UPDATE: THREE AIRLINES COMPLETE MOVE AS PART OF LARGEST RELOCATION OF AIRLINES IN LAX HISTORY

(Los Angeles, California – April 14, 2017) This morning, Hainan Airlines completed its relocation from Terminal 2 and began operating out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), becoming the third airline to move as part of a major relocation taking place at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) through May 17.

Airport and airline staff will relocate 21 airlines as part of Delta Air Lines’ move from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3.  Much of the work will take place on May 12, 14 and 16, immediately following the last flight operations each day, and continue into the early-morning hours of the following day.

Los Angeles World Airport’s (LAWA) Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) approved a lease and license agreement last year for Delta to relocate to terminals on the north side of the airport. Delta is planning improvements valued at up to $1.9 billion over the next seven years that would modernize and connect Terminals 2 and 3 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

 “These early relocations are helping LAWA, Delta Air Lines and staff from the other airline partners at LAX prepare for the larger airline terminal shuffle that begins the night of May 12,” said Commission President Sean Burton.  “All the airlines have worked cooperatively to ensure that everything is being done to make these moves happen as smoothly as possible.”

             “The end result of the airline relocation will be an improved guest experience,” said Los Angeles World Airports Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint. “A total of 28 airlines are involved, and when completed, the operations of the Northside and Southside terminals will be better balanced and Delta can begin its renovation program of Terminals 2 and 3.  Moving these airlines is a difficult job, but it is a necessary step toward the overall modernization and transformation of LAX.”

During the move, Delta flights will operate from as many as four terminals (2, 3, 5 and 6) on certain days. The airline will be in constant communication with its customers, providing real-time information on departure and arrival terminals and gates through the Fly Delta app, text messages, emails and additional channels.  LAWA is working closely with Delta and the relocating airlines to keep the traveling public informed using advertising to communicate the move to passengers several weeks before, during, and after the move.  Social media platforms and websites will be used to raise awareness of the upcoming move, and signs will be posted in the Central Terminal Area (CTA), in terminals and on airport shuttle buses.

Following the moves, airlines will resume operations in their new locations.  A total of 28 airlines will be affected by the realignment, which began in January when American Airlines swapped four gates in Terminal 6 for four gates held by Delta in Terminal 5.  Copa Airlines moved its operations to the TBIT last week, with passengers checking in at Terminal 3. Qatar is expected to move into TBIT later this month. 

Key changes as a result of the May 12-17 realignment include:

·         Terminal 2 – Delta, Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Volaris and WestJet.  Virgin Australia and Volaris customers check-in at T2 and are bused to TBIT for departure and arrivals.  Aeromexico remains in Terminal 2 and relocates its ticketing counters; however, passengers will be bused to/from TBIT during those times Aeromexico uses gates at TBIT.

·         Terminal 3 – Delta.  Avianca, Copa and InterJet check-in only.

·         Terminal 5 – Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit, Allegiant, Frontier and Sun Country departures and arrivals. American has four gates, and its American Eagle busing operation is also based here.

·         Terminal 6 – Virgin America joins its corporate partner Alaska Airlines. Air Canada and XL Airways France relocates from Terminal 2. Great Lakes and Mokulele remain in Terminal 6.  Boutique Air relocates from Terminal 3. Allegiant, Frontier and Sun Country check-in only.

·         TBIT – Southwest Airlines’ international flights arrive at TBIT, while SWA’s international departures and check-in remain in Terminal 1.  Avianca, Copa and Interjet departure and arrivals at TBIT.  Thomas Cook Airlines resumes seasonal service in May with departures and arrivals temporarily from TBIT.

During the relocation and in the weeks following, passengers are advised to check-in online, print boarding passes, and check terminal and gate information before coming to LAX.  They should also arrive to the airport earlier than normal.  Once at LAX, passengers should check flight and gate status on flight information display boards in each terminal to ensure they are in the correct location.      

Delta plans to deploy hundreds of people on site to help guide passengers the week of the move, and LAX Guest Experience Members (GEMS), dressed in blue, and Volunteer Information Professionals (VIPs), in red, will also be available to provide guidance to passengers needing assistance. 

A webpage with move information and a map showing the location of each airline at the conclusion of the terminal realignment can be found at www.LAXisHappening.com/LAXontheMOVE.

Updates will be provided each night of the move and can be found at www.laxishappening.com, www.lawa.org and on Twitter by following #LAXontheMOVE, @LAAirportPD and @flyLAXairport.

Following the move, Delta will operate 23 gates at LAX alongside many of its airline partners, including Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet. Later, Delta is planning a secure connection to TBIT which would enable seamless access to additional partners, including Air France-KLM, Alitalia, China Eastern, China Southern and Korean Air.  The proposed facility would also offer convenient passenger flows, improved gate-area seating, and a world-class concession program featuring local chefs and restaurants in partnership with Westfield Corporation.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports.  LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016.  LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,280 weekly nonstop flights to 77 cities in 42 countries on 64 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion.  This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues.  The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

            LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with 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.

For more information about LAX, please visit www.lawa.aero/lax or follow on Twitter

@flyLAXAirport , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport , and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1 .  Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction, are available at www.LAXisHappening.com .  

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