Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is the main international airport in California. The airport is more commonly referred to by its code, LAX, and is one of the busiest airports in the world. It's located in the Westchester area of Los Angeles, around 18 miles southwest of downtown. The airport covers an impressive 3,500 acres of land and has 4 parallel runways. It's the largest international airport on the West Coast.

The current location of the airport was selected in 1928 by the City Council. It has since expanded and developed into 9 passenger terminals and over 2 million sq ft of cargo facilities. Being the main point of arrival and departure for the West Coast, LAX has become one of the most well-known airports in the world. It has also appeared in popular culture with its large LAX signature sign and the central Theme Building now recognizable around the world.

photo by Andre m (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

What are the highlights of Los Angeles International Airport?

Los Angeles International Airport is the 2nd busiest in the USA and the 4th busiest in the world in terms of passenger numbers. The airport has 4 runways, 9 passenger terminals and a large cargo facility. A long list of passenger and cargo airlines service the airport with a wide variety of international and domestic destinations.

The airport also has plenty of services and useful amenities, including restaurants, duty-free shops, currency exchange, Wi-Fi and phone charging stations. There are a variety of restaurants across the 9 terminals from fast food up to award-winning chefs. If you’re looking for some duty-free shops, the Tom Bradley International Terminal has the best shopping experience at the airport, with a range of stores and brands.

photo by Daniel Betts (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

A brief history of LAX

The Los Angeles City Council selected 640 acres in Westchester for the new airport in 1928. The first structure was built in 1929 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. American Airlines flew the first passenger jet out of LAX to New York in January 1959 and a complete redesign of the airport was planned and developed from 1958 onwards to accommodate this new jet era. The redesign culminated in the now-famous Theme Building, which was designed by Paul Williams and built in 1961. It became the focal point of the airport and has since been designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

The airport has seen one of its largest expansions in more recent years, with ongoing multi-billion-dollar renovation programs, including the expanding of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The construction works are considered the largest public project in Los Angeles city history.

Getting to and from Los Angeles International Airport

The Los Angeles International Airport is well serviced and easily accessible. Being one of the busiest airports in the country, it has ample public transportation options for passengers. A free shuttle bus transports people between terminals at the large airport complex.

There are many transportation options for getting to and from LAX and Los Angeles. The most affordable option is a free bus that transports passengers to the Aviation Station which is conveniently on the Green Metro Line. From there, you can take the metro into the city with a TAP card which can be purchased at the station.

A quicker option is the Flyaway Bus, which travels between LAX and Hollywood, Long Beach and Union Station. The buses generally run hourly and tickets can be purchased either online or on the bus. If you prefer not to use public transportation, you can also take city taxi cabs or use ride-sharing apps to hail rides from the taxi stand.

Location: 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

Phone: +1 855-463-5252

Elisha Donkin | Contributing Writer

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