LAX Gears Up for Busy Labor Day Travel, Offers Tips to Smooth Ride

08/28/2019 11:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 28, 2019

Contact:
Charles H. Pannunzio
(424) 646-5260
LAX GEARS UP FOR BUSY LABOR DAY TRAVEL, OFFERS TIPS TO SMOOTH RIDE

(Los Angeles, CA) An estimated 1.38 million travelers will pass through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) over the six-day Labor Day weekend travel period. This year’s holiday travel period begins Thursday, Aug. 29, and ends on Tuesday, Sept. 3. 

“For many of our guests, the Labor Day holiday offers a last chance for a summer trip, which means a busy weekend at LAX,” said Michael Christensen, Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Maintenance, Los Angeles World Airports. “To ensure a smooth travel experience, we encourage our guests to check out our real-time updates on traffic, parking and wait times, give themselves plenty of time if they’re heading to the airport, and arrive early so they can enjoy the great new restaurants and amenities they can find throughout our terminals.”

 

While not quite as busy as the peak summer weekends, the airport will still see substantial passenger traffic during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The busiest day will be Friday, Aug. 30, when 256,510 passengers are expected to use LAX while 107,735 vehicles are anticipated on airport roadways, followed by Thursday, Aug. 29, with 255,345 passengers and 103,214 vehicles. To put the travel numbers in context, the number of passengers traveling through the airport on each of the busiest days this holiday weekend will be greater than two and a half times the capacity of the Rose Bowl.


Estimates for the six-day holiday period:

• Thursday, Aug. 29: 255,345 passengers; 103,214 vehicles

• Friday, Aug. 30: 256,510 passengers; 107,735 vehicles

• Saturday, Aug. 31: 206,259 passengers; 84,385 vehicles

• Sunday, Sept. 1: 209,117 passengers; 81,640 vehicles

• Monday, Sept. 2: 229,632 passengers; 101,430 vehicles

• Tuesday, Sept. 3: 223,756 passengers; 98,749 vehicles

 

LAX advises guests to arrive two hours before the boarding time for domestic flights and three hours ahead of boarding for international flights. Passengers and motorists can access information to plan their trips by using the  @FlyLAXstats Twitter account – which provides real-time information about traffic, parking and TSA wait times. In addition, the recently launched LAX Digital Marketplace provides easy access to menus and shopping guides, as well as the ability to place an online order at select restaurants.


During the holiday travel period, Los Angeles Airport Police will add motorcycle officers and traffic control officers throughout the airport, and partner with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to help address traffic issues at the intersections of Imperial and Sepulveda, Lincoln and Sepulveda, Century and Avion, and Sepulveda and Little Century.

The traveling public is encouraged to report all suspicious activity to LAX Airport Police at (310) 646-4268 or at 877-A-THREAT / 877-284-7328. If you “See Something, Say Something. Security is Everybody's Business.” 

SAVE TIME IN LINE:

Travelers are encouraged to enroll in TSA Pre✓® or other trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry to reduce wait times in security lines. The free Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is also available, allowing U.S. and Canadian citizens to file their customs paperwork electronically and access special lines in the Federal Inspection Services area.

TRAFFIC & PARKING TIPS:

The public is reminded that work on LAX’s $14.3 billion modernization program is still on-going. While construction work on parking structures, terminals and sidewalks is scheduled during late-night and early-morning hours, motorists and pedestrians should be prepared to encounter delays. Due to construction on the Automated People Mover, drop-off and pick-up space has been reduced in front of LAX’s terminals. Throughout the summer, traffic has been particularly heavy between 7 p.m. and midnight. When coming to LAX, passengers should look for and follow way-finding signage near all construction sites to ensure their safety and to enhance mobility.

 

Rather than circling the Central Terminal Area (CTA) until arriving passengers reach terminal curbside for pick up, motorists can park and wait up to two hours free at the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue or park in one of the structures in the CTA and receive 15 free minutes of parking. The first hour of parking costs $5, and parking structures are accessible from both the Lower/Arrivals and Upper/Departures levels. Find parking information, rates and availability of lots and structures here. 

 

Economy Parking Lot E, located at 5545 W. 111th St., between La Cieniga and Aviation boulevards, offers 2,700 spaces priced at $12 a day, as well as frequent, free shuttle service to and from the Central Terminal Area. The former Parking Lot C is not open to the public.

 

For real-time LAX traffic conditions and, information on the status and locations of airport construction, visit www.FlyLAX.com. Motorists and travelers also can receive real-time status of airport conditions by accessing @FlyLAXairport and @LAAirportPD Twitter feeds. 

Passengers are encouraged to take shared-ride public transportation to/from LAX, including: Metro Rail Green Line (regular Saturday, Sunday and holiday service with no weekend rail work); taxis; door-to-door shuttle vans; and long-distance and municipal buses. FlyAway® buses provide nonstop service from Hollywood, Long Beach, Union Station and Van Nuys. 

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.  


LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. 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 was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named  a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. 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.   


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. 

Back To Top