Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport, often called LAX, is the main international airport for Los Angeles and the area around it in California. It is located in the Westchester neighborhood, about 18 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The airport is close to the Westside and South Bay parts of the city, with El Segundo to the south and Inglewood to the east.

LAX is run by Los Angeles World Airports, a part of the Los Angeles city government, and covers a large area of 3,500 acres. It has four runways running side by side. In 2024, LAX served over 76 million passengers, making it the eleventh-busiest airport in the world. It is especially important for international travel, connecting people to places like East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America.

LAX is special because it is the busiest airport for people starting or ending their trips in Los Angeles. In 2019, about 88% of travelers at LAX were going to or coming from Los Angeles, with only 12% connecting to other places. LAX is also a major hub for many airlines, serving more passenger airlines than any other airport in the United States. While LAX is the busiest, several other airports also serve the Los Angeles area, including Burbank, John Wayne, Long Beach, Ontario, and San Bernardino.

History

Main article: History of Los Angeles International Airport

In 1926, leaders in Los Angeles decided the city needed its own airport to join the growing aviation industry. They chose a field in the Westchester area, which was already set to host a big air race in 1928. The airport opened on October 1, 1928, with its first building, Hangar No. 1, built the next year. Over time, more runways, hangars, and buildings were added.

During World War II, the airport was used by the military. After the war, passenger airlines began using the airport in 1946, and it was renamed Los Angeles International Airport in 1949. In the 1950s and 1960s, new terminals were built, including the famous Theme Building. More changes happened before the 1984 Olympics, and since 2008, the airport has been expanding again with new terminals and transportation centers.

The "X" in LAX

Before the 1930s, airports in the U.S. used two-letter codes, with "LA" for Los Angeles. In 1947, these grew to three letters, and "LA" became "LAX". The "X" doesn’t mean anything special. "LAX" is also used for the Port of Los Angeles and Amtrak’s Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles.

Infrastructure

Airfield

Runways 24R/06L and 24L/06R, called the North Airfield Complex, are north of the airport terminals. Runways 25R/07L and 25L/07R, called the South Airfield Complex, are south of the terminals.

LAX is near the Pacific Ocean to the west and has homes on all other sides. To keep noise low for nearby communities, LAX has special rules for when and how planes take off and land. During the day, planes usually take off toward the west, over the ocean, and land from the east. This helps reduce noise for people living north and south of the airport. At night, when people are trying to sleep, the airport uses even quieter patterns.

The South Airfield Complex is busier than the North because it has more gates for passengers and cargo.

Terminals

Theme Building

Main article: Theme Building

The Theme Building was built in 1961 and looks like a flying saucer on legs. It was made a historic monument by the Los Angeles City Council in 1992. Visitors can take an elevator to the observation deck. There is also a memorial for those affected by the events of September 11, 2001.

Modernization projects

In 2017, plans were made to improve LAX with $30 billion. These improvements aim to make the airport better for passengers and allow bigger planes. So far, many terminals have been renovated, new buildings have been added, and parking and transportation areas have been updated.

Future improvements include:

• SkyLink (under construction, scheduled completion Summer 2026)
• Renovation of Terminals 4 and 5 (under construction, scheduled completion 2028)
• Roadway improvements (ATMP) to improve flow between Sepulveda Boulevard and the Central Terminal Area (under construction, scheduled completion 2030)
• Construction of new Terminals 0 and 9 (ATMP, in planning)

Airlines and destinations

Traffic and statistics

LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2018, it served over 87 million passengers and 2 million tons of cargo. It is the busiest airport in California and had the fifth most passenger boardings in the United States in 2022. For international travel, LAX is the second busiest airport in the United States, just behind JFK in New York City. In 2017, the airport had 700,362 aircraft takeoffs and landings, making it the third busiest for air traffic in the world.

Top domestic destinations

Top international destinations

Airline market share

Ground transportation and access

LAX has many ways to get around the airport and to nearby places. Inside the airport, tunnels or above-ground paths connect all the terminals except one. The LAX Shuttle route A goes around the main terminal area to help passengers move between terminals, but people must leave and then re-enter security when using it.

There are several shuttle routes for passengers and workers. Route E goes to economy parking, Route M connects to the Metro train system, and Route X serves employee parking lots. Some of these routes may stop once a new system called SkyLink opens. SkyLink is a train line being built to connect the airport to parking, the Metro, and rental cars.

The FlyAway bus goes directly from LAX to Union Station in Downtown LA or to Van Nuys Airport in the San Fernando Valley. These buses use special lanes to get to LAX quickly.

Right now, LAX does not have a direct train connection, but the LAX Shuttle route M can take people to the Metro station nearby. SkyLink, which is under construction, will connect the airport to the Metro and rental cars when it opens in 2026.

LAX is close to several roads, including Century Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, Interstate 405, and Interstate 105. Taxis and ride-share services pick up passengers from a special area near Terminal 1.

Walking to LAX is easy from nearby neighborhoods like Westchester and parts of Inglewood. There are hotels, restaurants, and other services close by that people can walk to from the airport.

Other facilities

Los Angeles International Airport is home to important offices for managing the airport. In the past, big airlines like Continental Airlines had their main offices here. They moved into a special building on the airport grounds in 1963 and later moved away in 1983. Other airlines, such as Western Airlines and Flying Tiger Line, also had their offices at LAX.

Flight Path Museum LAX

The Flight Path Museum LAX shares the exciting history of airplanes. It used to be an old terminal but now teaches visitors about aviation. You can see pictures, models of planes, old uniforms, and interesting airline items like playing cards and signs. The museum even has a special library with rare books and photos about airplanes. One of the highlights is “The Spirit of Seventy-Six,” an old DC-3 plane that flew passengers before becoming a company plane for Union 76 Oil Company. This plane was made in Santa Monica in 1941.

Aircraft spotting

People love watching airplanes take off and land near Los Angeles International Airport. One great spot is the "Imperial Hill" area in El Segundo, where a park called Clutter's Park lets you see many planes.

You can also watch planes from under a flight path at a grassy area next to an In-N-Out Burger in Westchester. This is one of the last places in Southern California where you can see so many different airplanes so close.

Another good viewing spot is Vista Del Mar Park, located on the street named Vista Del Mar. From here, you can watch planes taking off over the Pacific Ocean.

Space Shuttle Endeavour

On September 21, 2012, a special airplane called a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft landed at LAX with the Space Shuttle Endeavour on top. About 10,000 people watched it land. The shuttle was moved to a United Airlines hangar and stayed there for about a month before being taken to the California Science Center.

In popular culture

Many movies and TV shows have been filmed at LAX. This is because the airport is close to Hollywood studios and Los Angeles. From 2002 to 2005, filming at Los Angeles airports, including LAX, helped bring in a lot of money to the area.