
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area. Located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, LAX is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States. Covering over 2,950 acres of active airport and 700 acres of additional airport-owned land, LAX is a major international gateway, serving as a connection point for passengers travelling to and from Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America. In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, making it the world's eighth-busiest airport.
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LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to as LAX, is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area. Located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, it is 18 miles (29-30 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles and close to the Pacific Ocean. LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area, serving as a major international gateway to the United States.
In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, making it the world's eighth-busiest airport according to the Airports Council International rankings. The following year, in 2024, LAX served 76,587,980 passengers, a 2.04% increase from 2023. LAX is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States, serving as a connection point for passengers travelling internationally to and from East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America.
LAX covers 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land and has four parallel runways. The airport has been undergoing a major expansion since 2008, with all terminals being refurbished and new facilities being added. The airport is operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a branch of the Los Angeles city government, which also operates the Van Nuys Airport for general aviation.
LAX is the busiest domestic origin and destination passenger market in the US, with approximately 88% of travellers at LAX being origination and destination passengers, and 12% connecting. The airport holds the record for the world's busiest origin and destination airport, as many travellers begin or end their trips in Los Angeles rather than using it as a connection. In addition to its high passenger volume, LAX is also a significant cargo hub, ranking 10th in the world and fourth in the US in air cargo tonnage processed.
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It is the fourth busiest airport in the world
Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, is the fourth busiest airport in the world, according to a 2018 ranking. The airport served 78.5 million passengers that year, with 2.4 million tons of freight and mail processed, valued at over $86.9 billion. LAX is the busiest airport in California and the second busiest in the US. It is also the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the US, serving as a major gateway for international passengers.
LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown LA. The airport covers 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land and has four parallel runways. It is operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a branch of the Los Angeles city government, which also operates the Van Nuys Airport for general aviation.
LAX is the busiest domestic O&D (origination and destination) passenger market in the US, with approximately 88% of travellers beginning or ending their trips at the airport, and 12% connecting. The airport is served by around 69 air carriers, including all major airlines, and about 23 cargo-only airlines.
In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, according to the Airports Council International rankings, making it the world's eighth-busiest airport. The following year, in 2024, the number of passengers increased by 2.04% to 76,587,980.
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LAX covers 3,500 acres of land
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known as LAX, is a large airport. It covers 3,500 acres of land, to be precise. This includes over 2,950 acres of active airport and 700 acres of additional airport-owned land, such as the El Segundo Dunes and the LAX Northside Area.
LAX is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the US. It is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, about 16 to 18 miles from downtown LA. The airport is a major international gateway, serving as a connection point for passengers travelling to and from East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America.
LAX has four parallel runways and handles a large volume of flights and passengers. In 2018, the airport served 78.5 million passengers, making it the fourth busiest airport in the world and the second busiest in the US. The following year, an estimated 88% of travellers at LAX were origination and destination passengers, while 12% were connecting.
The airport has undergone modernisation efforts to accommodate larger aircraft and address key issues such as ground access, passenger convenience, and operational safety and security. The LAX Master Plan, developed in 2004 and revised in 2013, outlines a blueprint for future development to meet forecasted passenger demand.
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It is located 18 miles from Downtown LA
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known as LAX, is located 18 miles from Downtown LA. LAX is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is the largest and busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area, serving as a major international gateway for the country. In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, making it the world's eighth-busiest airport.
LAX offers a range of transportation options to and from Downtown LA, which is approximately 18 miles away. The driving distance is around 15.3 miles, and the quickest way to get to Downtown LA from the airport is by taxi, which takes about 20 minutes and costs $70 to $95. However, the cheapest option is to take a bus, which costs around $3 and also takes about 20 minutes.
For those looking for a comfortable and relatively fast option, the LAX FlyAway bus service is recommended. These buses are marked with a blue LAX FlyAway sign and operate every 30 minutes from 5:40 a.m. to 1:10 a.m. The journey to Union Station in downtown LA takes about 35 minutes and costs $9.75 for a one-way ticket. During rush hours, the travel time can extend to 60-70 minutes.
If you're looking for an even cheaper option than the bus, you can use the metro to get from LAX to Downtown LA. First, take the free Shuttle G to the Aviation/LAX Station, then transfer to the Metro C Line (Green Line) to reach Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station. From there, switch to the Metro A Line (Blue Line) to get to 7th Street/Metro Center Station in downtown LA. The entire trip will take around 70 minutes, and you'll need a TAP Card, which costs $2, in addition to the $1.75 metro fare.
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LAX is the world's busiest origin and destination airport
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to as LAX, is the world's busiest origin and destination airport. This means that, compared to other airports, a higher number of travellers are starting or ending their trips in Los Angeles, rather than using it as a connecting airport. In fact, in 2019, LAWA reported that around 88% of travellers at LAX were origination or destination passengers, with only 12% being connecting passengers.
LAX is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States, serving as a major international gateway for the country. It is the fourth busiest airport in the world and the second busiest in the United States in terms of passenger numbers. In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, making it the world's eighth busiest airport according to the Airports Council International rankings. The following year, in 2024, the airport saw a 2.04% increase in passengers, serving 76,587,980 people.
LAX serves as a hub, focus city, or operating base for more passenger airlines than any other airport in the United States. It is also the only airport to rank among the top five US airports for both passenger and cargo traffic. The airport covers 3,500 acres of land and has four parallel runways. It is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
LAX operates several shuttle routes to connect passengers and employees around the airport area. These include the Route A Terminal Connector, which operates in a counter-clockwise loop around the Central Terminal Area, and the Route C City Bus Center, which connects the Central Terminal Area to the LAX City Bus Center. The LAX City Bus Center is served by several transit buses, including Beach Cities Transit, Culver CityBus, and Los Angeles Metro.
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Frequently asked questions
LAX airport covers 3,500 acres of land and has an additional 700 acres of airport-owned land, including the El Segundo Dunes and the LAX Northside Area.
LAX has four parallel runways. Two of these runways are on the north side and two are on the south side.
LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world and the second busiest in the United States based on passenger numbers. In 2018, 78.5 million passengers used LAX.
Yes, LAX is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States. In 2023, it was ranked as the eighth busiest airport in the world, serving over 75 million passengers.
LAX offers 645 daily commercial flights to 162 destinations and 1,890 weekly international flights to 68 global destinations.