parking information and maps for all LAX FlyAway locations are available at www.lawa.aero/flyaway.   LAX FlyAway bus operations are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

            Los Angeles World Airports is the Los Angeles city department that owns and operates LAX, LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys airports (VNY).