Major revamp of LAX is stuck at the gate

The cramped facility needs a lot of work to compete with more modern airfields. Lack of consensus and other problems are cited.

By Jennifer Oldham, Times Staff Writer
9:10 PM PDT, June 9, 2007

Except for periodic face lifts in several of its nine terminals, Los Angeles International Airport hasn't changed much since shoulder pads, leggings and feathered hair were all the rage.

Today, the airport that ushered the country into the jet age in the 1960s and set the standard for international service in the 1980s is ill-prepared for the new planes that are expected to revolutionize air travel.

Fed up with its cramped ticket lobbies and waiting rooms, gridlocked access roads and outdated airfield, passengers and airlines are increasingly taking their business elsewhere.

"It is the Rip Van Winkle of American airports," said Steve Erie, a UC San Diego political science professor who has written extensively about Southern California's infrastructure.

More:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lax10jun10,0,1135852.story?coll=la-home-center

I flew out of/into LAX last month, using Terminal 1 (Southwest). Sad to say that I've seen better terminals and amenities in the airports of third world countries...

What ever happened to the billion dollar renovation plan for LAX?

Your fucking neighborhood and El "Suck"gundo cried about airport expansion......Die NIMBY's DIE!!!

Your fucking neighborhood and El "Suck"gundo cried about airport expansion......Die NIMBY's DIE!!!

It's more complex than that...former Mayor Hahn drew up a Post-9/11 plan to restructure the airport with an offsite check-in building, but all that got thrown out the window once Villaraigosa got elected (that plan would have been even worse for terrorism, as there would just be one building to blow up...)

Another thing complicating matters is the Green Line/rail transit access to LAX.

Complicating it in what way?

Your fucking neighborhood and El "Suck"gundo cried about airport expansion......Die NIMBY's DIE!!!

^ You have your facts wrong, we were @ 50% pro airport expansion. it was El Fuckgundo and Peckerwood who totally bitch against it. One said the new runway would be too close and distract the hood. The other was concern about the air traffic like jumbo Doeings 747 have never flown over them. Westchesterians figure that the expansion would also benefit beautifying the major streets around and bring more shops to the area.

Complicating it in what way?

Whether the Green Line should go to the airport directly, or whether a peoplemover should go to the airport directly, and whether such a peoplemover should go to the existing Aviation Station, or the Green Line should go closer to the airport to connect to the peoplemover. Also, the Harbor Subdivision/LAX Express idea...all of this should be solidified first, and once it is, it would be best to "tag this on" to any LAX expansion plan.

^ You have your facts wrong, we were @ 50% pro airport expansion. it was El Fuckgundo and Peckerwood who totally bitch against it. One said the new runway would be too close and distract the hood. The other was concern about the air traffic like jumbo Doeings 747 have never flown over them. Westchesterians figure that the expansion would also benefit beautifying the major streets around and bring more shops to the area.

LOL, Westchester supports the plan that expands the south runways. El Segundo supports the plan that expands the north runways. :lol:

LAX is a freaking mess... I avoided as much as I can. If we don't move forward with some kind of modernization plan soon SF will become the hub for the West Coast. I really liked the grandiose plan that Hanh had for LAX.
It's really sad that all of these nimbyism politics doesn't allow our city to move forward and make it more competitive in this regard.

But don't we have a voice as well to counter the NIMBY's? It might be a matter of getting involved and making your voice heard.

LAX is a freaking mess... I avoided as much as I can. If we don't move forward with some kind of modernization plan soon SF will become the hub for the West Coast. I really liked the grandiose plan that Hanh had for LAX.
It's really sad that all of these nimbyism politics doesn't allow our city to move forward and make it more competitive in this regard.

You have noticed all the new publicity for LA/Ontario airport, have you?

I picked up my fiance's Mother and Sister at Terminal 3, they were flying in on Spirit Airlines. Now, keep in mind that Terminal 3 is a recently RENOVATED terminal. I've honestly never seen such a lame arrival area in my life. It was obviously untouched by whatever renovation work they did. I was flat out embarassed that my visitors first impression of LA was that shit hole. I moved out here from Columbus, OH and our little airport was waaaay nicer than LAX. Hell, the airport in Dayton, OH is nicer than LAX. I can't imagine an airport being worse in the US... do they exist?

Oh please, JFK was a mess for years.......it's clear that international with heavy passenger loads just can't keep up. Do you realize how long it took the people mover to finally make it into JFK......during that time Newark started pick up lots of passengers including myself who did not want anything to do with the mess that was/is JFK.......worst big city airport in the US? La Guardia. And who flies into Ohio anyway, no wonder it's so easy keeping the place up.

I admit that I've never flown into NYC, due to the fact that it was driving distance from me back when I lived in Ohio. It is comforting, in a way, to hear there are major airports out there as ugly as LAX. Terminal 3's arrival area just got me so depressed! I guess I'm just used to the quality you find in the smaller airports.

I admit that I've never flown into NYC, due to the fact that it was driving distance from me back when I lived in Ohio. It is comforting, in a way, to hear there are major airports out there as ugly as LAX. Terminal 3's arrival area just got me so depressed! I guess I'm just used to the quality you find in the smaller airports.


^ Well I rather have a depressing looking airport (LAX) with a magnificent City(L.A). Than a state of an art airport(Ohio) in a not sooooo magnificent city (Cleveland). :ohno:

I admit that I've never flown into NYC, due to the fact that it was driving distance from me back when I lived in Ohio. It is comforting, in a way, to hear there are major airports out there as ugly as LAX. Terminal 3's arrival area just got me so depressed! I guess I'm just used to the quality you find in the smaller airports.

LAsam, why get embarrased after all they were flying Spirit...

Oh please, JFK was a mess for years.......it's clear that international with heavy passenger loads just can't keep up. Do you realize how long it took the people mover to finally make it into JFK......during that time Newark started pick up lots of passengers including myself who did not want anything to do with the mess that was/is JFK.......worst big city airport in the US? La Guardia. And who flies into Ohio anyway, no wonder it's so easy keeping the place up.

I've never flown into JFK or LaGuardia, always fly to Newark when I fly out there...it's actually closer to Manhattan!

LAsam, why get embarrased after all they were flying Spirit...

Yeah, the arrival terminal didn't even have a screen showing Spirit arrivals!

^ Well I rather have a depressing looking airport (LAX) with a magnificent City(L.A). Than a state of an art airport(Ohio) in a not sooooo magnificent city (Cleveland). :ohno:

Who mentioned Cleveland? I've never been to that airport.

Yeah, the arrival terminal didn't even have a screen showing Spirit arrivals!

See!! that's what you get when you fly cheap... If they have used this airline in the past for other trips I'm pretty sure they have seen worse than LAX.
Anyways I try to use Bob Hope in Burbank as much as I can. It's more convenient for me since I live in Glendale and besides it's easy to get in or out of the place. Very antiquated structure and not a nice looking airport though.

Look this isn't the golden train age anymore. I'm not going to judge an entire city on its arrivals terminal.

I'm probably the only person that likes to fly into Long Beach. I'm usually off the plane and into a car within less than 20-30 minutes. It's great.

^Matt, if you don't check any luggage you can get out Burbank in less than that. I have never used Long Beach.

I'm probably the only person that likes to fly into Long Beach. I'm usually off the plane and into a car within less than 20-30 minutes. It's great.


Must be Jetblue.... (LBC~Logan) flight. I soon will travel this route to go to Boston/Salem. Ahhhhhhhh the Red Sox suck!