LAX REPORTS 2002 YEAR-END PASSENGER, CARGO VOLUMES; MONTHLY VOLUMES CONTINUE UPWARD TREND FROM SEPTEMBER 11

(Los Angeles, California -- January 31, 2003) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officials have released 2002 year-end statistics showing the airport served 56,223,843 passengers and processed 1,962,354 tons of air cargo.

Total passenger traffic at LAX is at its lowest level since 1996 -- dropping 8.74 percent from 61,606,253 in 2001 for a second straight year of decline. Domestic passenger volume dropped 9.37 percent from 45,656,025 in 2001 to 41,379,168 last year. International passenger volume dropped 6.93 percent from 15,950,228 in 2001 to 14,844,675 last year.

During the fourth quarter 2002, monthly passenger volumes increased over the same months in 2001. Last October's passenger volume was 11.59 percent higher than October 2001 (4,539,003 up from 3,934,560), November 6.35 percent higher (4,296,555 up from 4,039,936), and December 11.57 percent higher (4,856,283 up from 4,352,756).

Total air cargo (mail and freight) processed at LAX during 2002 was 1,962,354 tons -- 0.34 percent higher than 1,955,665 tons in 2001. The freight (commodities) portion of the total cargo volume was up 5.16 percent from 1,778,151 tons in 2001 to 1,869,932 tons last year. However, the airmail portion of the total cargo volume was 92,422 tons -- down 47.93 percent from the 2001 level of 177,513 tons. The significant decline in airmail is primarily due to the federal government imposing tighter restrictions on mail shipments aboard commercial aircraft.

Monthly air cargo levels began recovering last June and remained higher than monthly levels in 2001 for every month except September.

Aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs) closed last year at 645,424, down 12.56 percent from the 738,114 operations in 2001. The 2002 level approximates LAX's operational flight volume of 1989. Declines in landings and takeoffs were posted for air carriers (-14.18 percent) and air taxis or commuters (-9.58 percent). Other operations rose, such as military (3.07 percent), and general aviation business and charter aircraft (1.97 percent).