LAX FORECASTS 811,000 TRAVELERS DURING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND;
SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON TO BREAK RECORD WITH 24.6 MILLION PASSENGERS
Officials at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) estimate nearly 811,000 travelers are expected to pass through the airport this Memorial Day weekend – an increase of 6.7 percent over the 759,776 passengers of the 2014 holiday period. Airport officials also forecast 24.6 million passengers this summer travel season, also an increase of 6.7 percent over last summer’s record 23,066,723 travelers.
Memorial Day weekend begins Friday, May 22, and ends Monday, May 26. Friday is expected to be the busiest day with an anticipated 218,000 passengers. The summer travel season begins May 22 and ends Labor Day, September 7. Almost all of June, July, and August will experience higher passenger levels compared to last summer. The busiest day of the summer is expected to be Monday, July 27, with a projected 245,000 passengers -- a single-day record for LAX. With the July 4 Independence Day holiday to be celebrated on Friday, July 3 this year, the first two weeks of July are expected to be extremely busy.
Travel experts attribute this year’s increase at LAX to several factors: more available seats as airlines at LAX continue transitioning to larger aircraft with extra seats on most existing flights; the addition of several new international destinations by airlines new to LAX, as well as added flights on existing routes; increased tourism in Los Angeles from growing markets in the Asia-Pacific Region; and favorable exchange rates making overseas travel far more affordable for Americans going to destinations in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Canada – all popular with Southern Californians.
On-Going Construction Impacts to Roadways, Sidewalks, and Terminals
The public is reminded that LAX’s multi-billion-dollar modernization program is still on-going, and travelers should allow extra time to arrive at their airline terminals. While construction work on roadways, parking structures, and sidewalks will be scheduled during late-evening and early-morning hours, motorists and passengers should be prepared to encounter delays. When coming to LAX, passengers should look for and follow the comprehensive way-finding signage near all construction sites to ensure their safety and to enhance mobility.
For real-time traffic conditions and information on the status and locations of airport construction, visit
Smart Traveler Tips
Airport officials recommend passengers departing during LAX’s daily peak travel periods – 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. – arrive in their airlines’ ticketing lobbies two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours for overseas flights. Most domestic travelers can avoid ticketing-counter lines by checking in through their airlines’ websites before coming to the airport.
Motorists should expect several parking structures across from the terminals to close and reopen intermittently as capacity is reached during daily peak periods. To eliminate the hassles of driving to and parking at or near LAX, passengers are encouraged to take convenient and reliable public transportation, including: Metro Rail Green Line, door-to-door shuttle vans, taxis, limousines, long-distance buses, and the LAX FlyAway® nonstop bus service. The FlyAway® service operates daily from Hollywood, Santa Monica, Union Station and Van Nuys ($8 one way), and from Westwood/UCLA ($10 one way). Two children age five and under ride free with each paying adult. Schedules and online ticket purchases are available.
To avoid driving repeatedly around the Central Terminal Area until arriving passengers come out to the sidewalk, motorists can wait in their vehicles for up to two hours free in the well-lit, 24-hour LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at the intersection of 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue, adjacent to thesouthwest corner of LAX Economy Parking Lot C. Motorists meeting arriving passengers also can park in Lot C for $4 an hour, up to the daily maximum of $12, and take the free, 24-hour LAX shuttle bus to the terminals.
Additional travel tips on navigating LAX and things to do while at the airport can be found at
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 64 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 over $91.6 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.
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