LAX sees more than sixty million passengers every year. In fact, Los Angeles International Airport is the world's largest hub for flights heading to Asia. After opening in 1928, LAX has continued to expand and turn into one of the world's busiest airports-currently ranked number five. LAX sits on more than 3,000 acres about fifteen miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The airport has four parallel runways that head east/west. A new control tower took over flight control in 1996 standing more than 100 feet taller than its predecessor. Passengers can tune to AM530 for airport information including traffic reports.

There are nine terminals at LAX: Terminals 1 through 8 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The terminals are reached by free airport shuttles or walkways from the garages. Only Terminals 4 through 8 are in a connected building. In addition, there is the Theme Building (the former control tower) where a few restaurants, memorials, and works of art can be viewed during long layovers. Panoramic views of Los Angeles are available from the top of the glass walled building.

At the moment there are designated smoking areas, but law changes may eliminate some or all of these. Currently, smokers may light up in the painted areas between Bus Gate 22A and the ticketing counter in Terminal; between gate 31A and 38 in Terminal 3; beneath gate 48B in Terminal 4; on the moat level near gate 54A in Terminal 5; moat level adjacent to gate 65 in Terminal 6; to the east of gate 81 in Terminal 8; and behind the United Express administration trailer.

For those picking up passengers, a Cell Phone Waiting Lot is available. Drivers can park for free while waiting for passengers to arrival. Once a passenger has cleared security and baggage, they simply call the driver and arrange for that car to meet them outside of the proper terminal. In the Cell Phone Waiting Lot, drivers must remain in their car. Unattended cars will be towed.

Long Term Parking - All of the airport parking garages can handle long term parking needs. Parking garages closest to the terminals cost $30 a day. These parking garages are most convenient and require a credit or debit card to be swiped in advance. The main terminal parking garages do have height limits, so drivers should be aware of this in advance. Motorcycles can park for free in any of the garages providing they do not park in a space for cars and do not park in such a way that they block traffic.

Discount Airport Parking - Lot B and Lot C is farthest from the airport, but the rates are the lowest. In Lot B, the first two hours are free and then after that it is $1 for each additional hour. A maximum rate of $8 per day is charged. Lot C is a little higher with a maximum fee of $10 per day. Lot C allows the first two hours to be free and then it is $1 an hour past that. This is a great savings in comparison with the main garages that charge $3 for the first hour and then $2 per half hour past that.

Handicapped Parking - There are handicapped parking spaces in each parking garage, however certain garages have height restrictions. Parking areas for Terminal 1, Terminal 2's parking garage 2A, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, Terminal 6, and Terminal 7 have a height limit of 8' 2". Terminal 2's parking garage 2B and Terminal 5 have a limit of seven feet. All parking garages are equipped with ramps. Shuttle Buses are equipped with wheelchair ramps for those needing to go to a different terminal and cannot use the walkways. Finally, Parking Lot C, which is the farthest from the terminals has wheelchair shuttle service.

Airport Hotel Parking - Many Los Angeles area hotels offer Park, Sleep, and Fly programs. These programs offer free parking for up to fourteen days and then usually charge $10 to $15 a day for those who are flying out for a longer span of time. Four Points Sheraton, Hilton Los Angeles Airport, La Quinta Inn & Suites, and Travelodge Hotel Los Angeles all offer special rates with their Park, Sleep, and Fly programs. For those with late night arrivals or early morning flights, these hotel programs can make traveling a breeze. Free hotel shuttles bring passengers to and from the airport.

LAX Airport

Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX) is the primary airport serving Los Angeles, California, United States. It is often referred to by its airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually. LAX is located in southwestern Los Angeles in the neighborhood of Westchester, 16 mi (26 km) from the downtown core.

With 61,895,548 passengers[2] in 2007, LAX is the fifth busiest airport in the world and is served by direct flights to North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and The Middle East. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and a focus city for American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines.

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 in Santa Ana is close to Disneyland, the Honda Center, Angel Stadium of Anaheim, and other Orange County attractions. Long Beach Airport is close to some of the coastal attractions known to Southern California, like Palos Verdes and Huntington Beach. LA/Ontario International Airport and San Bernardino International Airport are closer to the Inland Empire region's cities of Riverside, Corona and San Bernardino of Southern California.

The airport occupies some 3,500 acres (5 sq mi/14 km²)[1] of the city on the Pacific coast, about 15 mi (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 from which 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 from which spotters may watch such a wide variety of low-flying commercial airliners from directly underneath.[3] The airport's coastal location exposes it to fog, during which flights are occasionally diverted to LA/Ontario International Airport in Ontario, San Bernardino County 47 mi (76 km) to the east.

History. Los Angeles International Airport and Palos Verdes Peninsula in the background.In 1928, the Los Angeles City Council selected 640 acres (1.00 sq mi/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.[4] The first structure, Hangar No. 1, was erected in 1929 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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.[5] Prior to that time, the main airport for Los Angeles was the Grand Central Airport in Glendale.

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.[5]

In 1958 the architecture firm Pereira & Luckman was contracted to design a master plan for the complete re-design of the airport in anticipation of the "jet age". The plan, developed along with architects Welton Becket and Paul Williams, called for a massive series of terminals and parking structures to be built in the central portion of the property, with these buildings connected at the center by a huge steel-and-glass dome. The plan was never fully realized, and shortly thereafter the Theme Building was constructed on the site originally intended for the dome.

The distinctive white "Theme Building," constructed in 1961, resembles a flying saucer that has landed on its four legs. 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.[6] At one time, tourists and passengers were able to take the elevator up to the roof of the "Theme Building", but after the September 11 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.[5]

In 1981, the airport began a substantial $700 million expansion in preparation for the 1984 Summer Olympics. To streamline traffic flow and ease congestion, the U-shaped roadway leading to the terminal entrances was given a second level, with the lower level dedicated to picking up arriving passengers and the upper level dedicated to dropping off departing passengers. Two new terminals (Terminal 1 and the International Terminal) were constructed and Terminal 2, then two decades old, was rebuilt. Multi-story parking structures were also built in the center of the airport.[5]

On July 8, 1982, groundbreaking for the two new terminals were conducted by Mayor Tom Bradley and World War II aviator General James Doolittle. The $123 million, 963,000 square foot International Terminal was opened on June 11, 1984 and named in Bradley's honor.[5]

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.[5]

The Theme Building decorated with light displays for the holidaysIn 2000, prior to Los Angeles hosting the Democratic National Convention. fourteen acrylic glass 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. This was part of an overall facelift that included new signage and various other cosmetic enhancements.

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 July 29, 2006 Runway 7R/25L was closed for reconstruction until March 25, 2007. The reconstruction was to move the runway 55 feet (17 m) south to prevent runway incursions and prepare the runway for the next generation of Airbus A380. The newly moved runway also has storm drains, and enhanced runway lighting, something that the other 3 runways do not have. The reconstruction of runway 25L made way for a central taxiway in between runways 25L and 25R. Currently, the central taxiway between runways 25L and 25R is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2008.

On September 18, 2006, Los Angeles World Airports started 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.

According to the Los Angeles Times, in February 2007, many airlines flying outside of the United States have reduced flights to LAX and moved to other airports, such as San Francisco International Airport and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada due to outdated terminals. Airlines flying out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal have reduced flights because the International Terminal is 22 years old and has not been upgraded.[7]

In response to the report, the $500 million Tom Bradley International Terminal project began immediately.[citation needed]

On March 19, 2007, the Airbus A380 made its debut at LAX, landing on runway 24L. LA city officials fought for the super-jumbo jet to land at LAX, in addition to making its US debut in New York's JFK airport.[8]

On August 15, 2007, the Los Angeles City Council approved a $1.2 billion project to construct a new 10 gate terminal to handle international flights using the A380.[9] Adding the first new gates built since the early 1980s, the new structure is to be built directly west of the Tom Bradley International Terminal on a site that is occupied mostly by aircraft hangars with passengers ferried to the building by an underground people mover extending from the terminal.[9] It is expected to be completed in 2012.

On March 31, 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported that international airlines were once again flocking to LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal and have added or are announcing several flights to a variety of existing and new destinations. The weak dollar has caused a surge in demand for US travel, and among the new airlines at LAX are Alitalia, V Australia, and Emirates Airlines, the latter of which stated that they chose LAX over other airports such as San Francisco International because they saw greater potential in the more lucrative Southern California market. In addition, Korean Air, Qantas Airlines, Air China, and Air France are all adding new routes, and Brazilian carriers TAM Airlines and OceanAir are planning to begin service, as is a new British airline that will be offering all-business-class round trip flights on the busy Los Angeles-London route. Most of the new flights will start in mid to late 2008 and will raise the number of travelers to the airport to pre-9/11 levels. The influx of new flights comes amidst the renovation of the airport and underscores LAX's status as the international gateway of the US West Coast.

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.[11] Portland International Airport in Oregon also has a similar code: PDX. "LAX" is also used for the International Port of Los Angeles located in San Pedro and for the Amtrak-serving Union Station in downtown.

LAX handles more "origin and destination" (i.e. not connecting) passengers than any other airport in the world.[12] It is the world's fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic[13] and eleventh-busiest by cargo traffic,[14] serving over 60 million passengers and more than two million tons of freight in 2006. It is the busiest airport in the state of California, and the third-busiest airport by passenger traffic in the United States based on final 2006 statistics.[15] In terms of international passengers, LAX is the second-busiest in the U.S. (behind only JFK International Airport in New York City),[16] and 26th worldwide.[citation needed]

Sepulveda Boulevard passes under LAX's southern runways and taxiways.LAX serves 87 domestic and 69 international destinations in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Its most prominent airlines are United Airlines (19.4% of passenger traffic, combined with United Express traffic), American Airlines (15.1%) and Southwest Airlines (12.4%). Other airlines with a presence on a lesser scale include Delta Airlines (7.7%), Alaska Airlines (4.7%), and Continental Airlines (3.8%).[17]

United Airlines/United Express operates the most departures from the airport per day (225), followed by American Airlines/ American Eagle (126), Southwest Airlines (105), and Delta Airlines/ Delta Connection (85).[17]

United Airlines operates to the most destinations (63), followed by Delta Air Lines (43), and then American Airlines (34). United Airlines operates the most international trans-Pacific destinations (5). Lufthansa, Air France, and United each serve two destinations in Europe for the most there, and Delta has the most destinations in Latin America (17). The LAX control tower and Theme Building as seen from Terminal 4LAX has nine passenger terminals arranged in a "U," also called a "horseshoe." The terminals are served by a shuttle bus.

In addition to these terminals, there are 2 million square feet (186,000 m²) of cargo facilities at LAX, and a heliport operated by Bravo Aviation. Continental Airlines[citation needed] and Qantas[18] each have maintenance facilities at LAX although neither carrier operates a hub there.

LAX has nine passenger terminals arranged in a "U," also called a "horseshoe." The terminals are served by a shuttle bus.

In addition to these terminals, there are 2 million square feet (186,000 m²) of cargo facilities at LAX, and a heliport operated by Bravo Aviation. Continental Airlines[citation needed] and Qantas[18] each have maintenance facilities at LAX although neither carrier operates a hub there.

Terminal 1 has 15 gates: 1-3, 4A-4B, 5-14. Terminal 1 was built in 1984 and is the largest of all the terminals in number of gates. Note: Some TACA and Lacsa arrivals are processed at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Terminal 2 has 11 gates: 21-21B, 22-22B, 23, 24-24B, 25-28. Terminal 2 was built in 1962, and rebuilt in 1984. Terminal 2 serves as the airport's secondary international terminal after the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Note: Alaska Airlines' international arrivals from airports without United States border preclearance are processed by customs and immigration facilities in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Terminal 3 has 13 gates: 30, 31A, 31B, 32, 33A, 33B, 34-36, 37A, 37B, 38, 39. Terminal 3 opened in 1961. It formerly housed some American Airlines flights after acquiring Reno Air and TWA in 1999 and 2001, respectively, then moved all American flights to Terminal 4.

Note: American Eagle commuter flights operate from a remote terminal 0.3 mi (500 m) west of Terminal 4. "Gate 44" serves as the shuttle bus stop at Terminal 4. The Eagle terminal is also connected by shuttle buses to Terminals 2 (Gate 22A), 3 (Gate 35), 5, and 6, because of Eagle's codesharing with Northwest Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Air, Delta Airlines, and Continental Airlines respectively.

Terminal 4 has 14 gates: 40, 41, 42A, 42B, 43, 44 (bus to American Eagle satellite terminal), 45, 46A, 46B, 47A, 47B, 48A, 48B, 49B. Terminal 4 was built in 1961 and in 2001 was renovated at a cost of $400 million in order to improve the appearance and ergonomics of the terminal.

Terminal 5 has 14 gates: 50B, 51A-51B, 52A-52B, 53A-53B, 54A-54B, 55A, 56, 57, 58A, 59. Delta Air Lines has used this terminal since its opening in 1962, and then its reopening in 1987.

Terminal 6. Virgin America is one of six airlines that flies out of Terminal 6Terminal 6 has 14 gates: 60, 61, 62-62A, 63-66, 67A-67B, 68A-68B, 69A-69B. This terminal has changed little from its opening in 1961; in 1979, new gates were expanded from the main building, as is obvious from the rotunda at the end. Four of these gates have two jetways, which accommodates large aircraft. Both United and Delta utilize gates in Terminal 6 in addition to their primary bases of Terminal 7 and 5 respectively.

Terminal 8 has 9 gates: 80-88. This terminal was added for smaller jets and turboprops in 1988 and formerly served Shuttle by United flights. In 2002, United Airlines decided to move all non-United Express flights out of Terminal 8 to Terminals 6 and 7.

Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). The Tom Bradley International Terminal has 12 gates, including six on the north concourse and six on the south concourse. In addition, there are nine satellite gates for international flights located on the west side of LAX. Passengers are ferried to the west side gates by bus.

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.

The terminal is currently undergoing major renovations to undergo a facelift (to compete with San Francisco International Airport's flagship international terminal), though no new gates will be added. The renovations are expected to be completed by 2009-2010. Also, a new ten-gate concourse will be added to replace a west-side remote gate area and will be completed in 2012.

Freeway. LAX can be reached using the Century Boulevard exit (and several more northern exits) on Interstate 405, or the Sepulveda Boulevard exit on Interstate 105. Like all other California airports (with the exception of San Francisco International), LAX does not have direct freeway access; all visitors entering by car must pass at least one traffic light-controlled intersection to transition from the freeway into the airport's main loop road.

Bus. Out of a number of bus systems, many routes (local, rapid and express) of the LACMTA, Line 6 of the Culver CityBus system, Line 8 of Torrance Transit, and the regular as well as the rapid buses of the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus system's Line 3 all make stops at, among other nearby stop locations, the LAX City Bus Center in Parking Lot C. on 96th St., where shuttle bus "C" offers free connections to and from every LAX terminal.

FlyAway Bus. The FlyAway Bus is a shuttle service run by the LAWA, which travels between one of three terminals, and stops at every LAX terminal. The service is operated 24 hours a day with each line operating at least one trip per hour, with more trips in daytime, with the exception of the line to and from Westwood, which does not run in the early morning hours. The one way ticket price is $4 cash for adults, $2 for children aged two to twelve and free for children under age two. All terminals offer optional remote passenger and baggage check-in services for $5 per person. All lines use Los Angeles's system of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to expedite their trips.

Routes:

Van Nuys/LAX- Travels between LAX and the FlyAway terminal located at the Van Nuys Airport located in Van Nuys. The terminal offers parking in a large parking structure for $4 a day, with a 30 day limit. The route is intended to reduce traffic on Interstate 405 and to provide convenient park-and-ride services to citizens of the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope valleys. Union Station/LAX- Travels between LAX and the Patsaouras Transit Plaza at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. At Union Station connections can be made to Metro Rail, Metrolink, Amtrak, and Amtrak California rail services (i.e. to Burbank-Bob Hope Airport), the Metro Transitway system, and bus services operated by Amtrak California, Metro, and other regional operators.

The trip takes between 25 and 45 minutes depending on traffic. Although the route is mostly intended for travelers who wish to make a connection to rail or bus services, Union Station also offers parking for $6 a day, with a 30-day limit. Westwood/LAX- Travels between LAX and the FlyAway terminal located at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Westwood The route is mainly intended for students, staff, and faculty of UCLA and residents of Westwood Village. The buses leave from UCLA Parking Structure 32. Parking is available for immediate drop-off and pick-up, and overnight parking is offered over weekends from 3 pm Friday until 7 am Monday.

China Airlines private bus

China Airlines operates private bus services from LAX to Monterey Park and Rowland Heights for its passengers. [22]

Metro Rail

Shuttle bus "G" offers a free connection to the Aviation/LAX station on the Metro Green Line. 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. A Metro Rail extension to LAX is a part of both LAX and Metro's master plans.

Taxis and private shuttles

Taxicab services are 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 Prime Time Shuttle ([1]), SuperShuttle([2]), and Roadrunner Shuttle ([3]) provide door-to-door airport transportation as well. X-Press Shuttle operated door-to-door airport transportation until 2001, when they lost their contract to maintain a shared ride vans station at LAX.

Flight Path Learning Center. The light towers, first installed in preparation for the Democratic National Convention in 2000, change colors throughout the night.The Flight Path Learning Center is a museum 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 memorabilia such as playing cards, china, magazines, signs, even a TWA gate information sign.

The museum claims to be "the only aviation museum and research center situated at a major airport and the only facility with a primary emphasis on contributions of civil aviation to the history and development of Southern California".[23] However, there are other museums at major airports including the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum adjacent to Washington Dulles Airport, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Don Muang Airport, the Suomenilmailumuseo (Finnish Aviation Museum) at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, the Frontier of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field, and others.