ICONIC LAX GATEWAY PYLONS TO GO DARK FOR EARTH HOUR

(Los Angeles, CA – March 24, 2017) Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) signature 100-foot-tall Gateway pylons will glow green – and then go dark – in recognition of International Earth Hour on Saturday, March 25.

The pylons, which line 1.5 miles of Century Boulevard, and grow in height from 25 to 60 feet before culminating in a ring of 15, 100-foot columns at the entrance to LAX, will be lit green before the Earth Hour observation. Between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., the pylons will be turned off in unison with lights at other city-owned buildings and famed structures across Los Angeles and around the world.  Lighting required for public safety will not be turned off during the event.

International Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 with a single lights-off event.  Since then, the occasion has grown into an observance recognized in 178 countries and territories – including the International Space Station – with more than 12,700 monuments turning off their lights in 2016. The public and businesses are encouraged to participate by turning off non-essential lighting for one hour in support of actions to combat global warming and encourage a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future.

“Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) continues to be recognized as a global leader in airport sustainability,” said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Sean Burton.  “Many of our environmentally sustainable initiatives are visible year-round, and have made a tangible difference for travelers, airport employees and our airport neighbors.”

“LAWA is passionate about its commitment to operate sustainably, balancing economic, social and environmental responsibilities,” said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.  “Turning off the iconic LAX pylons is a visual representation of our values that reflect the care of the environment through all that we do."

In 2016, LAWA was recognized by Airports Council International – North America with Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 2 Certification for its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2025. It also was awarded its first Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) Program grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for the electrification of LAX’s remote gates, valued at approximately $4 million.

Sustainability is also considered when planning and designing the LAX of the future.  The $1.6-billion Midfield Satellite Concourse has been designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, and will incorporate sustainability features including passive daylight use for lighting interior spaces, and a cool roof that reduces heat absorption.  LAX’s $5.5-billion Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) project would include energy- and water-conserving initiatives, including air quality emission reduction measures.

Even the LAX pylons have changed, both to improve their energy efficiency and allow the display of more than 16 million colors, since their initial installation in 2000. Using improved technology, the 736 lamps that originally lit the pylons were replaced with 2,000 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in 2005. The new lights use 75 percent less electricity and last for 75,000 to 100,000 hours, compared to the 3,000-hour lifespan of the original fixtures.

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.