Most big airports worldwide have one main airline running most flights. For instance, London Heathrow (LHR), the largest international airport, is mainly served by British Airways, which runs 50% of international flights and has Terminal 5 to itself.
In airports with lots of domestic flights, these figures are even more pronounced: at Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL), Delta operates 3 out of 4 flights, while at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Charlotte (CLT), nearly 90% of domestic flights are handled by American.
Los Angeles is an exception, with Delta controlling only 24% of domestic flights and 20% of international ones, according to the OAG Megahubs Report 2024.
This makes it tough for airport management to communicate with all the airlines, especially during major upgrades, as seen in the past few years at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The monorail to beat traffic
Source: Venti Views/Unsplash
At the Routes conference in Bahrain, Doug Webster, who's the Deputy Executive Director for Operations at LAX, a part of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), participated in an interview.
"LAX is currently undergoing significant development, with the Automated People Mover (APM) being a key project. Scheduled for completion between late 2025 and early 2026, the APM aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the central terminal area, especially during peak hours. Once operational, the people mover will connect to the metro system, currently served by buses. However, buses are inevitably impacted by traffic delays," Webster explained.
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The APM will feature 3 stops within the central terminal area, currently occupied by parking structures. It'll connect terminal buildings to the Consolidated Rental Car Facility and the LAX Metro/Transit Center, with an intermediate stop for remote curbside drop-offs and pickups.
"Passengers can choose to use the people mover or drive directly to the terminals. However, during rush hour, the 10-minute people mover ride will likely be faster than navigating the congested central terminal area," Webster noted.
The Consolidated Rental Car Facility opened in mid-October, with Avis and Budget relocating there via bus service.
Here's what Webster also stated:
"The relocation was necessary to accommodate redevelopment in their previous locations. The facility was designed for train access, not bus service. We're currently evaluating the bus-based system for Avis and Budget and will decide within a few months on whether to add other rental car companies."
Terminals get new names
Source: Joe Ng/Unsplash
In May 2017, over 15 airlines operating at LAX underwent a major terminal reshuffling. Notably, Delta, the largest carrier at LAX, relocated from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3.
Over the next 3 years, all terminal names will be standardized to improve passenger wayfinding. Currently, the central structure is the Tom Bradley International Terminal, commonly referred to as Terminal B, which deviates from the numerical designation of other terminals.
"Delta's redevelopment of Terminals 2 and 3 resulted in a single building," Webster added. "Therefore, Southwest's terminal will remain Terminal 1. The current Terminals 2 and 3 will be renamed Terminal 2. The Tom Bradley Terminal will become Terminal 3. The remaining buildings on the south side will retain their names (Terminals 4, 5, 6, and 7), with Terminal 7 incorporating the pier currently known as Terminal 8."
In addition, all piers will be assigned letters, and gates will be identified by pier letter and gate number, creating unique identifiers for each gate.
"This system will be more intuitive for passengers, aligning with international standards used at other airports worldwide. However, it'll represent a significant change from the numbering system used for the past 60 years," Webster continued.
The most significant deadline for LAX is July 13th, 2028, the opening ceremony of the XXXIV Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Millions of athletes and visitors will arrive in Los Angeles, and for many, LAX will be their first impression of the Olympic City.
"We recently spent time with Aeroports de Paris to learn from their experience," Webster continued. "The key is to ensure all construction is complete by the time the Olympics arrive. We don't need to build extensive new facilities, but focus on efficient and streamlined operations. Therefore, we expect the renovation of Terminal 4 (the American Airlines terminal) to be completed by 2027. Any projects that cannot be completed before the Olympics will be postponed."
