LAWA AND DELTA CELEBRATE OPENING OF THE AIRLINE’S NEW WEST HEADHOUSE AND DELTA ONE CHECK-IN AND TICKETING LOBBY AT LAX

 

Occasion Marks Key Milestone Before the Full Delta Sky Way Project Opens to the Public at LAX’s Terminal 3 This Summer

Left to right: Delta Vice President of Global Sales, Scott Santoro; Commissioner Karim Webb; Commissioner Nicholas P. Roxborough; BOAC Vice President, Val Velasco; Delta Vice President of Airport Operations, John Fechushak; BOAC President, Beatrice Hsu; City of Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Rachel Freeman; Hensel Phelps Construction Co. Vice President and District Manager, Damian Buessing; Delta Senior Vice President of Corporate Real Estate, Holden Shannon; LAWA Chief Executive Officer, Justin Erbacci. Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports and Delta.

 

(Los Angeles) At a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together Delta and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) executives, local elected and civic leaders and other key stakeholders, Delta and LAWA celebrated the opening of Delta’s new West Headhouse and Delta One Check-in and Ticketing Lobby at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)’s Terminal 3. The milestone represents the second to last major phase before the full Delta Sky Way project opens to the public later this summer. Together through a joint $2.3 billion investment of both LAWA and Delta funding, the partners are modernizing one of the airline’s key global hubs.

The West Headhouse, which features self-service kiosks for passengers to drop their bags and print boarding passes, provides another entry point to easily check in and get to security. At the Delta One check-in area, located on the lower arrivals level of Terminal 3, Delta One customers can access a private TSA screening lane and direct access to the Delta Sky Club.

“A transformation of LAX is on the horizon.” Rachel Freeman, Deputy Mayor of Business and Economic Development, said. “The newly completed investments at Terminal 3 are another step in upgrading the guest experience at LAX and building an airport that Angelenos deserve. We look forward to continuing the work with our partners in providing a more seamless, modern, and world-class experience for all of our guests.”

As with previous phases, this stage of the Delta Sky Way project provided opportunities for local workers, with approximately 30% of the project team comprised of L.A. residents. The project team also includes ten graduates of LAWA’s renowned HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program.

“Our projects aim to serve travelers for generations to come, but the ways in which they support the local economy and workforce start at day one. On the Delta Sky Way project, 2,065 workers from the local community represent 30% of the project team,” said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Beatrice Hsu. “When we celebrate the full opening of the project later this summer, it will be alongside the dedicated workers who saw the project to completion.”

The Memorial Day travel window before the ceremony saw over one-million passengers move through LAX, the most passengers at the airport over a holiday weekend since pre-pandemic. The trend in passenger traffic is predicted to continue, reaching the highest levels the airport has had in the past several years. The opening of the new Delta West Headhouse and Delta One Check-in and Ticketing Lobby will further accommodate the influx of passengers on the 150-plus daily flights that Delta operates.

"I am eager for guests to enjoy Delta’s new West Headhouse and Delta One Check-in and Ticketing Lobby at LAX’s Terminal 3, in addition to the entire Delta Sky Way project when it opens later this summer. These projects truly are establishing the new norm of first-rate guest experiences passengers will find across LAX," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. "My deep appreciation goes to Delta, Hensel Phelps, the team at LAWA, our shared community of supporters and the workers who are continuing to usher the Delta Sky Way project forward."

Further enhancements include the addition of 100 more seats to the Delta Sky Club, the re-opening of the original Terminal 3 passenger tunnel – complete with its signature 1960s tile mosaic and direct access to baggage claim – an enlarged T3 Help Center and a second connection point to LAX’s People Mover train when it opens in 2024.

“We’re building on our position as LAX’s leading premium global carrier and achieving yet another infrastructure milestone ahead of schedule – enabling an ever-elevated travel journey for our Los Angeles customers,” said Scott Santoro, Delta Vice President of Global Sales. “Now that the summer travel season has officially kicked off, Delta couldn’t be more ready to get our customers where they want to go most.”

Terminal 3, where the projects are located, is designed to meet LAWA's commitment to eliminate carbon emissions from its facilities and the greater Delta Sky Way project features a wide array of sustainability integrations, like low-flow plumbing fixtures that make use of recycled water. Additionally, all of the building's systems, including structural, façade, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and lighting are designed to meet CalGreen 2016 and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver certification standards.

LAX's new Terminal 3 Headhouse with view looking west toward Timothy Nolan's "Collider Beaming" mural. Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports and Delta.

Art is also an important consideration within the space. The Delta One check-in area features one-of-a-kind artwork from two local artists in partnership with ArtLifting, a social enterprise that champions artists impacted by disabilities and housing insecurity. LAX’s art team also collaborated with Delta on the installation of two new murals in Terminal 3’s pre-security Level 3 Departures Lobby. “Collider Beaming” by Timothy Nolan is a vinyl mural of collaged imagery that features the representation of tiny, subatomic particles intermingling to create maze patterns, and “A Place for Us All” by Sarah “Buckley” Samiani is a hand-painted mural that explores themes of movement and energy through colors and juxtapositions that recall the environment of the city. The Delta Sky Way project is one of many initiatives advancing LAX’s future-focused modernization. Interested parties can learn more about LAX’s transformation and subscribe for updates at http://bit.ly/LAX-Transformation.

MEDIA ASSETS
A PDF of this press release and high-resolution images are available to download here: bit.ly/LAXandDeltaWestHeadhouse. Credit all assets as “Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports and Delta Air Lines.”

LAX's new Terminal 3 Headhouse with view looking east toward Sarah “Buckley” Samiani's “A Place for Us All” hand-painted mural. Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports and Delta.