UPGRADED WI-FI ACCESS COMING TO LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT; EXPANSION OF WI-FI WILL SUPPORT MOBILE PASSPORT APP PILOT PROGRAM
(Los Angeles, California – April 21, 2017) The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) has taken action to make access easier to wireless internet service at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and to expand use of the service in the airport’s international terminal. The improvements will enable guests to connect to the LAX free Wi-Fi service with a single click and enable arriving international travelers to pass through the customs and immigration process faster and easier.
“To be considered top-tier among major airports worldwide, we have to deliver a quality passenger experience that includes amenities like free Wi-Fi service,” said BOAC President Sean Burton. “The Board’s action will deliver an improved technology experience for LAX guests and help to keep them easily connected throughout the airport, while making clearance through customs and immigration less time-consuming.”
“Today’s passengers demand easy and dependable access to wireless internet service throughout their travels, particularly at airports where they spend an hour or more prior to departure and during layovers,” said Deborah Flint, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). “Infrastructure and facility improvements alone will not guarantee that LAX delivers an iconic guest experience - improved Wi-Fi service is part of our efforts to develop an airport experience around our passenger’s needs.”
Yesterday, in a unanimous vote, the BOAC approved a change to LAX’s concession agreement with Los Angeles-based Boingo Wireless, Inc. which will allow airport guests to connect to the airport’s free Wi-Fi service with just one click, rather than the multiple clicks currently required. Additionally, Boingo will install 12 new wireless access points in the federal inspection service area of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) to support the Customs Border Patrol Mobile Passport application, a pilot program scheduled for LAX. The new access points will help arriving international travelers move through the customs and immigration clearance process faster and more easily with the Mobile Passport app, an innovative way to reduce queue times in the TBIT federal inspection area.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named one of Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports. LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016. LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,280 weekly nonstop flights to 77 cities in 42 countries on 64 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion. LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016.
An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 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.
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, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
For more information about LAX, please visit www.lawa.aero/lax or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport , and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1 . Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction, are available at www.LAXisHappening.com .
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.