Arikah Map

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport:LAX LOGO
Los Angeles International Airport:LAX
IATA: LAX - ICAO: KLAX
Summary

<tr><th colspan="2" align="left" valign="top">Airport type</th><td colspan="2" valign="top">Public</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" align="left" valign="top">Operator</th><td colspan="2" valign="top">Los Angeles World Airports</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" align="left" valign="top">Serves</th><td colspan="2" valign="top">Los Angeles, California</td></tr>

Elevation AMSL126 ft (38.4 m)
Coordinates33°56′33″N, 118°24′29″W
Runways
DirectionLengthSurface
ftm
7L/25R12,0903,685Concrete
7R/25L (closed until March 2007 for renovation)11,0953,382Concrete
6R/24L10,2853,135Concrete
6L/24R8,9252,720Concrete
Helipads
NumberSizeSurface
ftm
H36319Concrete
Los Angeles International Airport:Runway layout at LAX
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Runway layout at LAX
"LAX" redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation).

Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX), is the primary airport serving Los Angeles, California. It is generally referred to by Californians simply as "LAX", with the letters pronounced individually.

LAX handles more "origin and destination" (i.e. not connecting) passengers than any other airport in the world. It is the world's fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic [1] and sixth-busiest by cargo traffic, serving some 60 million passengers and more than two million tons of freight in 2004. It is the third-busiest airport by passenger traffic in the United States. In terms of international passengers, LAX is the second-busiest in the U.S. (behind only JFK International Airport in New York City)[2] , but only 20th worldwide. Before 9/11 it was the third busiest airport in the world. It is a major hub for United Airlines.

LAX serves destinations in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Its most prominent airlines are United (19.57% of passenger traffic, combined with United Express traffic), American (15%) and Southwest (12.7%). [3] It is also a focus city for Alaska Airlines and an international gateway for Delta Air Lines.

The airport occupies some 3,425 acres (14 km²) of the city on the Pacific coast, about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. LAX is one of the most famous locations for commercial aircraft spotting, most notably at the so called "Imperial Hill" area (also known as Clutter's Park) in El Segundo where nearly the entire South Complex of the airport can be viewed. Another famous spotting location sits right under the final approach for runways 24 L&R on a small grass lawn next to the Westchester In-N-Out Burger restaurant, and is noted as one of the few remaining locations in Southern California where spotters may watch such a wide variety of low-flying commercial airliners from directly underneath. The airport's coastal location exposes it to fog, during which flights are occasionally diverted to Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County 47 miles (76 km) to the east.

Although LAX is the largest airport in the Greater Los Angeles Area, the region relies on a multiple airport system because of its vast size. Many of the area's most well-known attractions are closer to alternative airports than to LAX; for example, Hollywood and Griffith Park are closer to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank; while John Wayne Airport is in Orange County, the home of Southern California's two best theme parks.


Contents

History

Los Angeles International Airport:Los Angeles Airport "Jet-Age" postcard showing the Theme Building
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Los Angeles Airport "Jet-Age" postcard showing the Theme Building

In 1928, the Los Angeles City Council selected 640 acres (2.6 km²) in the southern part of Westchester as the site of a new airport for the city. The fields of wheat, barley and lima beans were converted into dirt landing strips without any terminal buildings. It was named Mines Field for William W. Mines, the real estate agent who arranged the deal. The first structure, Hangar No. 1, was erected in 1929 and is now a historic landmark.

Mines Field was dedicated and opened as the official airport of Los Angeles in 1930, and the city purchased it to be a municipal airfield in 1937. The name was officially changed to Los Angeles Airport in 1941, and to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 1949. Prior to that time, the main airport for Los Angeles was the "Grand Central Airport" in Glendale.

Los Angeles International Airport:The architecture shown in The Jetsons was based on the Theme Building's exterior, then the Theme Building's interior was redesigned to have a "Jetsons" feel.
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The architecture shown in The Jetsons was based on the Theme Building's exterior, then the Theme Building's interior was redesigned to have a "Jetsons" feel.

Until this time, the entire airport was located east of Sepulveda Boulevard. As the airport expanded westward to meet the Pacific Ocean, a tunnel was completed in 1953 so that Sepulveda Boulevard would pass underneath the airport's runways. It was the first tunnel of its kind.

The distinctive white "Theme Building," constructed in 1961, resembles a flying saucer that has landed on its four legs. It was designed by a team of architects and engineers headed by William Pereira and Charles Luckman, that also included Paul Williams and Welton Becket. The initial design of the building was created by James Langenheim, of the Pereira-Luckman firm. A restaurant that provides a sweeping view of the airport is suspended beneath two intersecting arches that form the legs. The Los Angeles City Council designated the building a cultural and historical monument in 1992. A $4 million renovation, with retro-futuristic interior and electric lighting designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, was completed before the "Encounter Restaurant" opened there in 1997. At one time, tourists and passengers were able to take the elevator up to the roof of the "Theme Building", but after the September 11th attacks, the rooftop was closed off to everyone for security reasons. It was once said the rooftop would reopen for public use, but that was determined to be a rumor.

The first jet service appeared at LAX in 1959, transporting passengers between LAX and New York. The first wide-bodied jets appeared in 1970 when TWA flew Boeing 747s between LAX and New York.

Los Angeles International Airport:The Theme Building decorated for Christmas, 2004
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The Theme Building decorated for Christmas, 2004

Groundbreaking for the new Tom Bradley International Terminal was conducted in 1982 by Mayor Tom Bradley and World War II aviator General James Doolittle, and the $123 million terminal was opened in 1984. In 1996, a new 277 foot (84 m) tall air traffic control tower, with overhanging awnings that shade the windows and make the building vaguely resemble a palm tree, was constructed at a cost of $29 million.

Soon afterward, fourteen plexiglass cylinders, each up to ten stories high, were placed in a circle around the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Century Boulevard, with additional cylinders of decreasing height following Century Boulevard eastward. The cylinders, lit from inside, slowly cycle through a rainbow of colors, and provide an additional landmark for visitors arriving by air at night.

At various points in its history, LAX has been a hub for TWA, Air California, Continental, Delta, PSA, USAir, Western Airlines, and the Flying Tiger Line.

Starting in the mid-1990s under Los Angeles Mayors Richard Riordan and James Hahn modernization and expansion plans for LAX were prepared only to be stymied by a coalition spearheaded by residents who live near the airport angry at noise, pollution and traffic impacts of the existing facility. In late 2005 newly elected L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was able to reach a compromise allowing some modernization to go forward while efforts are made to encourage future growth be spread among other facilities in the region.

On May 17 2005 Los Angeles voters decided to keep the Los Angeles Airport Police in place. The proposal was to merge the Los Angeles Airport Police with the LAPD.

On July 29 2006 Runway 7R/25L was closed for reconstruction until March 25 2007. The reconstruction is to move the runway 55 feet south to prevent runway incursions and prepare the runway for the next generation of Airbus A380. The newly moved runway will also have storm drains, and enhanced runway lighting, something that the other 3 runways do not have. The reconstruction of runway 25L will make way for a central taxiway in between runways 25L and 25R.

On September 18, 2006, Los Angeles World Airports announced a $503 million facelift of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Improvements include installing new paging, air conditioning and electrical systems, along with new elevators, escalators, baggage carousels and a digital sign that will automatically update flight information. Also a large explosives-detection machine will be incorporated into the terminal's underground baggage system, in which the federal government will fund part of the system.

The "X" in LAX

Before the 1930s, existing airports used a two-letter abbreviation based on the weather station at the airports. So, at that time, LA served as the designation for Los Angeles International Airport. But, with the rapid growth in the aviation industry, the designations expanded to three letters, and LA became LAX. The letter X does not otherwise have any specific meaning in this identifier.[4]

Airlines/Terminals

Los Angeles International Airport:Sepulveda Boulevard passes under LAX's southern runway and taxiways.
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Sepulveda Boulevard passes under LAX's southern runway and taxiways.

LAX has nine passenger terminals arranged in a "U," also called a "horseshoe," and are served by a shuttle bus. In addition to these terminals, there are 2 million square feet (186,000 sq. meters) of cargo facilities at LAX, and a heliport operated by Bravo Aviation.

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

Los Angeles International Airport:Avianca Boeing B767 at Los Angeles International Airport in 1992. Air New Zealand B747 can be seen nearby.
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Avianca Boeing B767 at Los Angeles International Airport in 1992. Air New Zealand B747 can be seen nearby.

Terminal 3

Los Angeles International Airport:Interior view of Terminal 4
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Interior view of Terminal 4

Terminal 4

Terminal 5

Los Angeles International Airport:Delta Boeing 757-232 at LAX in August 2003.
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Delta Boeing 757-232 at LAX in August 2003.

Terminal 6

Note: United Airlines mixes departures, international and domestic, between T6 and T7

Terminal 7

Terminal 8

Tom Bradley International Terminal

Los Angeles International Airport:Tom Bradley International Terminal at early morning
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Tom Bradley International Terminal at early morning
Los Angeles International Airport:The LAX control tower and Theme Building as seen from Terminal 4
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The LAX control tower and Theme Building as seen from Terminal 4

This terminal opened for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games and is named in honor of Tom Bradley, the first African-American and longest serving (20 years) mayor of Los Angeles, and champion of LAX. The terminal is located at the west end of the passenger terminal area between Terminals 3 and 4. There are 34 airlines that serve the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the terminal handles 10 million passengers per year.

Charter

Ground transportation

Los Angeles International Airport: One of the large LAX signs that greet visitors to LAX. This sign is at the Century Boulevard entrance to Los Angeles International Airport
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One of the large LAX signs that greet visitors to LAX. This sign is at the Century Boulevard entrance to Los Angeles International Airport

LAX can be reached using the Century Boulevard exit on Interstate 405, or the Sepulveda Boulevard exit on Interstate 105. There is also a shuttle bus "G" that connects to the Aviation/I-105 station on the Metro Green Line light rail. The line was originally intended to connect directly to the airport, but budgetary restraints and opposition from local long-term parking lot owners impeded its progress. However, a free shuttle bus is available every 10 minutes. 24hr. parking is available at the Aviation/Harbor Fwy Green Line Station.

Since March 15 2006, LAWA runs two bus lines, called "The LAX FlyAway", to the various LAX terminals at least hourly, on the hour, and around the clock from Union Station in downtown LA, where connections can be made to the Metro, Metrolink and Amtrak rail systems, and also from Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley. Travel time is 45 min. One way ticket is $3 cash. Covered car parking is provided for $6 and $4 respectively per day up to 30 days. Long Term parking is $10 per day in Lot B and C.

Passengers are also served by taxicabs operated by nine City-authorized taxi companies and regulated by Authorized Taxicab Supervision Inc. (ATS). ATS maintains a taxicab holding lot under the 96th Street Bridge where, at peak periods, hundreds of cabs queue up to wait their turn to pull into the Central Terminal Area to pick up riders. A number of private shuttle companies, among them SuperShuttle and Prime Time Shuttle, provide door-to-door airport transportation as well.

Flight Path Learning Center

The Flight Path Learning Center is located at 6661 Imperial Highway and was formerly known as the "West Imperial Terminal." This building used to house some charter flights (Condor Airlines) and regular scheduled flights by MGM Grand Air. It sat empty for 10 years until it was re-opened as a learning center for LAX.

The center contains information on the history of aviation, several pictures of the airport, as well as aircraft scale models, flight attendant uniforms, and general airline swag (playing cards, china, magazines, signs, even a TWA gate information sign). If you ask nicely, one of the fine docents (who are usually retired flight attendants who started work in the 1950s or have been working at the airport for many years) will be glad to open one of the restricted access doors and allow you to stand out on the tarmac (behind a small fence) to get shots of the south side. The center is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. While it does not provide the greatest shots for planespotters, it is definitely worth a visit.

Plane crashes and terrorism

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

See also

Los Angeles International Airport:The pictured light towers were first installed for coming of the Democratic National Convention in 2000 and change colors throughout the night.
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The pictured light towers were first installed for coming of the Democratic National Convention in 2000 and change colors throughout the night.

References

Categories


Airports of Los Angeles | Airports in California | Transportation in Los Angeles

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