LAX Forecasts Nearly 1.4 Million Guests for the Memorial Day Holiday, Unveils Real-Time Travel Info Via @FlyLAXstats

05/23/2019 02:57 PM


For Immediate Release

May 23, 2019

Contact:
Charles H. Pannunzio
(424) 646-5260
LAX FORECASTS NEARLY 1.4 MILLION GUESTS FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY, UNVEILS
REAL-TIME TRAVEL INFO VIA @FlyLAXstats 

(Los Angeles, CA) Memorial Day represents the unofficial kick-off to the busy summer travel season, and this year Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is providing more information than ever to help passengers plan ahead for a smooth travel experience.

Nearly 1.4 million passengers are forecast to travel through LAX between Thursday, May 23, and Tuesday, May 28. During that time 593,000 vehicles are forecast to use airport roadways.

“This Memorial Day weekend, we are asking our guests to give themselves extra time to navigate our airport, as we are in the midst of a multibillion-dollar modernization program, coupled with the start of our busy summer travel season,” said Keith Wilschetz, Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Emergency Management, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).“While we continue to recommend that travelers get to the airport two hours ahead of boarding for a domestic flight and three hours in advance of an international flight, we know that many guests have their own comfort level as to when they want to arrive at their gates. Whatever that time is that a traveler would typically give themselves to get to the airport, we suggest that they add 30 minutes to that number, so they start or end their trip on a positive, stress-free note.”

To help provide travelers with the most up-to-date information about traffic, parking and wait times at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, LAX is launching a new Twitter feed at @FlyLAXstats. The new channel is an expansion of a pilot program launched last winter to post real-time traffic and travel time on the airport’s primary Twitter handle, @FlyLAXairport.

“The number one way to reduce stress during travel is to take away the unknowns and that is exactly what we are doing at LAX, as we once again pioneer new technology to improve our guest experience,” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Innovation and Commercial Strategy Officer. “With our @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed, digital marketplace and mobile-responsive website, guests can access the information they need, make informed decision and plan their LAX experience right in the palm of their hand.”

The new @FlyLAXstats feed will provide travel times to the Central Terminal Area from Sepulveda/Westchester; from Century/405; and via the 105 from the 405. It will also include the time it takes a car to navigate the central terminal area loop on either the lower or upper level.

In addition to travel times, the account provides real-time parking updates, showing parking space availability in the Central Terminal Area parking structures as well as the new Economy Lot E. Parking information comes directly from LAX parking systems and can also be found on our FlyLAX.com website.

And, for the first time, LAX is providing wait times at each of the TSA screening locations through a pilot program with aviation technology startup Plot. These sensors will use a suite of technology including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to measure the wait time for passengers from the time they enter a checkpoint queue until they step through the final TSA scan.

The TSA wait time data is being provided by Plot’s artificial intelligence system, which uses historic data and an algorithm to predict estimated wait times at each terminal.

This new Twitter tool will provide TSA wait time updates every 15 minutes, while traffic and parking updates will be pushed out every 30 minutes.

As always, travelers can also go to our website, FlyLAX.com for a wealth of helpful information about the LAX travel experience, including parking, shopping and dining, construction updates and flight information.

Additional Los Angeles Airport Police officers will be on patrol and in the Central Terminal Area assisting motorists during the holiday period.

“The dedicated men and women of the Airport Police will be in full force, working hard, this holiday to keep our travelers safe and secure so they may enjoy the weekend with family and friends," said Dave Maggard, Chief, Los Angeles Airport Police.

 

Airport officials have additional recommendations for guests who are headed to LAX this holiday weekend.


Rather than circling the Central Terminal Area until arriving passengers reach terminal curbside for pick up, motorists can park and wait up for up to 15 minutes for free at any of LAX’s public parking garages. The first hour is only $5. Another great option is the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 6221 W. 96th St. (96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue), where drivers can park for free for up to two hours as they wait for their guests. 

 

Motorists can also take advantage of the typically lighter traffic on the Lower/Arrivals Level during the early morning hours, where they can access the parking structures or drop off passengers who can then use elevators or escalators to reach the Upper/Departures Level. Guests are encouraged to check with their airline before arriving at the airport to ensure that they go to the correct terminal. Motorists can make use of East Way and West Way on the Lower/Arrivals Level to reduce their time on airport roadways.

In time for the holiday weekend, 300 spaces have been added to Economy Lot E, located at 5455 W. 111th St., between La Cieniga and Aviation boulevards, bringing the total to 2,200 parking spaces.

 

Passengers can help reduce traffic congestion by taking shared-ride public transportation to/from LAX, including: Metro Rail Green Line; door-to-door shuttle vans; and long-distance and municipal buses. The airport also offers inexpensive and convenient FlyAway® buses from Hollywood, Long Beach, Union Station and Van Nuys. For passenger convenience, FlyAway buses accept TAP cards and EZ Passes.

To help speed their journeys, travelers are encouraged to enroll in TSA Pre√® or other trusted-traveler programs such as Customs & Border Protection’s Global Entry, which improve security and reduce wait times. Passengers are also encouraged to use the CBP's Mobile Passport Control app.

The public is reminded that LAX’s multibillion-dollar modernization program is still on-going. When coming to LAX, passengers should look for and follow way-finding signage near all construction sites to ensure their safety and to enhance mobility.

 

The complete estimates for passenger traffic each day are:

  • Thursday, May 23:        242,917
  • Friday, May 24:             242,548
  • Saturday, May 25:         215,792
  • Sunday, May 26:           218,195
  • Monday, May 27:          239,510
  • Tuesday, May 28:         231,585

        TOTAL: 1,390,574 passengers 

The complete estimates for vehicle traffic on airport roadways each day are:

  • Thursday, May 23:        103,000
  • Friday, May 24:             100,000
  • Saturday, May 25:          91,000
  • Sunday, May 26:           102,500
  • Monday, May 27:          102,500
  • Tuesday, May 28:           94,000

        TOTAL: 593,000 vehicles 

  LAWA Deputy Executive Director for Operations and Emergency Management Keith Wilschetz speaks at a Thursday news conference along with Los Angeles Airport Police Chief Dave Maggard, right.

LAWA Chief Innovation and Commercial Strategy Officer Justin Erbacci speaks on Thursday.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 

LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.  


LAX generated 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 was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named  a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. 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, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.   


For more information about LAX, please visit   www.flyLAX.com or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at   www.YouTube.com/laxairport1.  

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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