Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – #3 Busiest Airport in US

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Overview Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the third busiest airport in the United States, and the sixth busiest in the world.

Each day, over 565 flights transport passengers to 81 domestic cities; each week, over 1,000 international flights travel to 66 destinations worldwide. More than 75 carriers use LAX, and in 2010 the airport processed over 59 million passengers. Los Angeles International has a total of nine terminals, including the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which are arranged in a horseshoe shape around the parking garages. LAX is part of the Southern California system of airports, which includes LA/Ontario International Airport and Van Nuys Airport. These airports are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airpots (LAWA) which is a department of the City of Los Angeles. Because of the high traffic at LAX, the airport is undergoing some construction, which will include additional gates and concourses, plus more retail and restaurants. This project aims to make the process more efficient, including security screening, immigration and customs. An Automated People Mover is also planned for construction at LAX, connecting people to public transportation options from the central terminal. Airport Services Wi-Fi: LAX does not offer free Wi-Fi, but it can sometimes be found near restaurants and VIP lounges. The reLAX lounge in the international terminal offers Wi-Fi along with several other services. Shopping and Dining: A local favorite restaurant, Pink’s Hot Dogs has a location at LAX where travelers can get a taste of LA. The Encounter Restaurant is a futuristic diner with great food. Extras: The LAX Theme Building and Observation Deck is a great place to spend a layover. The Observation Deck offers great views of the landscape and the airplanes as they take off over Los Angeles. The Theme Building contains the space-themed dining facility, Encounter Restaurant. Ground Transportation Transportation between terminals at LAX is provided by a shuttle service that runs between each of the nine terminals. Passengers that need to transfer between terminals typically need to exit through security, and pass through security again at the next terminal. A free shuttle bus runs between LAX and the METRO’s green line. The C shuttle will transport passengers to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transport Authority Bus Center, and from there buses are available that travel all around Los Angeles. The Metropolitan Express travels to downtown Los Angeles and Union Station. Scheduled buses and long distance vans are accessible from the airport. Airport buses serve nearby cities like Pasadena and Anaheim, and long distance buses transport passengers to Antelope Valley Airport, Bakersfield, and the Roadrunner Shuttle travels to Simi Valley, Ventura and Santa Barbara and County. Ten rental car companies offer free shuttle service from the airport to their rental offices, but a total of forty rental car companies operate out of the airport.