Owais Crawford
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known as LAX, is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its metropolitan area. Located in the Westchester neighbourhood, it is the closest airport to the Westside and the South Bay. LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area, handling over 75 million passengers in 2023, making it one of the world's busiest airports. Japan Airlines (JAL) serves LAX, and passengers connecting to JAL flights should go to the Tom Bradley International Terminal. This airport guide will provide an overview of LAX, including its history, facilities, and the JAL experience, ensuring travellers are well-informed when choosing or transiting through this busy aviation hub.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Los Angeles International Airport |
| IATA Code | LAX |
| ICAO Code | KLAX |
| FAA LID | LAX |
| Location | Westchester, Los Angeles, California, US |
| Operator | Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) |
| Area Covered | 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Number of Gates | 161 |
| Number of Terminals | 9 |
| Passenger Traffic Ranking | 8th busiest airport |
| Cargo Traffic Ranking | 11th busiest airport |
| Passenger Traffic (2023) | 75,050,875 |
| Shuttle Service | LAX Shuttle route A |
| Automated People Mover | Under construction, completion expected by Jan 2026 |
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What You'll Learn
- Japan Airlines passengers connecting from American Airlines should check-in at Terminal 4
- LAX is the world's eleventh-busiest airport, handling 75 million passengers in 2023
- The airport covers 3,500 acres of land and has four parallel runways
- The airport is located 18 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles
- The LAX Automated People Mover will connect terminals and provide connections to parking facilities
Japan Airlines passengers connecting from American Airlines should check-in at Terminal 4
Japan Airlines (JAL) and American Airlines (AA) have a codeshare agreement, allowing passengers to book a single ticket for a journey involving both airlines. This means that if you are travelling with American Airlines and Japan Airlines on the same ticket, you will not need to collect your baggage at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) if you have already checked it through to your final destination.
If you are a Japan Airlines passenger connecting from American Airlines, you should receive your Japan Airlines boarding pass for your onward journey at your departure airport. However, even if you have this boarding pass, you will still need to present your passport information to the Immigration Bureau before your flight. Therefore, you should approach the counter or a boarding gate official.
Passengers connecting from American Airlines to Japan Airlines at LAX will arrive and depart from the same terminal, Terminal 4. This terminal is also known as the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). As such, passengers connecting between these airlines will not need to transfer terminals.
It is important to note that the customs and immigration inspection methods at LAX have been simplified since 26 October 2020. As a result, the APC kiosk used for immigration is no longer available, and you will not need to fill out a customs declaration form in the cabin. However, you will still need to show your passport at customs and declare any items if necessary.
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LAX is the world's eleventh-busiest airport, handling 75 million passengers in 2023
Japan Airlines (JAL) serves Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). LAX is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area, located in the Westchester neighbourhood of the city of Los Angeles.
LAX is the world's eleventh-busiest airport by passenger traffic, handling 75 million passengers in 2023. This was an increase from 2022, when the airport saw 52.8 million passengers flying within the United States. However, it is no longer in the top 10 busiest airports, ranking 15th in 2022, 5th in 2021, and 8th in 2023.
In 2019, LAX saw more than 88 million passengers, with 88% of travellers being origination and destination passengers, and 12% connecting. As the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States, LAX serves as a major international gateway, connecting passengers to and from East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America.
To accommodate the high volume of passengers, LAX has undergone several renovations, including improvements to terminals and runways, enhancing the passenger experience, reducing overcrowding, and providing access to larger aircraft. These improvements aim to increase the number of total gates from 146 to 182.
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The airport covers 3,500 acres of land and has four parallel runways
Japan Airlines (JAL) operates out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles southwest of Downtown Los Angeles. 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 covers 3,500 acres of land and has four parallel runways. The airport was established in the 1920s when the Los Angeles City Council and the Chamber of Commerce recognised the need for the city to have its own airport to tap into the growing aviation industry. Several locations were considered, and the final choice was a 640-acre field in the southern part of Westchester. The city leased the land in 1928, and the Department of Airports began converting the fields, once used for growing wheat, barley, and lima beans, into dirt landing strips. The airport opened on October 1, 1928, with Hangar No. 1 as its first structure.
Over time, the airport expanded and, in 1947, the airport's designation expanded from ""LA" to "LAX" to keep up with the three-letter identifiers that were becoming standard for US airports. Today, LAX is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area, handling over 65 million passengers in 2022 and ranking as the world's sixth-busiest airport.
To manage the high volume of traffic, LAX operates under the ""Westerly Operations" air traffic pattern during daytime hours. This means that departing aircraft take off to the west, over the ocean, while arriving aircraft approach from the east. To reduce noise for nearby residential communities, LAX also follows a "Preferential Runway Use Policy", favouring the use of ""inboard" runways for departures and "outboard" runways for arrivals.
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The airport is located 18 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles
Japan Airlines (JAL) serves Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is located 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. LAX is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area, situated in the Westchester neighbourhood of the city. The airport covers 3,500 acres of land and features four parallel runways, with the commercial and residential areas of Westchester to the north, El Segundo to the south, and Inglewood to the east.
Being the closest airport to the Westside and the South Bay, LAX plays a crucial role in the region's aviation industry. In 2023, it handled 75,050,875 passengers, ranking as the world's eleventh-busiest airport according to the Airports Council International. The airport's nine passenger terminals are arranged in the shape of a 'U' or a horseshoe, with 161 gates. Passengers at LAX can conveniently move between all terminals on foot via various pedestrian corridors without having to exit and re-enter security.
The South Airfield Complex at LAX tends to witness more operations than the North due to the higher number of passenger gates and air cargo operations areas on the south side. The airport also boasts an impressive 2 million square feet of cargo facilities. Additionally, the LAX Automated People Mover, expected to be operational by January 2026, will further enhance connectivity within the airport.
Los Angeles International Airport has a rich history, with its origins dating back to 1926 when the Los Angeles City Council and the Chamber of Commerce recognised the city's need for its own airport to tap into the burgeoning aviation industry. Various locations were considered, but ultimately, a 640-acre field in the southern part of Westchester, known as Mines Field, was chosen. This site had already been selected to host the 1928 National Air Races, and on August 13, 1928, the city leased the land, marking the beginning of LAX's transformation into the bustling aviation hub it is today.
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The LAX Automated People Mover will connect terminals and provide connections to parking facilities
The LAX Automated People Mover (APM) is an under-construction electric train system that will connect Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) terminals to parking facilities, rental car services, and the city's Metro system. The APM will feature a 2.25-mile elevated guideway with six stations, three inside the Central Terminal Area (CTA) and three outside of it. It will provide time-certain access to its terminals and parking facilities, improving connectivity for guests and employees.
The APM will connect to the LAX Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ConRAC), which will house all major rental car companies in one location. This centralized facility is expected to eliminate over 3,200 daily car rental shuttle trips, reducing congestion at the airport. The APM will also connect to the LAX West Intermodal Transportation Facility (West ITF), a $294.1 million parking structure with 4,300 spaces for pick-up, drop-off, and shuttle buses.
The APM system will consist of 44 fully electric cars made from 98% recyclable materials. The train will produce a portion of its power through regenerative braking, and the Maintenance and Storage Facility will generate nearly half of its power from solar energy. This sustainable approach is expected to reduce the airport area's carbon footprint and traffic, with an anticipated 117,000 fewer vehicle miles traveled per day.
To facilitate vertical movement, new cores will be built near each terminal with elevators, escalators, and pedestrian bridges. These cores will also connect terminals to the APM stations and existing airport parking structures. The APM is expected to carry more than 30 million passengers in its first year, providing faster and more efficient connections within the airport and to the surrounding facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Japan Airlines lands at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles (29 km; 16 nmi) southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles area, but other airports like Burbank, John Wayne (Orange County), and Long Beach also serve the region.
Passengers travelling on a codeshare flight with JAL and American Airlines should proceed to the American Airlines check-in counters in Terminal 4. Those connecting to Japan Airlines flights should go to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (level 3) and check in at the Japan Airlines counter.
