LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officials are forecasting this summer's travel season from Memorial Day through Labor Day to be the busiest since the record-breaking summer of 2001.
Nearly 17.5 million passengers -- a 12 percent increase over last summer -- are expected to pass through LAX this summer. The airport expects to handle an estimated 740,000 passengers during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 28 through Monday, May 31, an increase of 12 percent over the 660,000 passengers during the same four-day period last year.
Passenger traffic at LAX's sister airport, Ontario International Airport (ONT), is forecast to set a record this summer with 2.1 million travelers expected to depart and arrive through the Inland Empire airport, up 10 percent over last year's 1.97 million passengers. For the upcoming four-day holiday weekend, 87,000 travelers are expected to pass through ONT, a 10 percent increase over last year.
"With the economy improving and airlines adding service, the number of people in our airports is expected to soar this summer," said Kim Day, interim executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. "LAX will be operating at about the same level of passenger activity that it did in 1998, as the recovery continues from the effects of Sept. 11, and the outbreaks of war in Iraq and of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Asia. This could mean a return to gridlocked roadways and overcrowded passenger terminals at peak times."
The current LAX facilities were designed to accommodate 40 million annual passengers and last year served 54.9 million passengers. Officials expect about 60 million passengers will use the airport for the entire year 2004.
Day added, "We are expecting passenger traffic at Ontario International Airport to be equally strong and likely to set a record for summer travel there. For the entire year, we are forecasting traffic at ONT to exceed seven million passengers, compared with the previous record of 6.7 million set in 2000."
The year-over-year increase in passenger traffic at LAX and ONT is consistent with national trends. The Air Transport Association, the airlines' trade group, is projecting nearly 200 million passengers will board a plane this summer (or 65 million monthly), a 12 percent increase over last summer's 174 million.
In addition to many domestic airlines adding service with new or returning routes this summer, Air India, Lan Peru and Air Pakistan are scheduled to begin international service for the first time at LAX.
The Travel Industry Association of America expects impressive gains in both domestic and international travel nationwide in numbers of travelers and their spending. California ranks second only to Florida as the destination travelers surveyed would most like to visit this summer. Overall domestic leisure travel is expected to rise 3.4 percent over 2003 and international visitors will grow 5.3 percent -- the most since 2001. Spending nationwide by these travelers will be up by six percent to $585 billion.
In April, passenger traffic at LAX soared 18.6 percent over the same month last year. For the first four months of 2004, LAX traffic was running 9.4 percent ahead of the same period last year. International and domestic traffic in April was up 23.8 and 17 percent, respectively. At ONT, total passenger traffic was up 12.5 percent in April and was ahead 6.5 percent for the first four months of the year, compared with the same month and period last year.
With the expected increase in passengers and accompanying vehicle traffic congestion in the airport's Central Terminal Area roadways, airport officials asked representatives of the airlines, the Transportation Security Administration and other travel experts for their advice for summer travel. The resulting "Smart Traveler Tips" for summer 2004 include:
-- Avoid scheduling departure flights during the airport's following
peak travel periods: 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for domestic flights;
and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for domestic and
international flights Thursdays through Mondays. Traveling
during off-peak periods will mean less traffic congestion and
shorter lines at ticketing counters and security screening.
-- Almost all domestic airlines now dispense boarding passes for
domestic flights on their Internet websites, so passengers --
especially those with no luggage to check -- can print out their
boarding passes from a home or office computer and by-pass long
ticket counter lines. In addition, many domestic airlines now
provide electronic kiosks in their ticketing lobbies to issue
boarding passes. Many passengers find the ticketing kiosks are
as easy to use as bank automated teller machines. These kiosks
generally ask for a credit card for identification and/or basic
flight information. Domestic passengers also can check in their
luggage using the kiosks.
-- Allow enough time before departure flights. While this is not
new, allowing enough time can mean the difference between a
pleasant travel experience and one that begins anxiously and
stressful. Passengers traveling during the airport's peak
travel periods, and who have to obtain boarding passes and
check luggage, should arrive at their airline's ticketing
counter two-and-half hours before a domestic flight. Because
international flights take longer to process, international
travelers should arrive at their airline's ticketing counter
three hours before their flight.
-- Before packing, check the Transportation Security
Administration's Internet website at www.tsa.gov for a
comprehensive list of what can be packed in luggage to be
checked and what can be carried onboard.
-- Reduce time in passenger security screening lines by wearing as
little metal as possible. While in line, travelers should
prepare themselves for security screening by removing belts
with large metal buckles, coins, cellular phones, pagers,
cameras, keys and other metal objects from clothing. Airport
officials suggest bringing a transparent, sealable plastic bag
to place all metallic items in before reaching the metal
detectors and x-ray machines.
-- If picking up an arriving passenger, don't contribute to traffic
congestion on the Central Terminal Area roadways by continuously
driving around the horseshoe-shaped roadway until the arriving
passenger comes out to the curbside. Immediately park in parking
structures located across from each terminal and walk to the
terminal to wait.
-- Airport officials also recommend some FREE alternatives for
drivers meeting arriving passengers. Park in the airport's
Economy Lots B and C and take the free LAX shuttle buses to the
terminals. Or follow a new insider tip -- park in Lots B and C
and have arriving passengers notify drivers by cellular phone
when they are ready to be picked up curbside. The first two
hours in Lots B and C are free.
-- Passengers can check luggage at their preferred check-in
location: airline ticket counters, airline self-service computer
kiosks or curbside check-in.
-- Take alternative transportation, such as the Van Nuys FlyAway,
door-to-door shuttle vans, Metro Rail, airporter buses, taxis
and limos to the airport to save time and parking fees.
Other "SMART TRAVELER" tips include:
Before arriving at LAX, passengers should remember:
-- Do not pack or bring prohibited items to LAX. Do not pack food
or beverages -- which tend to set off alarms -- in checked
luggage. Don't stack books in luggage -- spread them out.
Put footwear on top of other contents.
-- Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in carry-on
baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage
undeveloped film.
-- Carry-on baggage is limited to one carry-on item plus one
personal item such as a laptop, purse, backpack, briefcase or
camera case.
-- Place identification tags on and in all baggage, as well as on
carry-on bags.
-- Travelers 18 years and older require government-issued, photo
identification.
While at the airport, travelers should remember:
-- Passenger drop-off and pick-up at terminal curbside is
permitted. Meet arriving passengers in the baggage claim
areas on the Lower/Arrival Level.
-- All metals should be placed inside carry-on baggage before going
through passenger security screening. This includes jewelry,
loose change, keys, mobile phones, pagers and personal digital
assistants.
-- Take laptop computers out of their carrying cases and place them
in a bin.
For more information:
There are a number of sources for up-to-date passenger service
information:
-- Log onto the LAX Internet website at www.lawa.org. Then click on
"LAX." Check general airport conditions and vehicular traffic
conditions before leaving home or work to go to the airport.
-- Call airlines or check their websites for up-to-date flight
status before leaving for the airport.
-- Tune car radios to AiRadio AM 530 for airport traffic
information.
-- Passengers with disabilities, medical concerns, or other types
of special needs should visit the TSA website www.tsa.gov or
contact the airline.
-- Call the LAX General Information Operators at (310) 646-5252.
Parking is available in Central Terminal Area parking structures and at economy Lots B at La Cienega Boulevard and 111th Street, and Lot C at Sepulveda Boulevard and 96th Street. Central Terminal Area parking is $30 per day and $10 a day at Lot C and $8 a day at Lot B. Metered parking is no longer available.