FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 16, 2021

CONTACT
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260

(Los Angeles, CA) Today, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) approved a three-year contract that will re-open the First Flight Child Development Center next spring. The Center, which is located north of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), will again provide child care services for young children of airport workers and nearby residents. It is owned by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and will be operated by the Learning Care Group.

"In order to build world-class airports, we need to provide world-class resources that allow our teams and community to do their best work – and that includes offering a high quality child care option," said Beatrice Hsu, President, Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners. "We are excited to work with the Learning Care Group to reopen the First Flight Child Development Center and provide parents with the peace of mind that their children are safe, close by and well cared for."

The center offers parents and families a convenient and cost-effective option for local child care services that are open to children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Enrollment priority is given first to LAWA employees and followed by workers employed with LAX tenants, then employees from other departments of the City of Los Angeles. Remaining spaces are offered to the public when no children of LAWA or tenant employees remain on the wait list.

"LAWA is pleased to once again provide parents working at LAX and members of our local community with a quality, safe child care resource near the airport," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. "Since it first opened in 1998, the First Flight Child Development Center has offered engaging activities to young minds in a secure, diverse and inclusive environment that prepares them for life-long success."

Priority enrollment will be provided to parents or families of children who had students enrolled at the Center in January 2020. For additional information about qualifications and enrollment, email FirstFlightChildcare@lawa.org. Those wishing to be considered for enrollment should send an email with the subject, "FFCDC Perspective Enrollee," and should provide contact information, their relationship to LAWA and the child's age in March 2022. Those desiring an infant space should send an email with the subject, "FFCDC Perspective Infant Enrollee," and provide the contact information and LAWA relationship in the body of the email.

The tentative reopening date for the Center is March 2022 and is subject to change.

Prior to its closure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 80 families enrolled children at the Center, including 16 families with more than one child in the facility. LAWA employees comprised 16 percent of the families enrolled and LAX tenant employees made up 38 percent. The remaining enrollment came from the community (38 percent) and Los Angeles City employees who work in other City departments (8 percent).

About Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is the City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports, as well as aviation-related property in Palmdale. Both play an integral role in helping to meet the Southern California regional demand for passenger, cargo and general aviation service. Both airports make a distinct contribution to the strength of the system as it provides a high level of safety, security and service for its customers, communities and stakeholders. More information can be found at lawa.org.

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. .