GOLD-STANDARD AIRPORTS DELIVERED – GROUNDBREAKING TAKES PLACE FOR $1.6-BILLION MIDFIELD SATELLITE CONCOURSE AT LAX

(Los Angeles, California – February 27, 2017)  Marking another milestone in the modernization of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and airport officials, using gold shovels, broke ground today on phase one of the new Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC).  The $1.6-billion state-of-the-art, five-level facility and an associated new baggage system will provide the nation’s second busiest airport with 12 new gates, a greatly enhanced guest experience, and additional flexibility to accommodate aircraft while other terminal upgrades at LAX are underway.

 “LAX means so much to L.A.’s economy — it’s an incredible job-creator, employing more than 50,000 people.  A record 47.3 million tourists visited our city last year — that's why we’re investing billions to make it one of the premier airports in the world,” said Mayor Garcetti.  “The Midfield Satellite Concourse is a transformational project that will put thousands of people to work and help extend L.A.’s worldwide reach even further.

"LAX is quickly becoming the world-class airport that Angelenos demand and deserve," said Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin, whose district includes LAX.  "I am especially excited that the Midfield Satellite Concourse will incorporate a number of sustainability features, such as using passive daylight lighting for the interior spaces, water-saving plumbing fixtures and a cool roof that reduces heat absorption.  These eco-friendly features will go a long way to minimizing the environmental impact of this needed new facility, and will further LAWA's commitment to make LAX a world-class airport that is also a first-class neighbor."

“As chair of the committee that oversees LAX, I am thrilled to help break ground on a project that will help transform our airport into the state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly, amenity-filled, and beautiful facility it needs to be, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.  “The Midfield Satellite Concourse project will employ thousands and benefit millions.”

"Los Angeles is ground zero for new construction and infrastructure investment.  Our downtown is growing, our public transportation infrastructure is expanding, our waterfront is developing, and so it is appropriate that we are investing billions into modernizing the second busiest airport in the country," said Councilmember Joe Buscaino.

Designed as an extension of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), the new 750,000-square-foot concourse will be located west of TBIT and connected by a 1,000-foot-long underground pedestrian tunnel with moving walkways.  Buses will also be used to transport passengers between the concourse and other terminals.  In addition, the facility will feature an early-bag storage and baggage make-up system to serve the added gates.  A companion Baggage Optimization Project will also include additional baggage services to serve existing TBIT gates.

“This long-awaited element of LAX’s massive modernization effort continues the transformation of LAX,” said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Sean Burton.  “With nearly 81 million passengers in 2016, and projections for more in the future, LAX is leading the nation in airport infrastructure improvement with innovative design, state-of-the-art features and efficiencies that will return LAX to iconic status and give travelers the world-class experience they expect and deserve.” 

Other project features include a new TBIT Gateway connecting point, taxilanes/taxiways, apron and utilities.  Two of the new gates will accommodate the larger Airbus 380 and Boeing 747-8 jets, with the remaining 10 gates accommodating Boeing 777s and 787s, and the Airbus 330s and 350s.  The new gates are also expected to reduce the airport’s current reliance on remote gates on the west side of the airfield, which lack passenger services, concessions and other amenities.

The entire Midfield Satellite Concourse and Baggage Optimization construction program encompasses a total of 1,052,000 square feet and is expected to become operational in late 2019.  The new baggage system, when completed, will accommodate the immediate and future need for processing outbound bags, and will be the largest integrated baggage carrier system in the U.S.

“Our passengers will soon experience LAX in a new and exciting way,” said Los Angeles World Airports Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.  “With our vision of delivering gold-standard airports, the Midfield Satellite Concourse will be built with sustainability principles and architectural features that reflect Los Angeles with great views and natural daylight.  We will provide our guests a new concourse ready for the technology enhancements of tomorrow.”

Economic Benefits

Concourse construction is expected to involve up to 6,000 trade workers, with direct wages surpassing $300 million, and at least 15 percent of the work will be performed by Small Business Enterprises.  When completed, a few hundred permanent jobs are expected to be created, primarily to staff new concessions and service new flights.

The MSC is being constructed by Turner/PCL Joint Venture and designed by their partners, Corgan in association with Gensler and gkkworks.  The joint venture will also build additional infrastructure for the Baggage Optimization Project, while Tom Bradley International Terminal Equipment Company (TBITEC) has hired Vanderlande to design, build and install the baggage system, including belts, conveyors and carousels. 

Included among the 250 subcontractors involved in the design and construction of the MSC, more than half are based in Los Angeles County.

Enhanced Guest Experience

The overall architectural design of the Midfield Satellite Concourse will allow for great views and natural daylight in public spaces.  Complementing the architecture of TBIT, the new concourse will feature a roof emulating an ocean wave prior to breaking on the shore.  The interior will include 44,000 square feet of “LA-centric” food-and-beverage and retail offerings, along with 60,000 square feet of airline club space between the concourse and TBIT Gateway.

More than 2,000 linear feet of moving walkways and 32 elevators will be included in the new concourse.  Arriving international passengers will use one of two elevated concourse corridors to traverse to the TBIT Federal Inspection Station facility.  The corridors will flank either side of the concourse and provide a visual connection to the concourse exterior, as well as to activities below.  Two of the 12 gates will allow arriving passengers access to ground-level bus stations where they can to be transported to other terminals.

Cutting-edge Technology

The new building design allows for current and future technology enhancements, making it one of the “smartest” concourses in the world for passengers.  Flight information displays will include scanners that allow passengers to receive personalized maps on their boarding passes.  Beacon technology will work with a new LAX app on smartphones, so passengers can easily find where they are going, concessions and other concourse features.

The beacon technology will provide key information on how passengers use the airport so experiences can be improved.  The concourse will be built with future technology enhancements in mind, including automated boarding gates that make use of biometrics, including facial geometry, fingerprints or iris scanning for identification.

Environmental Sustainability

The new concourse is also being designed with sustainability in mind, and with the directive to achieve LEED Silver and CAL Green Tier 1 certifications.  Sustainable methods include using daylight wherever possible, energy and water conservation, reducing heat generated by building roofs and pavement, and using recycled materials.

Arts Program

The LAX Arts Program will present rotating art exhibitions and performances in seven locations throughout the MSC.  As passengers make their way through the concourse, they will have an opportunity to experience art at all stages of their journey, including a gallery that will allow for cutting-edge installations and traditional art exhibitions.

Traveler Impacts

The new construction is taking place on the airfield and will have minimal impact on passengers.  The TBIT Gateway and pedestrian tunnel construction around TBIT will be phased so that no more than two TBIT gates will be closed at any time.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the seventh busiest airport in the world and second in the United States.  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 2.1 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 655,564 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2015.

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.