LAX TO BE BUSIEST U.S. AIRPORT THIS HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIOD; RECORD 3.5 MILLION PASSENGERS PROJECTED TO USE LAX
Airport forecasts estimate that a record 3.5 million travelers will pass through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) during the upcoming holidays, a 7.9 percent increase over last year’s 3,290,757 actual passengers. According to online travel companies Expedia and Orbitz, LAX will be the busiest among all U.S. airports this winter holiday season.
The 17-day holiday travel period begins Friday, December 18, and continues through Sunday, January 3, 2016. The busiest days are expected to be Wednesday, December 30 (232,000 passengers); Wednesday, December 23 (226,000); Monday, December 21 (224,000); and Sunday, December 27 (220,000). The slowest days are expected to be Christmas Day (179,000 passengers); Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day (both days 186,000 passengers); and New Year’s Eve (180,000).
The remaining days are expected to reach levels ranging between 210,000 and 218,000 passengers. For comparison, average daily passenger volume at LAX is 193,000.
Travel experts attribute the increase at LAX to lower air fares nationwide compared to last year; new international air carriers; as well as airlines using larger aircraft with more available seats.
“We recommend airport guests reduce the stress of holiday travel by planning ahead, allow extra time, and use shuttles or public transportation to get to the airport,” said Deborah Flint, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, the city department that owns and operates LAX and two other Southern California airports. “Travelers can for real-time traffic conditions in and around LAX, as well as information on airline terminal locations and new dining and shopping options that have recently opened in some of the terminals.”
Passengers should expect to see crowded terminals and many domestic flights 90 percent full. Flights to cities that are traditionally popular with Southern Californians during the holidays – such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, and Seattle -- may be fully booked. Travel-industry experts also note that Los Angeles is among the Top 10 U.S. holiday destinations for visitors.
More than 1.6 million vehicles are expected to use the upper-and lower-level roadways in the LAX Central Terminal Area (CTA) during the holiday period, or a daily average of more than 91,000 vehicles. On average, 85,000 vehicles use the two-level roadways each day.
To help ease vehicle congestion, travelers are strongly encouraged to take public transportation to and from LAX, including the inexpensive and convenient FlyAway® bus service from Hollywood, Santa Monica, Union Station, Van Nuys, Westwood, and the recently opened bus stop near the Metro Orange Line Woodley Station in the Lake Balboa area. Other public transportation options include the Metro Rail Green Line, taxis, long-distance buses, door-to-door shuttle vans, limousines, and other shared-ride services.
Motorists dropping off and picking up passengers can skip the hassle of looking for parking or circling the CTA roadways by waiting free for up to two hours in the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 96th Street and Vicksburg, adjacent to LAX Economy Parking Lot C. Departing passengers can board the free LAX Shuttle Bus “C” which will take them to airline terminals. Arriving passengers can board the Lot C bus and be dropped off at a stop next to the cell phone lot. On Wednesday, December 23, LAX Guest Experience Division will promote use of the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot with a “Re-LAX While You Wait” event. Airport employees will pass out hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee, snacks and travel goodies to motorists using the lot.
Daily peak travel periods at LAX are from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Airport officials recommend passengers arrive in their airline’s ticketing lobbies two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
Winter weather conditions could delay or cancel flights, so passengers should always check with their airlines on flight status before coming to the airport, or sign up for airline text alerts.
Due to the anticipated increases in passengers and vehicles, there will be a construction moratorium during the holiday period on LAX Modernization projects that cause significant impacts to
pedestrian and vehicular flows. Passengers should look for and follow the comprehensive way-finding signage on and near all construction barrier walls.
In-Terminal Guest Assistance
To help departing passengers catch their flights on time, LAX will continue its popular LAWA employee volunteer program. Wearing red vests, airport employees will roam the Upper/Departures Level in all terminals and provide help to passengers. This is in addition to the Volunteer Information Professionals and Guest Experience Representatives regularly assigned to assist passengers in the terminals.
Know Before You Go
Travelers are advised to not pack or bring prohibited items to LAX. Up-to-date lists of items prohibited in carry-on or checked luggage can be found at the Transportation Security Administration’s website at www.tsa.gov. Gifts or large boxes should be left unwrapped for security screening. Of note this year, many airlines have banned hoverboards -- the self-balancing, motorized scooters -- incarry-on and checked luggage due to potential fire hazards. The U.S. Customs & Border Protection’s website at www.cbp.gov advises travelers on what items can be brought into the U.S. from another country.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the fifth busiest airport in the world and second in the United States. LAX served nearly 70.7 million passengers in 2014. LAX offers 692 daily nonstop flights to 85 cities in the U.S. and 928 weekly nonstop flights to 67 cities in 34 countries on 59 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with over two million tons of air cargo valued at nearly $96.3 billion. An economic study in 2011 reported that operations at LAX generated 294,400 jobs in Los Angeles County with labor income of $13.6 billion and economic output of more than $39.7 billion. This activity added $2.5 billion to local and state revenues. LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and 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.
