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A MESSAGE FROM JUSTIN ERBACCI
Interim CEO, Los Angeles World Airports
Happy New Year! It is my honor and privilege to have the opportunity to lead this great organization and extremely talented team into the next decade. Last year, we realized many successes for which each and every LAWA team member should be extremely proud. You can find a sample of those accomplishments below. I know we will deliver even more successes in 2020.
Throughout her tenure at LAWA, our former CEO Deborah Flint did an extraordinary job putting in place our ambitious capital program. With the leadership of our incredible Board of Airport Commissioners, Mayor Garcetti and our LAWA Executive Team, our near-term goals are clear: revolutionize the way guests access LAX; modernize LAX’s terminals; improve the overall guest experience; increase the operational efficiency and sustainability of both LAX and VNY; make our airports more safe and secure; and continue to work collaboratively with our partners to deliver our capital program successfully.
At the same time, we will continue to innovate to optimize and enhance the way we operate our airports. Goals in this area for 2020 include: improving our facilities and passenger processing; further developing our digital marketplace and enhancing guest services; increasing non-airline revenues; making our airports more resilient and sustainable; and further developing a more robust strategy around mobility.
We also will work to continue to nurture the close relationships that we have with our LAWA partners, stakeholders and community groups, and bolster our status as a first-class neighbor, community leader and business partner. We have ambitious goals for inclusion and workforce development and we are committed to continuing our work to create jobs, foster diversity in the workforce and support local, small and minority businesses.
I look forward to working with all of you to accomplish all of this and more in 2020, in furtherance of our vision of Gold Standard Airports – Delivered. Thank you for your partnership now and in the year ahead. Best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.
Justin Erbacci
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Los Angeles World Airports |
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2019 continued Los Angeles World Airports' legacy of excellence, as we received numerous awards and recognitions. These include:
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GROUNDBREAKINGS SIGNAL THE FUTURE OF LAX
In 2019, Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAWA officially broke ground on all three major components of LAX’s $5.5 billion Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) – the Automated People Mover (APM), Intermodal Transportation Facility – West (ITF-West) and the Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) Facility. LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), the developer for the APM, began foundation work for the 2.25-mile elevated train system, while the first concrete pour for the ITF-West parking structure also took place. The ConRAC Facility, being developed by LAX ConRAC Partners, also began site preparations for foundation work in the first quarter of 2020. LAMP will provide time-guaranteed access to LAX's Central Terminal Area, provide new pick-up/drop-off and parking locations and finally connect the airport to Los Angeles' regional rail transportation system. The ITF-West project will open in 2021, while the APM and ConRAC will be operational in 2023. READ MORE.
AIRPORT POLICE FACILITY BEGINS CONSTRUCTION
In October, ground was broken on a state-of-the-art $220 million Airport Police Facility that will consolidate operations from eight separate locations under one roof – a recommendation in the 2011 Report of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Airport Security. The 160,000-square-foot building will be located on 12 acres at the northeast corner of Westchester Parkway and Loyola Boulevard. It will include space for the Los Angeles Airport Police Division’s Office of Operations, Office of Support Services, Office of Homeland Security and Intelligence, Emergency Service Unit, Traffic and Security Group, Bomb Disposal Unit, K-9 Unit, a practice range and a multi-purpose room. The project will also include a landscaped paseo along Westchester Parkway and a 960-stall parking structure. It is slated to open in mid-2021. READ MORE.
VAN NUYS LAUNCHES MAJOR TAXIWAY PROJECT
In January 2019, work commenced on a $26.3 million, 14-month project to rehabilitate Taxiway B at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). This project will ensure a minimum 20-year taxiway lifespan and provide improvements to increase safety and longevity of the aircraft operating areas. This is the first of three projects to rehabilitate both Taxiways A and B at VNY over the next four years. READ MORE.
MIDFIELD SATELLITE CONCOURSE NEARS COMPLETION
Work continued throughout 2019 on the Midfield Satellite Concourse, a 15-gate addition connected to the Tom Bradley International Terminal via an underground 1,000-foot passenger tunnel. In July, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmember Joe Buscaino (District 15) joined airport officials for a hard-hat tour, greeting dozens of HireLAX graduates and other workers at the $2-billion facility. Ground was broken for the facility in February 2017, and it is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2020. The work also includes a Baggage Optimization Project that will expand the baggage handling capacity for both the new concourse and at Tom Bradley. READ MORE.
PARKING STRUCTURE BRIDGE REMOVAL BEGINS VERTICAL CORE CONSTRUCTION
In May, the pedestrian bridge connecting Parking Structure 6 and Terminal 6 was removed in a two-night operation as a precursor to construction of a new Terminal Vertical Core, which will contain the elevators and escalators needed for guests to reach the walkways that will connect the terminals to the Automated People Mover (APM) train stations throughout the Central Terminal Area. By the end of 2019, construction was underway or preparation was ongoing for cores at Terminal 1.5 (Southwest Airlines), Terminals 2-3 (Delta Air Lines), Tom Bradley International Terminal (LAWA), Terminal 4.5 (American Airlines), Terminal 5.5 (LAWA) and Terminal 7 (LAWA). WATCH THE VIDEO.
LAX-IT CONSOLIDATES TAXI, RIDE-APP PICK-UPS AS CONSTRUCTION RAMPS UP
Construction on the APM, the terminal vertical cores, and terminal redevelopment projects means the loss of 30 percent of the inner curb space in the Central Terminal Area, plus other CTA road closures, heavy equipment, and construction crews. In October, to mitigate traffic impacts during construction, LAWA opened the LAX-it taxi and ride app pickup lot just east of Terminal 1 at the corner of Sky Way and World Way. Upon the opening of LAX-it, the inner lanes on the Lower/Arrivals Level were converted to bus-only lanes, allowing LAX-it shuttles and other LAWA operated buses to have relatively free access to circulate and provide improved service. Guests traveling via shuttle to LAX-it typically have waits of no more than 3-5 minutes, and shuttles run routes that have them stopping at no more than two terminals. Guests also have the option to walk to LAX-it, with the trip taking anywhere between three and 18 minutes. Wait times for taxis and ride app vehicles once at the lot are generally under 10 minutes – and often there is no wait at all. In October, the airport held a job fair to staff LAX-it in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles WorkSource Center, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, LAZ Parking and First Transit. Over 500 candidates attended the job fair, and almost 300 job offers were made on the spot. READ MORE.
ECONOMY LOT E OPENS
As work on the Intermodal Transportation Facility West (ITF-West) continued to shrink Long-Term Parking Lot C, a new option was created for LAX guests at 5455 W. 111th St., between Aviation and La Cienega boulevards. Economy Lot E opened with 2,000 parking spaces priced at $12 a day in the spring, and by summer the lot offered 2,700 spaces. The lot is located closer to the I-105 and I-405 freeways than Lot C, and features free shuttle service to and from LAX, 24 hours a day, making use of the bus-only lanes on the Lower/Arrivals Level. READ MORE.
MODERNIZATION OF EVERY TERMINAL AT LAX
Every terminal at LAX is being modernized, including a $1.86-billion project at Terminals 2 and 3, and a $1.6 billion renovation of Terminals 4 and 5. Modernization of Terminal 6 begins later this year. In 2019, a designer was selected for the Midfield Satellite Concourse South, an eight-gate addition to the 15-gate MSC North. Work is also well underway for Terminal 1.5, which will provide increased baggage claim area, new ticketing counters and will ultimately allow passengers to move between Terminal 1 and 2 beyond security screening. It will also connect to the new automated people mover in 2023. VIDEO |
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BOLDLY MOVING TO ZERO
In the fall, LAWA set new, industry-leading benchmarks for sustainability via an updated sustainability action plan called “Boldly Moving to Zero.” The new plan proposes three bold goals with accompanying roadmaps that will continue to distinguish LAX and VNY as leaders in aviation sustainability. By 2045, LAWA will achieve net zero in the following areas:
- 100-percent renewable electricity use
- No potable water consumed for industrial uses
- Zero carbon emissions for LAWA operations (achieving carbon neutrality)
LAWA has also announced that it will develop a roadmap for zero waste by 2023 as it continues to set the sustainability standard for U.S. airports. READ MORE.
LAX AND VAN NUYS EARN AIRPORT CARBON ACCREDITATION
In September, both LAX and Van Nuys airport were once again recognized as carbon-accredited airports by Airports Council International-Europe. Accreditation in ACI-Europe’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program affirms the work LAWA has already done to reduce carbon emissions and its shared work of future carbon emissions reductions across LAWA-owned infrastructure and resident businesses operating at LAX and VNY. LAWA is one of a small group of airport authorities with all of its airports accredited at Level 3, which requires third-party engagement in reducing a facility's carbon footprint. LAX first received accreditation at “Level 2 – Reduction” in 2016. VNY first received accreditation at Level 2 in 2017, and was the second general aviation airport in the world to be accredited at that time. READ MORE.
VAN NUYS IS FIRST U.S. GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT TO OFFER SUSTAINABLE JET FUEL
In January, Van Nuys Airport hosted “Business Jets Fuel Green: A Step Toward Sustainability,” an event devoted to the use and awareness of sustainable alternative jet fuels, which include the latest formulations of jet fuel that come from renewable and sustainable sources. Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez and LAWA executives joined a consortium of general aviation and business aviation advocates to promote the use of sustainable jet fuel as part of a shared commitment to combating climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from jet fuel. With the event, VNY became the first general aviation airport in the U.S. to offer this fuel on a trial basis. In September, Jet Aviation, VNY’s newest fixed-base operator, purchased 7,500 gallons of fuel and is committed to purchasing sustainable jet fuel on a regular basis. READ MORE.
LAWA HOSTS SUSTAINABILITY SYMPOSIUM
In July, LAWA hosted the 2019 Sustainability Symposium, bringing sustainability-minded leaders and organizations to Loyola Marymount University for discussions and presentations on fighting climate change. The symposium brought together leaders from government, airlines, academia, concessionaires and startups to share ideas for combating climate change and enhancing the sustainability of the aviation industry. READ MORE.
INCENTIVE PROGRAM LEADS TO GREENER VEHICLES
In February, LAWA launched the Zero and Near-Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle Incentive Program, which offers grants up of up $15,000 – totaling $500,000 – to be used for purchasing reduced- or non-polluting heavy-duty vehicles. The policy helps LAWA reduce even more air pollutant emissions from vehicles operating at LAX by removing older, polluting vehicles from the roads so that guests, employees and neighbors can all breathe a little easier. READ MORE. |
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HIRELAX MARKS 100th JOB PLACEMENT
The HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program celebrated another milestone in August as the program placed its 100th graduate into a job building the future of LAX. The workforce development program, a partnership among Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Los Angeles Southwest College (LASC) and the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, prepares local residents for skilled craft labor careers to support the multibillion-dollar capital improvement program at LAX. In December, orientation was held for the seventh class, which will begin in January. READ MORE.
LAWA HOSTS 2019 AIRPORT MINORITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
In August 2019, thousands of aviation professionals came to Los Angeles for the 35th Annual Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Airport Business Diversity Conference, which was hosted by LAWA. The conference offered an opportunity for the industry to come together and exchange ideas through networking opportunities, presentations and informative panels. Keynote speakers included LAWA CEO Deborah Flint, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and Inglewood Mayor James Thurman Butts Jr. The event tallied a record-breaking, sold-out registration. READ MORE.
INSPIRING THE FUTURE
In November, LAX hosted its fourth annual Aviation Career Day, featuring speakers from the business community, government agencies and law enforcement organizations working in the aviation industry. More than 1,000 students learned about aviation careers at the event. Aviation Career Day reflects LAWA’s commitment to providing educational and career opportunities to students from our local communities. READ MORE.
BUILD LAX ACADEMY PREPARES SMALL BUSINESSES TO COMPETE FOR CONTRACTS
In June, LAWA launched the BuildLAX Academy to prepare small and local business contractors to compete for bidding opportunities with prime contractors working at LAX. The first cohort of small-business construction contractors graduated from the eight-week program in August and included 17 graduates who own or work at small businesses near LAX. About 95% of the graduates were minority and woman contractors, and 88% of the graduates completed the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) qualification within 1 month. The program's first graduates are now ready to pursue opportunities that are part of LAWA's capital improvement program, including the LAX Landside Access Modernization Program, the Midfield Satellite Concourse and the Airport Police Facility. READ MORE.
SUPPORTING YOUTH JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS
During 2019, the LAWA Community Relations team helped place 15 students into the Gateways Internship Program (12 paid, 3 volunteers) and referred five students to the United Airlines Summer Internship Program. The team also referred more than 25 resumes to LAWA human resources for the LA Youth Summer Internship Program.
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NEW CONCESSIONS AND RETAIL
In 2019, we celebrated the grand opening of many new food, beverage and retail locations across LAX. Some new global brands that came to the airport this year include Gucci and Hermes (Tom Bradley International Terminal), as well as local favorites including Playa Vista (Tom Bradley International Terminal) and Leo’s Express Food Truck (Terminal 4), which brought the first al pastor tacos to LAX. For travelers on the go, Breeze (Terminal 2) is also now open, catering to a wide range of dietary preferences including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free. Another one of LAX’s newest culinary additions is Wing Society (publicly accessible outside of the terminals, on the south side of the LAX-it lot), which provides fresh and never-frozen chicken wings as well as flavorful vegetarian and vegan options.
LAX LAUNCHES ABILITY TO PRE-ORDER FOOD AND BEVERAGES FOR PICK-UP
LAX guests can now save time and enjoy a more efficient food and beverage experience thanks to a number of new digital services and enhancements on the flyLAX.com website. This includes the ability to pre-order food and shop online at select airport concessions by viewing products and menus for numerous restaurants and retail stores by visiting the LAX Shop and Dine web portal. READ MORE.
LAX SURPRISES AND DELIGHTS GUESTS
LAX continues to surprise and delight passengers with pop-up and one-of-a-kind experiences throughout the year. In 2019, some of our favorite events included:
LAX BRINGS COUTURE FASHION RUNWAY TO TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL: Guests in Tom Bradley International Terminal were wowed over the summer by a first-of-its-kind fashion show, spotlighting designs from international designer Sebastian Gunawan and featuring models and behind-the-scenes talent from the local area. The event featured 25 extravagant couture designs handpicked by Gunawan, a graduate of Los Angeles' Fashion Institute of Design and Marketing. WATCH THE VIDEO.
GRAMMYS® COME TO LAX: In February, LAX launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with The GRAMMY Museum®, showcasing the evolution of the GRAMMY® with a one-of-a-kind display in Terminal 2 during the week leading up to the GRAMMYS® Awards. Passengers were able to see GRAMMY Awards won by artists including U2, Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen. READ MORE
BABY GRAND PIANOS: LAX celebrated World Music Day with the debut of two new Kawai G-40EP manual and self-playing baby grand pianos, located in the Terminal 4 connector and on the Upper Level of Terminal 7, just after the security screening area. Music is a universal language, and we invite our guests to speak their hearts by showcasing their own talent and playing a tune. We encourage guests who play to post their video clips on Instagram by tagging @flylaxairport. READ MORE.
BALLET BEYOND BORDERS: LAX surprised guests at Tom Bradley International Terminal and
Terminal 4 with ballet, contemporary and hip-hop performances as well as ethnic dances by Ballet Beyond Borders, an international troupe featuring dancers from Brazil, Italy, Mexico and the U.S. Dancers from 25 countries flew into LAX to take part in a global cultural dance challenge and diplomacy conference, which was held in Los Angeles for the first time. READ MORE.
THE FAMOUS LAX SIGN: While it has become a tradition to decorate our iconic LAX signs for the holiday season, guests were surprised to see these signs uniquely decorated throughout the year for other holidays. Our iconic LAX signs were decorated for Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July and Halloween for the first time this year, lifting the spirits of travelers and locals alike.
LAX ADDS CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM TO HELP GUESTS NAVIGATE DURING CONSTRUCTION
With construction ramping up at LAX, the airport launched its new LAX iCARE Crew, who are deployed at key construction points to provide information and help guests find their way around LAX. The team is managed by LAWA's Guest Services Division, and has a partnership with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board. This partnership fulfills a need at LAX to assist guests and provide employment experience that positions community members for future jobs in the growing hospitality industry.
PEOPLE AND PUPS VOLUNTEER
In 2019, LAWA's 340 community volunteers helped contribute more than 39,000 hours of service at LAX and guest-related events, and assisted more than 1.5 million airport guests. These volunteers include 198 Volunteer Information Professionals (VIPs) and 116 Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs) dogs and their human volunteers. The PUPs program, which is one of the largest airport therapy dog programs in the nation, celebrated its sixth anniversary this year, while the VIPs celebrated their eighth anniversary assisting LAX guests. The LAXceeders program continued its second year at LAX with a new partnership with Glendale Community College, bringing 13 new motivated college student volunteers to the airport in 2019, and growing to 31 from a number of communities and high schools by year's end. READ MORE.
ARTS AT LAX
The LAX Art Program presented an abundance of exhibitions and cultural performances throughout the airport to enhance and humanize the travel experience for millions of guests. In partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the LAX Art Program debuted 11 new exhibitions, featuring 69 local and regional artists in Terminals 1, 6, 7, 8 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Exhibitions included fiber art, digital photography, site-specific murals, lithography, collage, painting, drawing, video and other installations. LAX Presents, the performing arts program, hosted 38 cultural and musical performances in partnership with local music presenter Grand Performances. These events consisted of classical music, California rock and roll, a sing-along orchestra, new wave jazz, urban fusion dance, hip hop, Mexican folklorico, Eastern European folk gypsy jazz, and traditional mariachi. The LAX Art Program looks forward to 2020 with exhibition spaces opening within the Midfield Satellite Concourse (scheduled to open this summer), bringing fresh presentations of local artists, and a 2020 calendar of cultural performances at the airport.
FIRST CLASS OF LAX STAFF GRADUATES FROM INNOVATIVE CORNELL UNIVERSITY AIRPORT HOSPITALITY PROGRAM
Through a partnership with Cornell University, the first class of LAX staff members graduated from a first-of-its-kind program that teaches hospitality skills that can be applied to the unique operating environment of a 24/7 airport. LAX was the first airport to partner with Cornell University for this training. READ MORE.
LAWA LAUNCHES iCARE AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE AIRPORT EMPLOYEES
In March, LAWA recognized 18 gold-standard employees and partners at the first LAX Gold Star Awards Celebration, which was held during a regular meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC). From reuniting family members to helping children with special needs get comfortable with the airport environment, these airport employees and terminal teams went above and beyond in providing excellent airport guests service. READ MORE.
CONTINUED RISE IN JD POWER SCORE
LAX continues to significantly improve its JD Power score for guest services. With a rise of 72 points from 2015 to 2019, in 2019 LAX saw its highest score ever in this category. The airport has improved this critical score 10.7 percent since 2015.
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PASSENGER GROWTH CONTINUES TO SET RECORDS
More than 87.8 million total passengers are estimated to have used LAX in 2019, representing a small increase from 2018 levels. Official year-end totals will be available in late January.
FINNAIR LAUNCHES FIRST NONSTOP FLIGHT TO HELSINKI
Finnair launched inaugural nonstop service to Finland's Helsinki Airport (HEL), distinguishing LAX as one of only five airports in the U.S. with nonstop service to and from Finland’s capital. Finnair became the ninth Oneworld alliance carrier to begin service at LAX, opening a new gateway to Scandinavia, the Baltics and other surrounding Eastern European and Russian regions. READ MORE.
LAX SECURES NEW NONSTOP SERVICE TO MILAN
LAX secured its second Italian market with the addition of Air Italy's nonstop service to Milan’s Malpensa International Airport (MXP). LAX is one of only four North American airports providing nonstop service to and from Milan, a fashion and industrial epicenter in Italy. LA City Councilmember Joe Buscaino (CD15), chair of the Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee, helped celebrate the inaugural flight with a gate event - including speaking in Italian! READ MORE.
LAX REGAINS ADDITIONAL NONSTOP SERVICE TO TAIPEI CITY
China Airlines continues to restore its seat capacity between LAX to Taipei, Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). After decreasing its twice-daily service in April 2018 to once daily service, China Airlines has started to rebuild its frequency by adding three weekly flights for a total of 10 weekly flights in the market. The three new weekly frequencies will rotate a new Airbus 350-900 aircraft into the airline's fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. LAX is one of only six U.S. airports with nonstop services to Taipei.
LAX CONTINUES TO SOLIDIFY CONNECTIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL VALLEY & NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
For the first time in nearly 30 years, Angelenos can fly non-stop to Stockton, with the addition of United Airlines’ twice-daily departures from its hub at LAX. With the launch of these nonstop flights, passengers can connect to major cities in Central and Northern California, including Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. Stockton is a relatively short drive to state treasures like Yosemite National Park and the Golden Gate Bridge. With the addition of Stockton, United now serves 12 California markets from LAX. READ MORE.
ADDITIONAL AIRLINE MILESTONES
United Airlines Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz and its other leaders joined LAWA officials at the unveiling of the United Polaris® Lounge in Terminal 7, which is a reinvention of United’s premium cabin travel experience, offering elevated comfort and service from lounge to landing. United Airlines also broke ground on its Technology Operations Center, which will house an aircraft maintenance hangar and a ground service equipment complex, and is scheduled to be completed in late 2020.
LAX also celebrated airline service milestones in 2019, including Japan Airlines commemorating its 60th anniversary of providing nonstop service from Tokyo from LAX. Spirit Airlines celebrated 20 years at its Los Angeles hub.
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LAX LEADS THE WAY ON DRONE SAFETY
In October, the Blue Ribbon Task Force on UAS Mitigation at Airports released its report outlining how airports can detect and mitigate drones operating illegally and unsafely near commercial airports. The Task Force was chaired by LAWA CEO Deborah Flint, who announced the report's findings alongside former Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta. READ MORE.
EXPANSION OF BIOMETRIC BOARDING
In 2019, the number of airlines piloting the use of facial recognition biometric boarding equipment reached 10 in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Norwegian and Finnair joined Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Singapore, Qantas and KLM in using the technology to help improve the boarding experience. Additionally, Delta Air Lines launched its own biometric boarding solution at LAX in September, and American Airlines marked one year of using its facial recognition system. In November, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved a contract with IER Inc. for biometric boarding gates in both the Midfield Satellite Concourse and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. This technology enables airlines to more quickly board aircraft, and enhances security by adding a layer of passenger identification based on secure connections with federal databases.
NEARLY 200 FIRST-RESPONDERS PARTICIPATE IN FULL-SCALE AIR EXERCISE
In April, nearly 200 emergency response personnel from 20 organizations took part in the triennial LAX Air Exercise, a full-scale simulation designed to test LAX's readiness to respond to an aircraft accident on the airfield. The objective of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-mandated exercise is to evaluate the operational capability and readiness of LAX’s incident management and emergency response system in a real-time environment in which people, equipment and materials are mobilized and deployed. READ MORE.
NEW AIRPORT POLICE LEADERSHIP
Following a nationwide search, Los Angeles Airport Police Chief David L. Maggard was named Deputy Executive Director for Law Enforcement and Homeland Security in July, replacing Patrick Gannon, who had retired after nearly three years in the role. In his new position, Maggard provides leadership, management and policy direction to all law enforcement and security staff at LAX and Van Nuys Airport. He also coordinates with other law-enforcement agencies, leads counter-terrorism efforts, manages employee badging and oversees firefighting, emergency medical and fire-prevention services provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department at LAX. READ MORE.
In October, Cecil W. Rhambo Jr. was selected as Chief of the Los Angeles Airport Police, replacing Maggard. Rhambo, a former Assistant Sheriff of the County of Los Angeles and City Manager of Compton who has extensive local relationships and experience across a wide variety of law enforcement assignments now leads the nation’s largest dedicated airport law enforcement force, with more than 1,100 sworn and civilian personnel at LAX and Van Nuys airports.
In 2019, Airport Police hired 32 new sworn officers.
LAWA MARKS SAFETY MILESTONES
The $14.3 billion modernization at LAX was already the largest public works program in the history of Los Angeles, and it’s also one of the safest, with no lost-time incidents over the last year of construction work at the airport. Workers on the Automated People Mover project passed 1 million hours worked without a lost-time injury in August. In fact, Los Angeles World Airports greatly outperforms the national average for construction-related injuries. To date, more than 900 craft and trade professionals have become Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace safety certified through the LAWA Construction Safety team. LAWA also continues to maintain its valuable training relationship with California State University at Dominguez Hills, which provides trainers for LAWA Construction Safety’s monthly all hands safety meetings. And, in February, the Airport Police implemented the Airfield Community Outreach Program to train and educate airport employees, as well as build relationships between stakeholders, tenants and partners throughout LAX. This program has resulted in decreased airfield citations and safety violations.
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