LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REPORTS PASSENGER LEVEL UP 5.4 PERCENT DURING FIRST HALF OF 2011

(Los Angeles, California – August 8, 2011)  Passenger volume at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) between January and June 2011 rose 5.4 percent to 29,873,434 passengers from 28,337,001 during the same period last year, according to air traffic statistics issued by airport officials.  International passengers grew four percent during the first six months of 2011 to 8,090,693 from 7,772,965 last year.  Domestic traffic grew 5.9 percent to 21,782,741 passengers this year from 20,564,036 in 2010.

Total air cargo tonnage dropped 2.27 percent during the first six months of 2011 from 949,287 in 2010 to 927,713 this year.  Freight dropped nearly three percent from 915,255 tons during the first six months of 2010 to 887,883 tons this year.  However, air mail increased 17 percent to 39,830 tons from 34,032 tons during the same period last year. 

“The steady upward trend of international passenger volume at LAX during the first six months of 2011 belies the fact that LAX experienced a significant drop off in air travel and cargo trade with Japan that occurred following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in March,” said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, owner/operator of LAX.  “The decline in passengers and cargo trade with Japan, one of LAX’s busiest air service routes, was balanced by the introduction of new foreign air carriers, such as Turkish Airlines and Iberia, as well as new overseas destinations for existing LAX carriers, such as American and United airlines to Shanghai.”

 In addition, airport officials report that normal flight schedules to/from Japan resumed a few months ago, and Singapore Airlines introduced daily Airbus A380 super jumbo jet service to Tokyo. LAX currently is experiencing a recovery of the LAX/Tokyo service and the next several months will determine how this important route will fare.

For June 2011 domestic traffic at LAX rose 6.4 percent to 4,139,127 passengers from 3,887,760 passengers in June 2010.  International traffic increased 4.8 percent to 1,492,511 passengers from 1,423,634 passengers in June 2010.  Cargo volume was down 1.4 percent from 166,998 tons during the first six months of 2010 to 164, 618 tons this year.  Air mail tonnage increased seven percent to 6,345 tons this year from 5,927 tons last year, while freight declined 1.7 percent to 158,273 tons for the first six months this year from 161,071 tons last year. 

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the seventh busiest airport in the world and third in the United States, offering more than 565 daily flights to 81 domestic cities and over 1,000 weekly nonstop flights to 66 international destinations on over 75 air carriers.  In 2010, LAX served over 59 million passengers processed over 1.9 million tons of air cargo valued at nearly $84 billion, and handled 575,835 aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs).  LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and 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.

A $4.11-billion capital improvement program is underway at LAX, generating nearly 40,000 local jobs.  The program’s centerpiece is the $1.5-billion Bradley West Project with new gates for latest-generation aircraft; new concourses and seating areas; new retail and food-and-beverage offerings reflecting Los Angeles’ cuisine and culture; and expanded areas for more efficient security screening, immigration and customs processing.  There also are several major airfield and facility projects, including a new Central Utility Plant, new taxiways and taxilanes, and multi-million-dollar renovations (undertaken by both LAWA and the airlines) to other terminals.