Los Angeles Airport (LAX) is hoping its resident airlines can pull off a major logistical effort without causing chaos for passengers over one weekend in May when a planned switch takes place. In all, 28 separate airlines will relocate from their current terminals at LAX to a new set of gates as the airport continues its modernization process.
The process actually began back in January, with American Airlines switching gates for certain flights into Delta's Terminal 5 to aid the transition. This month, some airlines will relocate to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) ahead of the main relocation days.
The biggest headache will come for Delta Air Lines, which currently occupies Terminals 5 and 6, and will be moving to Terminals 2 and 3. Such is the scale of the operation that Delta is planning to complete the task over three days — May 12, 14 and 16.
Delta will allocate hundreds of extra staff to help direct passengers to the correct terminal and gates for their flight, and will also be relying on shuttles to transfer passengers. At the height of the move, Delta expects to be operating from Terminals 2, 3, 5 and 6 simultaneously as its aircraft transition.
Along with simply relocating aircraft from one set of gates to another, the move involves many of the interior fittings of the terminals. Airline signage, advertising, ticket counters, staff offices, even the airline logos on the flight information screens.
Los Angeles World Airport's (LAWA) Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) approved a lease and license agreement last year for Delta to relocate to terminals on the north side of the airport. The airline is planning a $1.9 billion transformation of Terminals 2 and 3 as it undertakes the new lease.
The move allows the carrier to link much more closely to its Skyteam partner airlines, such as Aeromexico, Air France, China Southern, KLM and Virgin Atlantic. A new link to TBIT will also be built from the terminals.
"This move furthers our progress towards our vision of a Gold Standard Airport,” Los Angeles World Airports Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint said in a news release.
"The coordination and cooperation among the airlines involved has been impressive and mirrors the importance that we all place on the guest experience at LAX. The immediate result is more efficient airline operations among partner carriers, and facility improvements that will be made in Terminals 2 and 3."
The vacated Terminals 5 and 6 at LAX will now become home to airlines such as Air Canada, Allegiant, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Spirit and Virgin America. Additionally, international airlines such as Copa, Hainan and Qatar Airways will move into TBIT.
The major improvements at LAX, which also include providing a centralized car rental facility and an AirTrain-style people mover, are expected to be completed by 2023, ahead of the city's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2024.
LAX is the fourth-busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named Skytrax's 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports. A webpage with move information and a map showing the location of each airline at the conclusion of the terminal realignment can be found at LAXisHappening.com/LAXontheMOVE.
