LAX BREAKING RECORDS AGAIN –MORE TRAVELERS EXPECTED THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND DURING THE SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON
(Los Angeles, California – May 26, 2017) It’s going to be busy at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), as record numbers of travelers take to the skies for the summer. Officials at LAX today announced an estimated 895,371 travelers are expected to pass through the airport this Memorial Day weekend – an increase of 5.2 percent over 2016’s record number of 849,000 passengers. Forecasts also show a record 25.6 million passengers will use LAX this summer, an increase of 2.7 percent over last summer’s record 24.9 million travelers.
The Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer travel season which lasts through Labor Day, September 4. During the holiday, Friday May 26 and Monday May 29 are expected to be the busiest days with an anticipated 239,000 and 232,196 passengers, respectively. The busiest week of the summer is expected to be July 11–16 with a projected 1.8 million passengers.
Travel experts attribute this summer’s record passenger increase at LAX to several factors: more available seats as airlines at LAX continue to transition existing flights to larger aircraft with extra seats; the addition of new international airlines; current airlines adding flights on existing and new routes; and increased tourism in Los Angeles from growing markets.
Passengers should prepare before coming to LAX. The final major round of airline terminal relocations were completed May 17. “LAX on the Move” saw 21 airlines move service equipment, network infrastructure, employees, and aircraft as part of the airport’s single largest coordinated terminal relocation. Delta Airlines moved its entire operations from Terminal 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3. More information and a map of airline locations at LAX can be found
Airport officials recommend departing passengers arrive in their airline terminals at least two hours prior to boarding time for domestic flights and at least three hours before boarding time for international flights. As well, travelers are encouraged to enroll in TSA Pre ? ® or other trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, which improve security and reduce wait times.
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. 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. For real-time traffic conditions and information on the status and locations of airport construction,
Smart Traveler Tips
Most travelers, including international passengers, can save time by checking in online for their flights through their airlines’ websites or using ticket kiosks available in terminals. 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, shared-ride services, and the LAX FlyAway® bus service. The FlyAway® service operates daily from Hollywood, Long Beach, Metro Odrange Line (San Fernano Valley), Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood/UCLA. Fares range from $8 one way to $10 one way. Schedules and online ticket purchases are available at
To avoid driving repeatedly around the Central Terminal Area while waiting for arriving passengers, motorists can wait in their vehicles for up to two hours for free in the well-lit, 24-hour LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at the intersection of 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue, adjacent to the Southwest corner of LAX Economy Parking Lot C. Motorists also can park in Lot C for $4 an hour, with a maximum daily rate of $12, and take the free, 24-hour LAX shuttle bus to the terminals, or arriving passengers can take the Lot C bus to the Cell Phone Waiting Lot.
To avoid morning traffic congestion at LAX from 6 a.m. to 12 noon, motorists are encouraged to use the Lower/Arrivals level to drop off departing passengers, who can take elevators, escalators or stairs up to the departures level. All commercial transportation vehicles, including Lyft and Uber, are required to pick up and drop off customers in their designated areas and roadway levels.
Additional travel tips on navigating LAX and things to do while at the airport can be found
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 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
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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