LAX officials tout Bradley progress as Villaraigosa leaves office

Although work at the new Tom Bradley International Terminal is still incomplete, Los Angeles International Airport officials celebrated their success anyway on Thursday with outgoing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Instead of marking the Bradley’s completion, which has fallen behind schedule, a series of airport special events will showcase the substantial progress that has been made transforming the outdated terminal and LAX, which has long received mediocre grades from travelers.

“We’ve gone from worst to best,” Villaraigosa declared as he strolled through the soaring Great Hall of the Bradley 10 days before he leaves office. “I think we’ve just upped the game a little bit.”

The international terminal, which is undergoing a $2-billion modernization, is the airport’s most lucrative travel gateway and the centerpiece of an ongoing effort to turn LAX into a world-class operation.

With its cavernous interior and high-end amenities for travelers, the Bradley was the focal point of a preview for the news media Thursday morning. Dinner and entertainment followed in the evening for about 1,000 guests.

On Saturday, the new terminal will be open to the public for viewing and officials will re-dedicate the bust of former Mayor Tom Bradley, the terminal’s namesake. The bronze sculpture is just outside the ticketing and check-in area.

The Bradley is “the crown jewel” of a broad $4.1-billion modernization program at LAX, said Michael Lawson, president of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners. “It sets the bar for a new passenger experience.”

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Twitter: @DanialJosephWei

dan.weikel@latimes.com