Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles World Airports · Public domain · source
Name	Los Angeles International Airport
Iata	LAX
Icao	KLAX
Type	Public
Owner	Los Angeles World Airports
City-served	Los Angeles, California
Elevation-f	125

Contents

Los Angeles International Airport is a major international airport in Los Angeles County, California serving as a primary gateway for United States–Asia and United States–Oceania travel and a hub for transcontinental services. Located in the neighborhood of Westchester, Los Angeles, it is operated by Los Angeles World Airports and is one of the busiest airports by passenger traffic, connecting to global airline networks such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and numerous international carriers like All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and British Airways. The airport has shaped aviation policy debates involving entities such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council.

History

Originally developed from a Mines Field airfield leased in 1928, the facility expanded during the World War II era when aviation demand rose and United States Army Air Forces activity influenced infrastructure growth. Postwar commercial expansion saw the construction of terminals influenced by architects and planners aligned with trends exemplified by projects like TWA Flight Center and developments at John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. The jet age, spurred by aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8, prompted runway extensions and terminal modernization during the 1960s and 1970s paralleling upgrades at O'Hare International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. In the 21st century, major redevelopment programs have been undertaken amid negotiations with local government bodies like the City of Los Angeles and regulatory oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The airport features a multi-terminal layout including the iconic Theme Building developed during the mid-1960s contemporary with structures such as the Space Needle and exhibition buildings at the World's Fair. Terminals have been renovated or rebuilt following models used at Heathrow Airport and Changi Airport to improve passenger flow, security checkpoints aligned with Transportation Security Administration protocols, and baggage systems influenced by standards at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The airport operates four parallel runways comparable in capacity to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and uses air traffic control procedures coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration's Southern Regional Office. Ground-level concourses house lounges operated by airline alliances like Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance as well as services similar to those at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.

As a major hub, the airport supports a mix of legacy carriers such as American Airlines and United Airlines alongside low-cost carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. International routes connect to hubs including Tokyo Haneda Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Sydney Airport, and Mexico City International Airport with frequencies influenced by bilateral agreements like the U.S.–Japan Open Skies Agreement. Cargo carriers including FedEx Express and UPS Airlines utilize dedicated facilities inspired by models at Memphis International Airport. Airline operations coordinate with labor unions such as the Air Line Pilots Association and Association of Flight Attendants over staffing and service standards that affect scheduling and route networks akin to those seen at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Ground access includes connections to major arteries such as Interstate 405, Sepulveda Boulevard (Los Angeles), and surface transit nodes tied to projects like the Los Angeles Metro K Line and links planned with the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project. Shuttle services operate to terminals and parking lots similarly to systems at San Diego International Airport and Oakland International Airport, while regional buses and long-distance coaches provide links comparable to services at Union Station (Los Angeles). Rideshare and taxi staging areas follow regulations coordinated with the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Proposals for automated people movers mirror implementations at San Francisco International Airport and Denver International Airport.

The airport's operations have generated scrutiny from community groups in neighborhoods such as Westchester, Los Angeles and municipalities including Inglewood, California and El Segundo, California over aircraft noise, air quality, and emissions. Mitigation efforts have involved programs modeled after noise abatement at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport, including preferential runway use, curfews discussed with the Federal Aviation Administration, and financial assistance for soundproofing homes coordinated with local elected bodies like the Los Angeles City Council. Environmental reviews have considered factors regulated under statutes enforced by the California Air Resources Board and studies conducted in collaboration with academic institutions such as the University of California, Los Angeles.

The airport's history includes incidents involving air carriers and events investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, reflecting patterns of mishaps documented at other major hubs like Newark Liberty International Airport and Miami International Airport. Responses have led to procedural changes in ground operations, runway safety enhancements comparable to those implemented after notable events at San Francisco International Airport, and coordination with emergency services from agencies such as the Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles Police Department.

Category:Airports in Los Angeles Category:International airports in California