1.8 MILLION TRAVELERS EXPECTED AT LAX THIS HOLIDAY SEASON;THIS WEEKEND PREDICTED TO BE HEAVIEST TRAVEL PERIOD

Passengers Need to Allow More Time for Airline Security Requirements

(Los Angeles, California – December 18, 2001) Airlines serving Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are estimating 1.8 million holiday travelers will pass through the airport between Friday, December 21 through Wednesday, January 2. This is 80 percent of last year's level because airlines reduced their flight schedules on average by 20 percent following the events of September 11.

Most flights on Saturday, December 22 are expected to be over 95 percent full, while most flights on Friday, December 21 and Sunday, December 23 are expected to be about 90 percent full.

The 1.8 million travelers during this 13-day holiday travel period represent approximately 140,000 passengers daily. The figure demonstrates that local demand for air travel is strong. While airlines are operating schedules with fewer flights, they are managing to fill more than 90 percent of the available seats.

Airport officials believe the airlines are using the recent Thanksgiving travel experience to better accommodate the flow of passengers through the recent federally mandated security requirements. The combination of overall fewer passengers and more operational experience by the airlines offers the prospect that the annual holiday travel experience will be smoother for individual travelers.

LAX is contributing to the overall effort to improve the travel experience. Last Saturday, airport officials began allowing private vehicles to drop-off or pick-up passengers at terminal curbside and reopened the 96th Street/Sepulveda Boulevard entrance to the Central Terminal Area. It had been closed to private vehicles from September 11 to December 14.

LAX Airport Police are vigorously enforcing rules prohibiting unattended vehicles at terminal curbside. Unattended vehicles are subject to immediate towing and heavy fines.

Travelers will still experience many additional security measures implemented by the airlines and the airport -- all of them are designed to increase their personal safety and security. Airport officials are asking travelers to exercise patience and understanding because more time will be necessary for passenger processing, especially through security screening.

Following are a number of travel tips to assist passengers in navigating the new operational environment at LAX:

Before Coming To LAX

• Pack all items that may conceivably be used to cut, stab, strike, or pound someone in luggage to be checked. Many items that previously were allowed in carry-on baggage are now being confiscated at passenger screening, including all utility knives, metal nail files and clippers, razor blades, large cans of aerosol sprays, etc.
• Airlines are restricting passengers to one carry-on baggage and one personal item, such as a purse or briefcase. Some airlines are restricting carry-on items to only one total -- check with your airline.
• Call your airline to confirm your flight's schedule BEFORE coming to the airport.
• Reduce traffic congestion by taking commercial transportation such as taxis, door-to-door shuttle vans, direct-to-airport buses, and limousines-for-hire to/from LAX.
• Bring photo identification. IDs will be required at the ticket counter, passenger screening and at the boarding gate.
• Put identification on the inside and outside of checked luggage and on all carry-on bags.
• Do not wrap gifts if you plan to carry them onboard the aircraft. Take batteries out of toys and other electronic items to ensure the products do not accidentally turn on and make noises inside checked or carry-on baggage.

How Much Time To Allot

Passengers are advised to be in ticket counter lines two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Please be patient and cooperative if selected by airport security or airline employees for random search of you, vehicle, and/or luggage and personal belongings.

Accessing the Central Terminal Area

• Parking is available in the Central Terminal Area structures and metered lots and long- term Parking Lots B and C, which offer free shuttle bus service to the terminals. The metered rate is 25 cents per 15 minutes up to two hours. The daily/hourly rate in the parking structures is $1 per each 30 minutes, up to $24 daily.
• All vehicles entering the Central Terminal Area are subject to random search. Large vehicles, in particular, such as sports utility vehicles and vans will be subject to increased scrutiny at entrances to parking structures.
• Vehicles displaying disabled placards or license plates are allowed to park free at any of the metered parking spaces inside the parking structures and open-air lots. Such vehicles parked in daily/hourly-rate spaces in the structures must pay the hourly rate.

At Passenger Screening

Airline-contracted passenger screening agents have increased scrutiny of all carry-on baggage and personal items. If at all possible, passengers should try to avoid carry-on baggage in order to facilitate passenger screening.

While at the Airport

Airport officials stress the importance of passengers watching their bags at all times while they are in the airport. Unattended bags whose owners cannot be quickly identified may be confiscated and/or destroyed. Reports of unattended bags may cause unnecessary closure of terminals and delay airline flights while law enforcement officials determine the contents of unattended and unidentified bags.

Passengers are also advised to refrain from making comments or jokes that might be construed by airport and airline employees, as well as by fellow passengers, as threatening.

Travelers can use a number of sources for LAX passenger service information. For up-to-date information on current airport conditions:

• Log onto the LAWA Internet website at www.lawa.org.
• Call the LAX toll-free phone number at 1-888-544-9444.
• Tune radios to AiRadio 530 AM traffic information station as you approach the airport
• Call LAX General Information Operators at (310) 646-5252.
• Call the LAX Public Relations Division at (310) 646-5260.
• In the terminals, visit the Travelers Aid Society passenger information booths located on the Lower/Arrival Level outside of baggage claim areas.
• In the Tom Bradley International Terminal, visit the Visitors Information Booths located on the Departures and Arrivals Levels, or the Travelers Aid booth on the Arrivals Level.
• Log onto the Federal Aviation Administration website for passenger security information at www.faa.gov.