LAX STANDS STRONG WITH TEXAS AND HELPS TO COORDINATE SAFE OPERATIONS WITH AIRPORTS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY

(August 28, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA) In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is working with its airline partners, aviation authorities, and airports within the storm’s impact area to keep passengers safe and informed about their flight status and airport impacts.

“The LAX family is thinking of all those who have been impacted by the recent storms and flooding, and we are truly saddened to learn of the loss of life, injury, and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey,” said Trevor Daley, Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs for LAWA. “We know that major weather events such as this one can disrupt travel, causing additional stress during what is already a difficult time. We encourage all those who are traveling from LAX in the coming days, no matter their final destination, to check their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport, and work with their airline if there is a disruption in their travel plans.”

LAX shares its deepest gratitude to all the first responders who have deployed to the region, including our own Los Angeles first responders, and thanks all of the airline and airport workers who are helping travelers navigate the disruption. While the overall impact to LAX airport operations has been minimal, those traveling to, from, and through the Houston area are seeing cancellations. Today, there have been flights cancelled to and from two airports, William P. Hobby (HOU) and George Bush International Airport (IAH), with four arrivals and four departures to HOU cancelled, and 16 arrivals and 14 departures at IAH cancelled. Though we are monitoring AUS (Austin-Bergstrom Int’l) and SAT (San Antonio Int’l), today there are no current cancellations between those airports and LAX. Yesterday, Sunday, August 27, there were 21 flights from LAX cancelled, and 22 flights to LAX cancelled, which included AUS and SAT as well as IAH and HOU. Saturday saw 11 flights from LAX and 10 flights to LAX cancelled, with impacts at all four airports.

LAX recommends that passengers traveling from LAX arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance of a domestic flight and three hours in advance of an international flight, and consider giving themselves additional time during days with high traveler volume, such as during the coming Labor Day weekend. Travelers whose flights have been impacted due to the hurricane should reach out directly to their airline for information regarding travel options.

LAX also encourages those who want to help those impacted by the storm and flooding to consider a donation to disaster relief organizations operating in the impacted areas, such as the Red Cross. The Red Cross is helping those affected by Harvey, with hundreds of trained volunteers providing meals and shelter for victims, including enough cots and blankets to support more than 20,000 people. Donations to the Red Cross to support the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts can be made online at http://www.redcross.org, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or by texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

           LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named one of Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports.  LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016.  LAX offers 737 daily nonstop flights to 100 cities in the U.S. and 1,386 weekly nonstop flights to 88 cities in 44 countries on 73 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 620,600 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 also the second most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram according to wego.com. 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, 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

          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.