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Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to as LAX, is the primary international airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area. It is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles, and is close to the Westside, South Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. LAX is the world's busiest origin and destination airport, serving as a major hub for seven airlines and handling over 88 million passengers and 2 million tons of cargo in 2019. Aside from LAX, the Los Angeles area is also served by four other major airports, including Hollywood Burbank Airport, John Wayne Airport, Long Beach Airport, and Ontario International Airport, as well as a few smaller airports and airfields.
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What You'll Learn
LAX is the primary international airport in Los Angeles
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, with the commercial and residential areas of Westchester to the north, the city of El Segundo to the south, and the city of Inglewood to the east. LAX is the closest airport to the Westside and the South Bay, making it the best airport for visitors to Santa Monica.
LAX is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States. In 2023, it was ranked as the world's eleventh-busiest airport, handling 75,050,875 passengers. In 2024, this number increased to 76,587,980 passengers. LAX is a major international gateway to the United States and serves as a connection point for international passengers, particularly those travelling to and from East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America. The airport is a hub, focus city, or operating base for more passenger airlines than any other airport in the United States, serving as a major hub for seven airlines.
LAX covers 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land and has four parallel runways. 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 currently undergoing refurbishment, with all terminals being renovated and the addition of new facilities, such as the LAX West Intermodal Transportation Facility, which opened in 2021. These projects are expected to cost $30 billion and will increase the total number of gates from 146 to 182.
While LAX is the primary international airport in Los Angeles, there are several other airports in the region, including Burbank, John Wayne Airport, Long Beach Airport, Ontario International Airport, and San Bernardino International Airport. These airports offer alternative options for travellers, particularly those visiting specific areas within the Greater Los Angeles region, such as Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and the Westside.
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It is one of the busiest airports in the world
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to by its airport code, LAX, is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2023, it was ranked as the world's eleventh-busiest airport by Airports Council International, handling 75,050,875 passengers. The airport is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States and serves as a major gateway to the country. LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles (29-30 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It covers 3,500 acres of land and has four parallel runways.
LAX is the world's busiest origin and destination airport. In 2019, approximately 88% of travellers at LAX were origination and destination passengers, while only 12% were connecting. The airport serves as a hub, focus city, or operating base for more passenger airlines than any other airport in the United States. It is a major hub for seven airlines and handles a significant amount of passenger and cargo traffic. In 2019, LAX handled over 88 million passengers and 2 million tons of cargo.
The airport's convenient location in El Segundo makes it a popular choice for visitors to West LA and the South Bay. It is also the closest airport to the Westside and is known for its robust flight schedules and competitive prices. LAX is easily accessible via the FlyAway express bus system, which connects it to Los Angeles Union Station, the region's primary rail transportation hub. The airport is currently undergoing refurbishment, with projects expected to cost $30 billion and bring LAX's total gates up to 182.
While LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area, other airports contribute to the region's high air traffic. These include Burbank, John Wayne (Orange County), Long Beach, Ontario, and San Bernardino. Burbank Airport, located in northern Los Angeles County, is the third-busiest airport in the region, handling 6 million passengers in 2019. John Wayne Airport, located in Orange County, served 10.7 million passengers in 2019, making it the second-busiest airport in the area.
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LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to as LAX, is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles. It is the primary international airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area and is the world's eighth busiest airport. LAX is a major international gateway to the United States and serves as a connection point for passengers travelling internationally. The airport is located 18 miles (30 km) southwest of Downtown Los Angeles and close to the Pacific Ocean.
The Westchester neighbourhood is a densely built-up area consisting of a mix of apartment complexes, duplexes, single-family housing, and schools. It has a diverse population of young families, students, and older folks, and is known for its friendly and safe environment. Westchester offers convenient access to travel, good restaurants, and nearby beach towns like Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. The area also features the Westchester Recreation Center, which includes an auditorium, barbecue pits, a baseball diamond, basketball courts, a football field, and a skate park.
The development of Westchester is closely tied to the growth of LAX. In the late 1930s, real estate magnate Fritz Burns and his partner Fred W. Marlow developed a community of inexpensive prefabricated single-family homes on the site of a former hog farm. The area grew significantly during and after World War II, coinciding with the boom in the aerospace industry. However, the expansion of LAX and the increase in noise from jet takeoffs led to a decrease in the desirability of the residential areas adjoining the airport. As a result, the city of Los Angeles initiated a program to purchase and condemn houses from noise-weary homeowners, resulting in the demolition of homes and the displacement of thousands of residents over time.
Despite the impacts of airport expansion, Westchester remains a vibrant and convenient neighbourhood in Los Angeles, offering a mix of residential and recreational options, as well as easy access to the rest of the city and beyond through LAX.
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The airport has four parallel runways
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 around 18 miles (29-30 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles, with the commercial and residential areas of Westchester to the north, the city of El Segundo to the south, and the city of Inglewood to the east. LAX is the closest airport to the Westside and the South Bay.
LAX covers 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land and has four parallel runways. 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. The airport is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States and is a major gateway for the country, serving as a connection point for international passengers.
In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, making it the world's eleventh-busiest airport. The following year, in 2024, it served 76,587,980 passengers, a 2.04% increase. LAX is the world's busiest origin and destination airport, as many more travellers begin or end their trips in Los Angeles than use it as a connection. In 2019, LAWA reported that approximately 88% of travellers at LAX were origination or destination passengers, with only 12% connecting.
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 U.S. airports for both passenger and cargo traffic. The airport has undergone various developments, including the addition of the LAX West Intermodal Transportation Facility, which offers 4,300 parking spaces. The LAX Automated People Mover will connect this facility to the terminal area.
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Other airports in Los Angeles include Burbank, John Wayne, and Long Beach
Los Angeles is served by several airports, including Hollywood Burbank Airport, John Wayne Airport, and Long Beach Airport. Each of these airports offers unique features and services to travellers.
Hollywood Burbank Airport, located in the heart of Burbank, is conveniently connected to the city centre and is known for its proximity to popular attractions such as the Burbank Town Center and North America's largest IKEA store.
John Wayne Airport, serving Orange County, has been recognised for its initiatives to reduce noise and promote sustainable aviation practices through its Fly Friendly Program. The airport also showcases the creative talents of students from the Visual and Performing Arts division of Cypress College, adding a unique touch to the traveller experience.
Long Beach Airport, officially known as Long Beach Municipal Airport Daugherty Field (LGB), stands out for its commitment to sustainability and community engagement. The airport has successfully diverted significant amounts of organic waste from landfills through its food scrap recycling program and has also completed terminal roadway improvements, enhancing the experience for passengers and those with mobility challenges. Long Beach Airport embraces its slogan, "America's Coolest Airport," by infusing relaxed vibes and local flair into the travel journey.
Each of these airports contributes to the diverse aviation landscape of Los Angeles, offering travellers convenient, sustainable, and engaging experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to as LAX, is the primary international airport in Los Angeles.
LAX currently has 146 gates, but the number is expected to increase to 182 after the completion of ongoing projects.
Apart from LAX, the other major airports in Los Angeles include Burbank, John Wayne (Orange County), Long Beach, Ontario, and San Bernardino.
The best airport to fly into in Los Angeles depends on your destination within the city. For Disneyland, Long Beach and Orange County airports are the most convenient. For downtown, Hollywood, or the Valleys, Burbank is the best option. For the Westside, LAX is usually the preferred choice.
LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2023, it handled 75,050,875 passengers, making it the eleventh busiest airport in the world. In 2024, the number increased to 76,587,980 passengers.
