AIRLINES CHANGE TERMINALS – CONSTRUCTION IN CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA – SUMMER TRAVEL HEATS UP!

(Los Angeles, California – June 1, 2017)  Two weeks after nearly two dozen airlines changed terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) the summer travel season is upon us.  While more than 200,000 passengers a day will be using LAX to jet off for summer fun the next few months, work continues to transform LAX into a Gold-Standard airport.  Passengers should plan ahead to navigate sidewalk and vehicle lane closures and in-terminal work.  Construction alerts showing Central Terminal Area (CTA) roadway lane restrictions and sidewalk closures, as well as a pedestrian walking map and helpful airline terminal finder, LAX provides real-time traffic status in and around the CTA, and space availability in the terminal area parking garages and Lot C on Waze, the community-based traffic reporting app.

Did Your Airline Move? 

There was a flurry of activity May 12-17 as 21 airlines at LAX relocated terminals or ticket counters, and a total of 28 involved by the end of June.  When XL Airways France resumes seasonal service on Sunday, June 4, it will operate out of Terminal 6, while Thomas Cook Airlines will relocate its operations from the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) to Terminal 6 later this month.  The easiest way to determine which terminal your flight is departing from is to check in online and print or download boarding passes before arriving at LAX; the gate numbers correspond to the terminals, with Gates 21-28 located in Terminal 2, Gates 30-39 in Terminal 3 and so on.  Gates numbered in the 100s are in TBIT, which is often listed as Terminal B.

Overhead signs were updated each night as more than a dozen airlines changed terminals in mid-May.

  Roadway Impacts in and near the CTA:  

• The main construction area at Terminal 1 has shifted to the center of the building, with continued impact to the drop-off lane on the Upper/Departure Level.  A new pickup and drop-off area for parking shuttles and the Lot C ONLY is open on the eastern end of the terminal.  Private vehicles are not allowed to drop off in this space and should continue to the west end of Terminal 1.  During busy travel times such as early morning and midday, passenger drop-off can cause traffic backups on the roads leading into the CTA, affecting access to all other terminals.  To avoid traffic congestion at LAX from early morning to 2 p.m., motorists are asked to use the Lower/Arrivals Level to drop off passengers, who can take elevators, escalators or stairs up to the Upper/Departures Level. 
• The southbound lanes of West Way will be closed for a widening project between Parking Structures 2B and 3 for several weeks.  The work will widen the turning radius to allow buses to use West Way.  Work will take place from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., but the closure will be continuous. West Way will remain open between Center Way and World Way South.

West Way will be closed at World Way North, between Parking Structures 2B and 3, for several weeks due to a widening project.

• Caltrans work to seal bridges on Interstate 105 in the LAX area will result in some lane and access ramp closures Monday-Friday nights from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning.
• Surveying work for a new power distribution facility for the Midfield Satellite Concourse may result in lane and sidewalk restrictions on Pershing Drive and Westchester Parkway, west of Falmouth Avenue, the week of June 19-23.
• Aviation Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction in the area of 104^th Street for utility work over two weekends in June.  The work will start on Friday nights, June 2 and 23, at 9 p.m. and could extend until Monday mornings, June 5 and 26.

Terminal Construction/Renovation :

•   Terminal 1:   Phase 2 of Southwest Airlines’ $509-million Terminal 1 Renovation Project has shifted to the central part of the terminal, including the installation of a new restroom and food court at the former Security Screening Check Point.  The new screening area opened in April, with ticketed passengers using a tunnel to bypass construction.  The current food court and Gate 10 will remain open, with passengers directed around construction.  In the baggage claim area, passengers will be directed to the right when they reach the bottom of the escalators.  The pedestrian bridge connecting Parking Structure 1 and the terminal is closed, with signs placed to direct passengers.  The restrooms on the ticketing level have been temporarily replaced by all-genderrestrooms on the west side of the lobby.  Passengers may also use restrooms located on the Lower/Arrivals Level or in the terminal beyond passenger security screening.  Gate 18B has returned to service, and Gate 18A is expected to reopen in June. Gates 14 and 16 are temporarily closed.  Westfield is phasing in new concessions.  Water-bottle fillers are available in lower level baggage claim and on the upper level near the concourse restrooms behind California Pizza Kitchen.

•   Terminal 2: Delta Air Lines is operating from Terminals 2 and 3, joined in T2 by Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet.  Delta is running airside buses between Terminals 2, 3 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B/TBIT) for connecting passengers as well as those who find themselves in the wrong terminal.  The buses depart and arrive at Gate 22A.  Virgin Australia passengers check in at Terminal 2 before walking to their flights, which arrive and depart from Terminal B while Volaris passengers check in at T2 and travel by bus to Terminal B.  The first of three new Automated Screening Lanes has opened in the Security Screening Check Point. These lanes are able to process 30 percent more passengers than conventional lanes by allowing multiple passengers to load their bins at the same time.

Delta Air Lines has shuttle buses connecting passengers from Terminal 2 (at Gate 22A) to Terminal 3 (Gate 35) and Terminal B.

• Terminal 3:   Delta Air Lines has relocated to Terminal 3 as a precursor to its plans for a massive renovation.  Delta shuttle buses depart and arrive from Gate 35, connecting Terminals 2 and B. Passengers on Avianca, InterJet and Copa Airlines check in at counters on the west side of Terminal 3 and walk next door to Terminal B for their flights.  A food court, including Shake Shack, LA Life and a new Starbucks location, will open later this year.  La Familia, a restaurant and tequila spot, will begin construction with its opening scheduled for late 2017.

• Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B/TBIT):   Renumbered Gates 137, 139 and 141 are open on the north end of TBIT. Gate 131 is closed for construction of improvements to the baggage handling facility, and Gate 132 is closed for work related to the Midfield Satellite Concourse.  Passengers using Terminals 4-8 are able to access shops and restaurants in Terminal B without having to clear security a second time by using the Terminal 4 Connector.

• Terminal 4:   American Airlines continues the multi-million dollar renovation of the Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge and further upgrades to terminal signage. 

• Terminal 5:  With Delta’s mid-May move to Terminals 2 and 3, Allegiant, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit and Sun Country have relocated operations to Terminal 5, which also includes four gates for American Airlines.  The bus to the American Eagle terminal leaves from Gate 52.

• Terminal 6:  Virgin America, Air Canada and Boutique Air now operate from Terminal 6, joining Alaska Airlines.  XL Airways France will move to Terminal 6 when it resumes seasonal June 4.  A Peet’s Coffee store has opened near the escalators to the tunnel to baggage claim and Terminal 5.

• Terminals 7/8:   United Airlines is continuing its $573-million Terminal 7/8 Renovation Project scheduled for completion in early 2018.  United’s customer service counter has opened in a new location between Terminals 7 and 8.  Newly renovated restrooms have opened near Gate 80, and a new men’s restroom will open near Gate 70A in June.  A new service animal relief area is expected to open north of the United Club in June.  Gate 80 has reopened, with Gates 74 and 75B expected to return to service in June.  Gate 84 is temporarily closed, with Gate 76 closing for renovation later in June. A new men’s restroom has opened between Gates 72 and 74 while the women’s restroom between Gates 75A and 75B is closed for renovation. A new pair of escalators leads passengers from the concourse to baggage claim.  The old escalators will be removed.  A new Baggage Carousel 1 has opened with United Baggage Service office temporarily located near the new restrooms on the west end of the baggage claim area.  Construction barricades have been installed around Baggage Carousel 2, which is being replaced, with work scheduled until late December. The bridge from Parking Structure 7 is closed for elevator demolition and construction, but expected to reopen at the end of June. Access to the parking structure is available on the Lower/Arrivals Level. 

United Airlines’ customer service counter is in a new location between Terminals 7 and 8.

Sidewalk/Walkway/Parking Structure Restrictions and Closures :

• As part of Southwest’s Terminal 1 Renovation Project, portions of the sidewalk on the Upper/Departures Level will be closed through 2017 with pedestrians routed around barricades.  A portion of the drop-off lane will be sectioned off to serve as a walking path while construction barricades are shifted westward.
• The top level of Parking Structure 3 will be closed for waterproofing until early July.

The top level of Parking Structure 3 is closed for waterproofing until early July.

• Pedestrians are routed to a bump-out sidewalk on the Upper/Departures Level at Terminal 7 while the sidewalk is widened.  A 175-foot-long barricade exists along the easternmost sidewalk on the Upper/Departures Level of Terminals 7/8 through 2017. 

Landside Access Modernization Program :

To improve the passenger experience, relieve congestion and enhance LAX’s status as a world-class airport, Los Angeles World Airports has proposed the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP).   The program, which includes an Automated People Mover for access to the CTA, a Consolidated Rent-A-Car Center and connection to Metro light-rail service, requires federal and local approval as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  Following a Notice to Proceed, Myers and Sons - Griffith, a Joint Venture has begun preliminary work as part of a $300 million utilities and enabling project to prepare the area for construction. Thus far, some exploratory work, such as geotechnical surveying, has taken place.  Crews have installed survey markers in the CTA, and are also working in the area of Lot C.

Please note that all dates provided in this notice are subject to change.

      Traffic alerts and current airport conditions are posted on LAX’s social media sites at www.Facebook/com/LAInternationalAirport and www.Twitter.com/flyLAXairport .  A construction hotline at (310) 649-LAWA or (310) 649-5292 is also available.  Real-time traffic conditions in and around the airport and by following @LAAirportPDon Twitter.

      Motorists can help reduce traffic congestion in and around LAX by taking shared-ride public transportation to and from LAX, including the inexpensive and convenient FlyAway® bus service to and from Hollywood, Long Beach, Metro Orange Line Bus stop (in San Fernando Valley), Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood.  If picking up passengers, motorists can use the free LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at the intersection of 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue, next to the entrance of LAX Economy Parking Lot C.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

           LAX is the fourth busiest passenger 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 an increase of almost 8 percent from last year.  As of March 2017, LAX offers 692 daily nonstop flights to 91 U.S. cities and 1,220 weekly nonstop flights to 78 international destinations in 41 countries on 66 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 impactanalysis based on 2014 activity,found LAX generated more than 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion to the Greater Los Angeles region.  The economic benefits of LAX added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues.  The analysis 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, one of the busiest general aviation facilities in the U.S. – 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.

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