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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 23, 2019
Contact:
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260
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‘SUPER PEAK’ HOLIDAY TRAVEL DAYS IN FULL SWING AT LAX
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Travelers are advised to plan for extra time at the airport and to use alternative modes of transit. |
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(Los Angeles, CA) Holiday travel season is in full swing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). During the 25-day holiday period a total of 5.9 million passengers are estimated to use the airport. The busiest stretch will last until Dec.30. Today is considered a "super peak" travel day at the nation’s second-busiest airport, and passenger volume is projected to exceed 249,000 travelers today. These numbers rival the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and airport officials strongly encourage travelers to allow for extra time and to plan ahead. Dec.26-27 and Dec. 29-30 are also expected to be super peak travel days.
During the 25-day holiday period an estimated 5.9 million passengers are expected to use the airport. Guests should plan additional time to reach the airport, clear security and reach their gates. During the busiest times on the super peak days, guests should plan for at least an extra hour for their travel time.
Those considering picking up loved ones at the airport are also encouraged to evaluate alternative options and skip the traffic. There are multiple options for departing guests, including the FlyAway, public transportation and the fast and efficient LAX-it ride app and taxi lot. Using any of these services means one less car in the Central Terminal Area and allows the guests to utilize the dedicated bus lane for a much faster exit.
Top tips for LAX travelers this holiday:
- Arrive Early: Departing guests are advised to allow additional time to reach the airport, clear security and reach their gates. Typically, LAX officials encourage guests to arrive in the terminal at least two hours before the boarding time for domestic flights and three hours before the boarding time for international flights. On Super Peak travel days, guests are encouraged to add at least one hour to that time to account for traffic and lines at the airport.
- Skip the Drive: Guests are encouraged to consider alternate means of traveling to and from LAX given what will be very heavy traffic during peak times especially amidst construction. Alternative options include the FlyAway bus and public transportation. Learn more at www.FlyLAX.com/HolidayTransit.
- Use LAX-it: For the past seven weeks, including during Thanksgiving super peak days, the taxi and ride app lot, LAX-it, performed exceptionally well. Shuttles, which use the dedicated inner lane on the lower level and pickup at no more than two terminals before heading back to LAX-it, arrive at terminal stops on average every 3-5 minutes. During most times, there is little or no wait for Uber, Lyft or taxis. During peak periods, wait times rarely have exceeded 10 minutes. Using LAX-it instead of being picked up by a family member or friend saves that person the stress of navigating traffic and gets the guest out of the airport faster than if they had to wait in the Central Terminal Area. Learn more about LAX-it here: www.flylax.com/lax-it.
- Be Informed in Real Time: Parking garages in the CTA and LAX’s long-term parking lot, Economy Lot E, are expected to reach capacity at times over the holiday travel period, so guests who hope to park in those locations are encouraged to monitor conditions on the website and Twitter. The @FlyLAXStats Twitter account provides regular updates on traffic conditions and parking availability at terminal parking structures and Economy Lot E. This real-time data can also be found at www.FlyLAX.com, which also has predictions for traffic congestion in addition to the real-time information.
- Terminal B Pick-up: A recent addition is the free Terminal B Pickup area on the ground floor of Parking Structure 3. Due to Automated People Mover-related construction in front of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, curb space has been reduced, making it more difficult to pick up arriving guests. The new pickup area features four lettered rows where motorists can pick up passengers. This option is only for private vehicles, and no parking is allowed.
- Watch Out for Construction: Guests are reminded that LAX’s $14.3 billion modernization program is still on-going. When coming to LAX, passengers should look for and follow way-finding signage near all construction sites to ensure their safety and to enhance mobility. For more information, visit www.FlyLAX.com. To help minimize the impact from construction, a construction moratorium will be in effect in the CTA, with no lane closures beyond what is already continuously closed, between Dec. 20 and Jan. 2. Outside the airport, no work will take place on Dec. 24-25, Dec. 31 or on Jan. 1, 2020.
Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead, arrive early, and have patience.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Reporters interested in interviews with an LAX spokesperson regarding holiday travel, please contact (424) 646-5260.
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About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.
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, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. 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 was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
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.
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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