LOS ANGELES AIRPORT : Airport Panel to Consider Adding Restaurants, Bars

Airport commissioners will consider a plan today to allow more restaurants and bars in Los Angeles International Airport terminals, including fast-food chains, upscale eateries and cafes.

The move is intended to give travelers more food and beverage choices as they pass through the nation’s third-busiest airport, and to improve LAX’s profitability, Commission President Ted Stein said. “We’re trying to make Los Angeles into a world-class airport, and the food and beverage concessions (should) reflect that,” Stein said. In the future, travelers waiting for flights could sip cappuccino at Starbucks or dine on pasta at a California Pizza Kitchen, he said.

If all goes as planned, the change would help drive up airport revenues, which could be used to pay for city services. But the city still must win federal approval to divert those LAX profits.

The proposal calls for offering eight more concession contracts-four for fast-food establishments and four for specialty restaurants and bars. Host-Marriott Inc. now runs all airport restaurants and bars. Airport officials could begin the search for new concessions within a month, but the new establishments probably would not open in time for the World Cup soccer tournament this summer, Stein said.