LARGEST RELOCATION OF AIRLINES IN LAX HISTORY IS MORE PROGRESS IN CREATING A WORLD-CLASS AIRPORT

(Los Angeles, California – March 21, 2017) In May of 2017, Delta Air Lines will set off a move of airlines never before seen at a major U.S. airport.

Airport and airline staff will relocate 21 airlines as part of Delta’s move from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3.  Much of the work will take place on May 12, 14 and 16, immediately following the last flight operations each day, and continue into the early-morning hours of the following day.

Los Angeles World Airport’s (LAWA) Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) approved a lease and license agreement last year for Delta to relocate to terminals on the north side of the airport. Delta is planning improvements valued at up to $1.9 billion over the next seven years that would modernize and connect Terminals 2 and 3 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

 “Delta’s move is one more element of LAX’s massive modernization effort which continues the transformation of the airport and will improve the guest experience,” said Commission President Sean Burton.  “While moving 21 airlines over three nights is a monumental task, Delta and the LAWA team have been planning and preparing for months to ensure a smooth transition.”

 “This move furthers our progress towards our vision of a Gold Standard Airport,” said Los Angeles World Airports Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.  “The coordination and cooperation amongst the airlines involved has been impressive and mirrors the importance that we all place on the guest experience at LAX.  The immediate result is more efficient airline operations amongst partner carriers, and facility improvements that will be made in Terminals 2 and 3.” 

During the move, Delta flights will operate from as many as four terminals (2, 3, 5 and 6) on certain days. The airline will be in constant communication with its customers, providing real-time information on departure and arrival terminals and gates through the Fly Delta app, text messages, emails and additional channels.  LAWA is working closely with Delta and the relocating airlines to keep the traveling public informed using advertising to communicate the move to passengers several weeks before, during, and after the move.  Social media platforms and websites will be used to raise awareness of the upcoming move, and signs will be posted in the Central Terminal Area (CTA), in terminals and on airport shuttle buses.

Following the moves, airlines will resume operations in their new locations.  A total of 28 airlines will be affected by the realignment, which began in January when American Airlines swapped four gates in Terminal 6 for four gates held by Delta in Terminal 5. While schedules may shift, it is anticipated Qatar, Hainan and Copa operations will move to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) as early as April, with Copa checking in at Terminal 3.  Key changes as a result of the May 12-17 realignment include:

·         Terminal 2 – Delta, Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Volaris.  Virgin Australia and Volaris customers check-in at T2 and are bused to TBIT for departure and arrivals.  Aeromexico remains in Terminal 2 and relocates its ticketing counters; however, passengers will be bused to/from TBIT during those times Aeromexico uses gates at TBIT.

·         Terminal 3 – WestJet, relocating from Terminal 2.  Avianca, Copa and InterJet check-in only.

·         Terminal 5 – Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit, Allegiant, Frontier and Sun Country departures and arrivals. American has four gates, and its American Eagle busing operation is also based here.

·         Terminal 6 – Virgin America joins its corporate partner Alaska Airlines. Air Canada and XL Airways France relocates from Terminal 2. Great Lakes and Mokulele remain in Terminal 6.  Boutique Air relocates from Terminal 3. Allegiant, Frontier and Sun Country check-in only.

·         TBIT – Southwest Airlines’ international flights arrive at TBIT, while SWA’s international departures and check-in remain in Terminal 1.   Avianca, Copa and Interjet departure and arrivals at TBIT.  Thomas Cook Airlines resumes seasonal service in May with departures and arrivals temporarily from TBIT.

During the relocation and in the weeks following, passengers are advised to check-in online, print boarding passes, and check terminal and gate information before coming to LAX.  They should also arrive to the airport earlier than normal.  Once at LAX, passengers should check flight and gate status on flight information display boards in each terminal to ensure they are in the correct location.      

Delta plans to deploy hundreds of people on site to help guide passengers the week of the move, and LAX Guest Experience Members (GEMS), dressed in blue, and Volunteer Information Professionals (VIPs), in red, will also be available to provide guidance to passengers needing assistance. 

Following the move, Delta will operate 23 gates at LAX alongside many of its airline partners, including Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet. Later, Delta is planning a secure connection to TBIT which would enable seamless access to additional partners, including Air France-KLM, Alitalia, China Eastern, China Southern and Korean Air.  The proposed facility would also offer convenient passenger flows, improved gate-area seating, and a world-class concession program featuring local chefs and restaurants in partnership with Westfield Corporation.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named 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.

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