LAX air passenger volume is leveling off
Almost 20 million passengers are expected to pass through Los Angeles International Airport during the summer travel season, crowding terminals and filling flights to near capacity, LAX officials said Tuesday.
Overall, however, passenger volumes at LAX will be about the same as last summer as rising ticket prices and the nation’s economic downturn cut demand for domestic air travel. The reduction is expected to be balanced by increasing foreign flights.
“We are looking for a flat year this summer,” said Deputy Airport Director Paul Haney. “In the face of record fuel costs, the airlines have begun to trim their flight schedules and this is resulting in fewer seats and higher airfares.”
Airport and federal officials will hold a news conference today at LAX to lay out their expectations regarding air traffic in the months ahead.
The summer travel season begins Memorial Day weekend when about 820,000 passengers are expected to arrive at or depart from LAX. The busiest days will be Friday and Monday.
Airport officials predict that LAX will handle about 19.6 million passengers through Sept. 8, including those taking to the skies during the Memorial Day weekend.
More than 61 million people a year use the airport, which is operated by Los Angeles World Airports.
The agency also runs Ontario International Airport, Palmdale Regional Airport and Van Nuys Airport.
Domestic air travel is expected to be down about 2% at LAX while the number of international travelers, who are enjoying favorable exchange rates, will increase to more than 5.5 million, about 5% higher than last summer.
In recent months, nine international carriers have announced new Los Angeles routes, adding 126 arrivals and departures a week at LAX.
Several will begin service this summer, contributing to the anticipated increase in international passengers.
Airport officials said travelers can expect busy terminals in the months ahead as well as flights that will be about 85% full on average.
In addition to LAX, about 2 million passengers are expected to use Ontario International Airport this summer, a decrease of about 5% from the same time last year. About 80,000 will be traveling this weekend.
At Palmdale Regional Airport, about 8,700 summer travelers will use regional jet service that began in June 2007 and connects the Antelope Valley to San Francisco.
LAX passengers are advised to arrive three hours ahead of their scheduled departure for international flights and two hours before domestic departures. Passengers should arrive 90 minutes before departure at Ontario and an hour before departure at Palmdale.
Because many summertime passengers are infrequent travelers, airport officials suggest checking the Transportation Security Administration website www.tsa.gov for up-to-date lists of prohibited items for checked luggage and carry-on bags.
LAX, Ontario and Palmdale also offer several “Smart Traveler Tips” to help passengers get through airline and security procedures. Their websites are available at www.lawa.org
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