(Los Angeles, CA) A new bridge connecting Terminals 1 and 2 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will improve passenger flow, create an additional way to access select gates and increase guest access to food and retail concessions.
Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners Karim Webb and Nicholas Roxborough, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Erbacci, and other airport partners officially opened the Terminals 1 and 2 connector bridge with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 12. The connector allows passengers in the post-security-screening area free movement between the terminals without having to be rescreened at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint.
“Enabling the long-sought-after passenger connectivity of our terminals behind screening is an important step in the ongoing modernization of LAX,” said Beatrice Hsu, President, Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners. “This final element of the Terminal 1 extension is an integral component of elevating the guest experience, while providing options to our guests for how they access all that our terminals have to offer.”
The $13.7 million bridge allows passengers in the post-security screening area to move between both Terminals 1 and 2 without having to be rescreened at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint. It also improves passenger flow, creates an additional way to access select gates, shopping and amenities. For instance, now travelers flying out of Terminal 2 can be screened at either of the Terminal 1 checkpoints, and simply walk through the new corridor to access their gate. Likewise, a passenger flying out of Terminal 2 may have a favorite restaurant in Terminal 1, which they can now access through this new hallway, without having to be re-screened by TSA Security.
“The newly opened corridor linking Terminals 1 and 2 moves us one step closer to our goal of having our terminals fully connected post-security” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports. “Having multiple entry points to the secure side of the airport eliminates the need to re-screen passengers who are heading to another terminal, will help reduce lines and will provide more options for our guests in terms of retail, concessions and other important amenities.”
The new bridge connects the extension of Terminal 1 that opened in May to the east side of Terminal 2. The extension of Terminal 1 also includes a bus port for a dedicated shuttle with service to and from the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal. Guests who are flying on airlines with ticketing in Terminal 1 also will benefit from the new connector, as they can now access additional food, beverage and retail options in Terminal 2.
Construction of the connector began in the fall of 2020, and was completed in late October. The designer and builder was Hensel Phelps Construction Corp., which built the new portion of Terminal 1 and also renovated the remainder of the terminal between 2014 and 2018.
Completion of the final link to connect all of LAX's terminals post-security is anticipated in late 2023.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX, the third-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States in 2019, is in the midst of a $14.3-billion capital improvement program that will touch on all nine passenger terminals and build new facilities, including an Automated People Mover (APM) train, Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility and the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal.
In 2019, LAX served nearly 88.1 million passengers and offered an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 113 destinations in the U.S. and 1,200 weekly nonstop flights to 91 markets in 46 countries on 72 commercial airlines.
LAX generates 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX's ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City's general fund.
LAWA is leading the aviation industry in sustainability practices, with initiatives related to water management, energy (electricity) management, air quality, recycling and natural resources management. In 2019, LAX received Level III ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airport Councils International-Europe.
LAWA is also a leader in inclusivity, operating eight programs that provide opportunities for business enterprises including local, small, minority-owned, veteran-owned and disadvantaged firms, and working together with community partners to offer the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, which targets local workers to make them ready for rewarding careers in the construction trades, and the Build LAX Academy, designed to prepare small contracting businesses for success when working on projects at LAX.
LAX was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX in 2018, and was honored as the "Most Innovative Airport for Passenger Experience" in 2019 by the American Association of Airport Executives. LAX is the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. Other recent honors have included selection as the No. 9 Best Airport (Wall Street Journal); No. 7 Best On-Time Performance for a Mega-Hub Airport (OAG); one of "The World's Best Airports for Business Travelers" (GlobeHunters); Public-Private Partnership of the Year (P3 Bulletin); Urth Caffe, Best Airport Coffee Concession of the Year (Global FAB Awards); Innovation of the Year, Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ARTBA); Best Project, United Airlines Terminal 7 and 8 Redevelopment Program (Engineering News Record California); North American Public-Private Partnership Deal of the Year (IJ Global); and Innovative Transportation Solution of the Year, Automated People Mover (WTS LA).
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
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