LAX FINISHES MAJOR “LAX ON THE MOVE” AIRLINE RELOCATION OPERATIONS ON SCHEDULE; NO DELAYS OR AIRFIELD ISSUES REPORTED

            (Los Angeles, California – May 17, 2017)  The final major round of airline terminal relocations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) were completed early Wednesday morning as Air Canada, Hawaiian, and JetBlue moved into their new homes throughout Terminals 5 and 6. Delta Air Lines also completed its move into Terminals 2 and 3, and Southwest Airlines’ international flights will now arrive and depart from the Tom Bradley International Terminal.  The relocations are the last in the five-day “LAX on the Move” period, where over 20 airlines moved service equipment, network infrastructure, employees, and of course, aircraft as part of the airport’s single largest coordinated terminal relocation.

            “We’re incredibly proud of everyone involved in making the largest phase of ‘LAX on the Move’ a success,” said Trevor Daley, Los Angeles World Airports Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs.  “Relocating over 20 airlines across terminals over a five-day period is a huge undertaking, but our airport community – our volunteers, operations staff, airline partners, ground service handlers, and partner agencies – came together and did a remarkable job.  We also extend our sincerest thanks to our LAX guests for their continued patience and understanding.”

            The final airline relocation will be XL France, which is scheduled for June 4. It will move from Terminal 2 to Terminal 6.

            There were no reported delays attributable to the airline move across all three operational periods, although some were initially reported due to East Coast weather conditions and previously-scheduled Runway Safety Area construction.

LAX on the MOVE Statistics: Planes, Trucks, and Lots of Boxes

            Over the course of three operational periods, crews of movers and operations staffs worked to transfer equipment, install new signs, and relocate aircraft across both the airport’s runways and across the Central Terminal Area (CTA). 

• Moving Trucks: 16
• Movers: 200
• Volunteer Moving Assistants: 30
• Dollies: Approximately 800 – 1,100
• Boxes: Approximately 9,200
• Computers: 900
• Signs Deployed or Changed: Over 1,000

LAX Staff and Volunteers Will Offer Way-Finding Assistance through May 29

            Though the relocations are complete, LAX staff and volunteers will continue to be present throughout the airport to assist guests through Memorial Day, May 29.  This includes staff from our Guest Experience Team, LAX’s V.I.Ps (Volunteer Information Professionals), and volunteers from the airport community, including LAX employees, the Bob Hope U.S.O., and local Chambers of Commerce.

Terminal Moves Bring Customer Benefits

            The relocation of brings numerous immediate benefits to customers flying through Terminals 2, 3, 5, and 6.

As of today, Delta customers will enjoy:

• Quicker and easier access to the Delta terminal - located closer to the LAX entrance
• Increased gate capacity
• Closer proximity to flights operated by SkyTeam and joint venture partners
• Airside bus transportation to and from the Tom Bradley International Terminal, eliminating the need for re-screening when moving between terminals

Passengers with airlines operating out of Terminals 5 and Terminal 6 will enjoy the benefits of recently remodeled terminals, which include:

• New ticketing counters with customer-friendly islands featuring check-in kiosks, bag-check stations
• Easy access from the Tom Bradley International Terminal to Terminals 4 through 8 using the T4 Connector, which allows guests to go through security screening just once
• Enhanced décor and club lounge
• Improved variety of new dining and retail concessions
• Nursing Rooms
• Animal Relief Stations
• Four additional security screening checkpoints
• New baggage carousels and international baggage re-check facilities

Passengers Should Continue to Check with Airlines for Correct Location

      LAX recommends that passengers to check in, print or download boarding passesbefore leaving for LAX, so they can be aware of the changes and arrive at the correct terminal for their departure. Even though major terminal relocations have concluded, passengers are still encouraged to arrive earlier than usual, 3 hours for a domestic flight, 4 hours for an international flight.  When arriving at LAX, look up at new signage that will be updated nightly to reflect the moves, and which will identify the new airline terminal locations.  Finally, passengers are reminded to ask for help if they have problems finding their flights.

(Note for Editors: Photos available below.)

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.