Hello everyone, I'm almost new here. I was looking on the LAWA website about the new LAX masterplan... I was so impressed about this beautiful mega project and revamping. Expecially seeing the video presentation, where you can see the new central terminal area (so beautiful), people mover, rental car city and a lot of amazing stuff...
http://www.laxmasterplan.org/
I read that the project/works begun on 2004. Last time I was in LA it was one year ago, I'm moving there next month from Rome, and I'm curious if anyone know some news, if something changed since summer '06 (e.g. terminal revamping...).
Because Los Angeles is a fantastic and unique city, and it needs a better airport, a world leader airport!
Thanks people!

I remember in '97 there was legislation introduced to re-name LAX the "Jimmy Stewart International Airport", whatever became of that??

Hasn't this been shelved? As far as I know too many lawsuits.......

ah...well that's too bad. LA will have to honor Jimmy Stewart some other way then...

ah...well that's too bad. LA will have to honor Jimmy Stewart some other way then...

That would be.. well, awesome. Jimmy Stewart International. Bob Hope. John Wayne. What would we call Palmdale? Ontario? How about women at these two? :)

Why not? Lucille Ball, Audrey Hepburn, Billie Holiday, etc. Any airport would be proud to carry the names of all these great women.

Wow! Ball and Hepburn International- imagine Holiday International!:)

I remember in '97 there was legislation introduced to re-name LAX the "Jimmy Stewart International Airport", whatever became of that??



At this rate were going to call it the three stooges airport, since it's nothing but a huge comedy!

At this rate were going to call it the three stooges airport, since it's nothing but a huge comedy!

Ba-Dum-Ching! :banana:

and if you show up late for your flight and hold up the airplane, I think the other passengers should be allowed to poke you in the eye and slap you upside the head, Moe-style :D

^or like the guy in Phoenix I believe recently did, just call in a bomb threat from the airport phone and have the plane return to the gate so that you can make your flight. LOL

I bet when the passengers got a hold of that guy, he got more than just an eye poke from them

The master plan is slowly taking fruition though unfortunately the website hasn't taken much on updates. So far, runway 7R/25L was moved further south to accommodate a new taxiway that will go between that and 7L/25R. The same is supposed to happen w/ 24L/R in the north but any possibility of moving 24R northward has been met with opposition by Westchester. Last I heard, the plan was once again stalled as a city panel has required more safety studies to look into the need of the runway separation.

The Tom Bradley International Terminal is currently undergoing a $723 million overhaul with the first of four renovated lounges finished and serving Star Alliance airlines that use TBIT. The new satellite terminal west of TBIT was cleared in June to begin construction in two phases as a replacement for the remote gates in the west side of the airport. Currently the former TWA hangars as well as the American Airlines hangars and American Eagle remote terminal occupy this area.

From what I heard, Terminals 1-3 are to stay. Seeing that the aforementioned midfield satellite terminal is currently green-lighted a one-on-one replacement for the remote gates, there is no replacement for the 3 northern terminals.

AFAIK, the consolidated rental car facility, new people mover, new off-airport lots, and transportation center are also green-lighted.

Tom Bradley is going thru a renovation, Damn I was unaware of that. So what exactly would they be adding to the terminal?

As far as Westchester opposing this expansion, it was more like Inglewood and El Segundo!

i havent flown out of it in a while, but terminal 1 should also currently be in the process of renovation.

the new center taxiway on the south field is proceeding on schedule.

repairs to the theme building will not be completed this fall as originally planned. the building was in worst shape than first thought, and will require extensive work till well into next year.

The master plan is slowly taking fruition though unfortunately the website hasn't taken much on updates. So far, runway 7R/25L was moved further south to accommodate a new taxiway that will go between that and 7L/25R. The same is supposed to happen w/ 24L/R in the north but any possibility of moving 24R northward has been met with opposition by Westchester. Last I heard, the plan was once again stalled as a city panel has required more safety studies to look into the need of the runway separation.

The Tom Bradley International Terminal is currently undergoing a $723 million overhaul with the first of four renovated lounges finished and serving Star Alliance airlines that use TBIT. The new satellite terminal west of TBIT was cleared in June to begin construction in two phases as a replacement for the remote gates in the west side of the airport. Currently the former TWA hangars as well as the American Airlines hangars and American Eagle remote terminal occupy this area.

From what I heard, Terminals 1-3 are to stay. Seeing that the aforementioned midfield satellite terminal is currently green-lighted a one-on-one replacement for the remote gates, there is no replacement for the 3 northern terminals.

AFAIK, the consolidated rental car facility, new people mover, new off-airport lots, and transportation center are also green-lighted.
I think they can do a lot, concerning the renovation of LAX, withouth a massive expansion (close neighborhood protests)...But in the next 15-20 years won't be enough!... At least they can expand to the ocean in the future!
Because in the next years, when the flights demand will grew up A LOT, also an airport with a passenger capacity around of 80 mln/year (like the future LAX) it will be not enough.... And that's not clear wich other airports will support the LAX for the Los Angeles area, in the next future... (Ontario? So far away from central city... Long Beach? Trafic limited by the law... Palmdale? So far far away... John wayne? Who knows... Burbank? Maybe...)
I wanna remember you that L.A. metro area will have almost 30 mln people in 2030...:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

Tom Bradley is going thru a renovation, Damn I was unaware of that. So what exactly would they be adding to the terminal?

Currently they're working on the airline lounges with the Star Alliance lounge already completed and in operation. There will be a new 45k sq. ft. checked baggage screening facility which should get rid of those accursed machines that take up valuble space in the check-in area as well as just dropping your luggage off at the counter without worrying about having it screened beforehand. Terminals 1-7 will also follow suit in this improvement. There's also making gate 123 A380-capable gate alongside the renovating the terminal itself and the addition of the midfield satellite. One thing noticeable in the project is that the Mexicana counters are temporarily relocated in the arrivals lobby which is meant to make more shoulder-room for renovations upstairs.


As far as Westchester opposing this expansion, it was more like Inglewood and El Segundo!

Though of course Inglewood and El Segundo are nevertheless throwing a fit, Westchester is currently taking a lot of the spotlight w/ stalling the Runway 24L/R realignment whereas the 25L/R realignment (the runways that face El Segundo) is already finished.

i havent flown out of it in a while, but terminal 1 should also currently be in the process of renovation.

Indeed, Terminal 1 is undergoing a $2.5 million makeover as what occurred with Terminal 3.


repairs to the theme building will not be completed this fall as originally planned. the building was in worst shape than first thought, and will require extensive work till well into next year.
I'm also the guys at Encounter are also fixing their menus. ;) I wasn't to wowed with the offerings I was getting with what I was paying for other than a lovely view of the airport. <<

Ontario? So far away from central city... Long Beach? Trafic limited by the law... Palmdale? John wayne? Who knows... Burbank? Maybe...)


Unfortunately SNA is also slot-restricted while Burbank also has little room for additional capacity. The best Palmdale and Ontario can do for now is serve the markets of their respective catchment areas around the airport. If this persists with no ambitious expansion plans to cope with the growth, I wouldn't be surprised if LAX also went into slot-mode to control capacity. :bash:

Gotta love the SoCal airport growth situation...it's an ensuing quandary. :nuts:

For those interested in any updates on the progress of the improvements, check out the LAXpectations (http://www.lawa.org/lax/laxexpect.cfm) website.

So are they proceeding with the original Hann Renovation Plan? What about the famous check in right off the 405 @ Century. Any news on that matter yet. Since most of the homes that were located off La Cienega and Century have been demolished.

Lastly are they actually ever going to remove those annoying stick lights all over Century into LAX. I still don't see the purpose of those and let's not talk about the $$$$ wasted.

Oh yeah any news for the Green Line extension into LAX???

i havent flown out of it in a while, but terminal 1 should also currently be in the process of renovation.

the new center taxiway on the south field is proceeding on schedule.

repairs to the theme building will not be completed this fall as originally planned. the building was in worst shape than first thought, and will require extensive work till well into next year.


Is Terminal 1 where they had those nude paintings and some people had a fit?

Lastly are they actually ever going to remove those annoying stick lights all over Century into LAX.

the light towers were a permanent addition. they're not going anywhere.

Is Terminal 1 where they had those nude paintings and some people had a fit?

it was a tapestry, and it was in Tom Bradley. i never got to see what all the fuss was about.

^^ How many gates are designated for the AIRBUS A380?

So are they proceeding with the original Hann Renovation Plan? What about the famous check in right off the 405 @ Century.
That idea was axed AFAIK.

^^ How many gates are designated for the AIRBUS A380?
At least 2 in TBIT and 1 in Terminal 2.



Oh yeah any news for the Green Line extension into LAX???
Instead of a Green Line extension, it looks like the people mover will instead connect with the planned transportation center where Aviation Station is located.

^ What just a few gates for the Airbus.... that's not right!!!

So wait the people mover would be installed on the Aviation Station??? I don't get it, explain?

^^ The planned automated people mover is supposed to connect the transportation center @ Aviation & the consolidated rental car facility to the central terminal area. The green dotted lines in the original Plan D map gives us an idea of the people mover's routing:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/pland.jpg

That's going to be a long people mover. That's about 2 miles distance, Dunno?

There going to be long tubes, right?

Tubes?

Tubes?

ha, yah like the ones in futurama :)

That's going to be a long people mover. That's about 2 miles distance, Dunno?

There going to be long tubes, right?

LAWA's definition of a people mover is basically a tram though those Futurama-esque tubes would kick ass. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/PDVD_221.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/PDVD_224.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/PDVD_225.jpg

So is this plan starting to come to fruition or are we where we were before?

Tubes?


I got a bit confused, so I thought it was like those electric people movers. Where you don't have to walk like 2 miles to get to your gate at the airport. Guess not he was referring to a tram like machinery.

[QUOTE=Skyblade;14788937]LAWA's definition of a people mover is basically a tram though those Futurama-esque tubes would kick ass. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/PDVD_221.jpg


^ Gotcha....:righton:

Is MTA going to operate those trams?

So is this plan starting to come to fruition or are we where we were before?

It already is with the completion of the south runway realignment, TBIT renovation, west satellite cleared for construction, etc. while other parts of the modernization is stalled (north runway realignment) or just outright dead (GTC).



Is MTA going to operate those trams?

I believe LAWA will be in charge of the automated trams.

Do you have any pix of the actual trams, they seem very streamlined and futuristic. Not like those Bretta things that were purchase for the Expo Line!

The Bretta trains actually look pretty good too me. At first I didn't like them, but they grow on you.

The Bretta trains actually look pretty good too me. At first I didn't like them, but they grow on you.

Well I don't want to get too much off the topic, but you've got to be kidding me. Those things are an eyesoar and old looking. Like I mentioned before, maybe with wrap around advertising the view and change....until then No!

ha, yah like the ones in futurama :)


^ Cayate Huey........ :hilarious

Do you have any pix of the actual trams, they seem very streamlined and futuristic. Not like those Bretta things that were purchase for the Expo Line!

Nothing's firm on what's going to be used for the system yet so unfortunately there's not much to show other than renderings, sorry. :(

hey guys, slightly off topic, but here's a little video I made of my flight into LAX a few years ago. Hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jL32GpEGmA

Pretty cool Vid...Yamo!

[QUOTE=yamota;14820026]hey guys, slightly off topic, but here's a little video I made of my flight into LAX a few years ago. Hope you like it.

Here you go...........
_jL32GpEGmA

Any LAX expert out there....

Does LAX or a specific terminal offer free internet?

some good news.. headed in the right direction...

from the LA Times

Council OKs 10 new gates at LAX
The $1.2-billion facilities would handle new jumbo jets and international traffic.
By Steve Hymon
August 16, 2007

In an effort to remain competitive with airports in other cities and accommodate new jumbo jets, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved 10 gates to be built to handle international traffic at Los Angeles International Airport.

The project is the latest in a string of modifications underway at the airport, including a $723.5-million renovation of the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the recent relocation of the southernmost runway for safety reasons.

Officials said the gates -- expected to cost $1.2 billion -- would be the first built at the airport since the early 1980s.

The gates will be part of a new structure directly west of the Bradley terminal on a site that is occupied mostly by aircraft hangars. Passengers will be ferried to the building by an underground people mover extending from the terminal.

The project was spurred in particular by the airlines' decision to move toward using larger jumbo jets, such as the Airbus A380, for overseas flights. All 10 gates will be able to accommodate the larger aircraft, in addition to two gates being built as part of the Bradley terminal.

"Many of the airlines are buying the larger planes and were looking to go to other airports" that could accommodate them, City Councilwoman Janice Hahn said. "This sends a message to the airline industry that we want a world-class airport."

Officials believe that failing to expand would make the city and the airport lose out on much-needed revenue from passengers -- tourists, in particular -- as well as fees that airlines must pay to use the city-owned airport.

Meanwhile, the city has for years struggled to implement a comprehensive master plan that would include terminal construction. After the last proposal was scuttled by a lawsuit brought by noise- and traffic-sensitive communities near the airport, officials struck a settlement with the neighbors that allowed some projects to go forward and put others on hold.

The renovation of the Bradley terminal got underway this year. And another project in the planning stages calls for building a consolidated rental car facility at the airport.

Airport officials said the new international gates would be paid for by the fees that airlines pay to use LAX. Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, told the council that the structure should be completed by 2012.

LAX already has another remote building with gates, but it is not used on a regular basis and requires passengers to board buses to reach it. Airlines don't like requiring passengers who are embarking on or arriving from long overseas flights to have to squeeze onto buses.

In a related issue, airport officials also discussed last weekend's customs computer outages that stranded 17,000 passengers for hours at LAX.

"It was unprecedented and unacceptable," Lindsey told the council.

Lindsey and several council members agreed that one reason for the delays was that the federal government's backup system could not handle more than a fraction of the passengers typically processed by customs. It remains unclear, however, whether the backup system will be upgraded.

steve.hymon@latimes.com

[QUOTE=LosAngelesSportsFan;14833359]some good news.. headed in the right direction...

from the LA Times

Council OKs 10 new gates at LAX
The $1.2-billion facilities would handle new jumbo jets and international traffic.
By Steve Hymon
August 16, 2007


LAX already has another remote building with gates, but it is not used on a regular basis and requires passengers to board buses to reach it. Airlines don't like requiring passengers who are embarking on or arriving from long overseas flights to have to squeeze onto buses.



^ I did not know that.

BTW great news for LAX, hopefully something can be done for Sepulveda. They need something similar to Citywalk since some passengers stay in the city within flights. Yet close enough to catch a bite and buy little nick nacks from L.A./Hollywood and still make it back to the airport to board your plane.

[QUOTE=Ferneynism;14793852][QUOTE=Skyblade;14788937]LAWA's definition of a people mover is basically a tram though those Futurama-esque tubes would kick ass. ;)



^ Gotcha....:righton:


Dammit! I was hoping for tubes. Charles de Gaulle has tubes, I want tubes! Why can't we have tubes?:bash:

hey guys, slightly off topic, but here's a little video I made of my flight into LAX a few years ago. Hope you like it.


Lovely video, yamota! Seriously enjoyed the choice of music! :D Indeed the age shows when you zoomed in on the Swissair MD-11 that was parallel to you guys...now that brought some tears. :(
Any LAX expert out there....

Does LAX or a specific terminal offer free internet?
AFAIK, there's none that I could think of. I used to leech off Japan Airlines' Sakura Lounge network in TBIT but nowadays the Sakura Lounge is long gone and soon to be replaced by the oneworld lounge. I usually have to rely on Boingo & (if I really want to foot the bill) T-Mobile for wireless (mostly in T2 since I fly Northwest often).

some good news.. headed in the right direction...

from the LA Times

Council OKs 10 new gates at LAX
The $1.2-billion facilities would handle new jumbo jets and international traffic.


This is the midfield concourse that was previously "green-lighted". I guess now it's official. And thank goodness too, I wasn't a fan of being bussed to the remote gates in the west part of the airport though it was nice to actually view the aircraft without a window in the way. ;) The one I used though was the older set of gates which meant we had to go up a ramp to get to the jetway and lacked air-con (which wasn't needed since it was during winter ;))



^ I did not know that.



Usually international aircraft (except Qantas) that have nowhere to go between flights are parked there during certain times of the day it's utilized for boarding/deplaning whenever TBIT overflows.

If you land in the north side of the airport (you can tell when you see the In-N-Out right below you on the right side of the plane while on approach and the central terminal area on the left) and hopefully if the plane does go all the way down 24R, you can see the remote gates on the right side of the plane as it makes a turn into the taxiway.

Here's some pics I've taken of the gates from various trips. The first 3 are of the younger gates while the rest are of the original batch:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/BCA085.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/n506753907_92973_7816.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/n506753907_92972_7580.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/Picture023.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/Picture027.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/Picture028.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/Picture030.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/Picture029.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/Picture031.jpg

[QUOTE=Skyblade;14851877]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Skyblade04/Picture023.jpg


Excellent pix BTW....

How long are these buses? Maybe we might consider those for the Orange Line, since it's usually standing room only.

A pix of LAX (Fed~EX) loading area i took from the 105.... just want to keep this thread going* Not the best quality but will do!

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/fnee1901/YO4.jpg

uniquely singapore.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/90436d5b.jpg

^^ Star Alliance member I see*

i really hope they don't extend the north runway because the noise would be deafening where i live. i hate the people in el segundo. they have nothing to do there except go to town hall meetings and oppose expansion on their side. that's why they want to build it on the westchester, pdr side.

I'm assuming that if the North runway has safety issues... then expanding South isn't going to solve the problem. It would seem expanding North would be the only way to fix this. If you buy land near an airport, I think there's an inherent risk that they airport may expand.

This article's a little old, but worth posting nonetheless...


TRAVEL INSIDER

Straightening up so LAX can fly right

Coming attractions in 2007: Spiffed-up terminals and drive-through check-in.

Jane Engle
Travel Insider

December 31, 2006

THE world's fifth busiest airport, long derided as shabby, antiquated and crowded, is reforming itself.

In the next year, the sprawling Los Angeles International Airport, which annually processes more than 60 million fliers, will reopen a runway and offer wireless Internet access, new airline lounges, kiosks with tourist information and a uniquely Los Angeles perk: a drive-through station where you can get a boarding pass and check your bags.

Most departing fliers still must schlep their luggage to giant X-ray machines in terminal lobbies. But by 2009 that should end too, thanks to a $577-million project that will start to tear down walls next year and move the machines behind ticket counters.

All of that is on top of improvements this year that included adding security screening lanes, renovating one of the airport's nine terminals and starting off-site luggage check-in and an express bus to downtown.

The changes are overdue at LAX, known for long lines, traffic jams and outdated facilities.

LAX ranked 19th of 22 of the world's biggest airports in a 2004 customer-satisfaction survey by J.D. Power & Associates, a marketing company in Westlake Village. Among the issues rated were cleanliness and wait times.

"We're not going to take it lying down anymore," LAX executive Paul Haney said in April.

As deputy executive director of airports and security, Haney helps lead an effort to improve travelers' satisfaction with LAX and improve its J.D. Power ranking.

The obstacles are formidable. LAX hasn't had a major makeover since it was spruced up for the 1984 Summer Olympics and the Tom Bradley International Terminal was built.

For more than a decade it has delayed modernizing while city officials debated a multibillion-dollar construction plan. After the latest version was shelved in January, airport executives began pursuing some projects piecemeal.

Rather than wait any longer for a master plan, "We're attacking the facilities we have [in order] to raise the customer experience out here," Haney said in an interview earlier this month.

Among the upgrades this year, many aimed at easing traffic congestion and other delays:

Streamlined security. Four security-screening lanes were added to Terminals 1, 2, 4 and 5, giving the airport 68 total. Private contractors now lift luggage, freeing Transportation Security Administration employees for screening.

LAX also opened a center to recruit and train TSA staff and airport police.

Valet parking. Available across from Terminal 6, convenient to Continental, United, Aeromexico and Copa airlines; and Terminal 4, convenient to carriers such as American, Delta and more than 30 airlines at the Bradley terminal. Cost: $8 plus the regular $30 daily charge for central terminal parking.

More wattage. AiRadio, at 530 AM, which gives updates on traffic and parking in and around LAX, can now be heard up to 10 miles away.

Remote check-in. A contractor at downtown's Union Station, the FlyAway Bus Service station in Van Nuys, the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Los Angeles World Cruise Center can issue boarding passes, tag bags and put them through security. You pick up your bags at your destination. Fees vary; 10 airlines are participating.

New bus. The Union Station FlyAway began running nonstop every 30 minutes between LAX terminals and Union Station in downtown L.A. The one-way adult fare is $3.

Terminal 3 makeover. This terminal was refurbished with repairs to its terrazzo floors, new carpeting, new lighting, ceiling work and renovated restrooms.

Among changes coming next year (all dates tentative):

Runway reopening. The south airfield runway, shut since summer, is expected to reopen by April after being moved south to make room for a future taxiway. Putting the airport's fourth runway back in action will reduce delays, especially in bad weather, Haney said.

Wireless access. Playing catch-up with other airports, LAX by the end of March aims to offer wireless access to the Internet at all its terminals.

More remote check-in. AirTran, Southwest and US Airways are expected to join the program next month, Haney said, bringing the total participating carriers to 13.

New check-in sites by summer will include the valet stations at Terminals 4 and 6. By summer LAX plans to offer a drive-through station next to its Lot C where departing fliers can obtain boarding passes and check luggage before parking.

Mega-lounges. By June, four shared lounges, totaling 47,000 square feet, for premium international passengers will open at the Bradley terminal. Three will serve customers of airline alliances, and the fourth will serve unaffiliated airlines.

The entire project will replace 16 separate lounges while expanding space by more than 70%.

Tourist kiosks. Replacing backlit screens that advertise hotels and ground transportation, these interactive kiosks in baggage-claim areas will also offer city and airport information and print-on-demand maps and directions. They are expected to be installed by late April.

Lots of construction. Expect to hear hammers pounding and to encounter barriers and traffic reroutings as LAX plunges into a $723-million makeover of the Bradley, starts installing in-line baggage processing and continues renovating Terminal 1, used by Southwest and US Airways.

Not everything is being fixed at LAX, of course. Congestion continues. Mass transit to and through the airport is still cumbersome. And while talk abounds about replacing uninspired concessions, most contracts won't be let in time to take effect in 2007, said Renee Gonzalez Fong, administrative officer in concessions management.

But new traveler conveniences are at least achieving liftoff at LAX.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
jane.engle@latimes.com

I'm assuming that if the North runway has safety issues... then expanding South isn't going to solve the problem. It would seem expanding North would be the only way to fix this. If you buy land near an airport, I think there's an inherent risk that they airport may expand.


Exactly Samster! But the ones who are complaining are renters across the street from the runway (El Segundo) side. Common sense you see and hear the Doeings 747's & MD's taking off as loud as they are, so why would you move there to begin with, such dummies. Well luckily the airport is on L.A. City limits so we can do what ever we want and how we want.

El Segundo residents can waste their time with these town hall meetings. In the end the airport and big money involve is going to win anyhow. So they better start packing their bags and moving out!!!

Hi everyone.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with airport development, but for anyone who has some free time this Thursday morning and is in the vicinity of LAX, I'd like to invite you all to come to a small presentation on SAS airlines and its history at LAX.

"SAS: Spanning the Polar Route"

Speakers and exhibits focus on the impressive technical and
creative accomplishments of the Scandinavian airline.

Thursday, September 20, 10 a.m.
www.flightpath.us

It will be held at the Flightpath Learning Center - Museum, and is free and open to the general public. If you've never been to Flightpath, you're in for a treat, and if you've been here before, here's a chance to visit again!

To anyone that can make it, see ya there! :banana:

Is this similar to Saturday's gig? I've yet to go but will show up unannounced one of these Saturdays..


BTW speaking of LAX, has anyone noticed and knows what there doing on Century Blvd?

^^ Star Alliance member I see*
Hmm, ANZ?

^^ Singapore Airlines as mentioned by bruin787. Air New Zealand operates out of Terminal 2 and the termnal in the background is T4 so the 744 is parked in TBIT. That and if you notice the cheatline and the winglet. ;)

Hi everyone.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with airport development, but for anyone who has some free time this Thursday morning and is in the vicinity of LAX, I'd like to invite you all to come to a small presentation on SAS airlines and its history at LAX.

"SAS: Spanning the Polar Route"

Speakers and exhibits focus on the impressive technical and
creative accomplishments of the Scandinavian airline.

Thursday, September 20, 10 a.m.
www.flightpath.us

It will be held at the Flightpath Learning Center - Museum, and is free and open to the general public. If you've never been to Flightpath, you're in for a treat, and if you've been here before, here's a chance to visit again!

To anyone that can make it, see ya there! :banana:

Thanks for sharing! I'm totally game. Look forward to meeting you there. :D

... just out of curiosity, why doesn't AA use B747's?

... just out of curiosity, why doesn't AA use B747's?

they did. they operated 747-100's and SP's, but it wasn't a profitable operation. the World Oil Crisis of the late 70's pretty much ended the AA run at it. they currently don't operate multiple routes that they could consistently keep 747's filled year-round for it to be worth the investment. you have a greater chance of seeing a 777-300 before 747's in AA's fleet again.

I'm totally game. Look forward to meeting you there. :D

very cool! see ya there. bring a camera! :D

^^ So with said I take it no A380 carrier here in the states, huh?:(

^^ Not in the near future at least. FedEx and UPS have cancelled their orders and options for the A380F as well.

BTW for anyone attending tomorrow's exhibit at Flight Path, I'll have either a black FlyerTalk or grey Northwest Airlines cap on. ;)

I would love to attend but have to work... :(

All the terminals in LAX have been built before 2000 and are outdated. This airport needs a major redevelopment which involves renovation/upgrading of some terminals or demolition of other terminals.

I thought that was what the Hahn proposal was all about.....outright complete redevelopment. I guess LAX will just become the La Guardia of the west.

^^Or the John F. Kennedy Airport of the West. :lol:

i saw something in the Playa del Rey/Westchester Argonaut today about LAX. LAX is only 3500 acres, while other airports are 18000, even 30000 acres. Someone wrote to them suggesting they build an airport off the mainland just like osaka, japan did.

Build an airport on Catalina or surrounding islands.....

^^Catalina is all hills, and what would be the point of putting a big airport there? Are you going to then ship everyone into LA?

i saw something in the Playa del Rey/Westchester Argonaut today about LAX. LAX is only 3500 acres, while other airports are 18000, even 30000 acres. Someone wrote to them suggesting they build an airport off the mainland just like osaka, japan did.

LAX is a small airport compare to some others like Dallas... They definitely need to medernize it before all the business moves elsewhere.

LAX is a small airport compare to some others like Dallas... They definitely need to medernize it before all the business moves elsewhere.

LAX may be smaller than DFW, but LAX is still a busier airport (barely, though).

It's true, airlines are choosing to fly to other airports instead of LAX. But LAX will be the #2 worldwide hub for the new Airbus A380. That should help increase passenger traffic at LAX.

What LAWA needs to do is focus on directing traffic towards the other airports it owns. People from the Valley or Aliso Viejo should not be trucking it to Westchester in order to fly to La Vegas on some cheap Southwest deal. This region is too large and congested to think the entire metro needs serviced from one airport.

LAX may be smaller than DFW, but LAX is still a busier airport (barely, though).

It's true, airlines are choosing to fly to other airports instead of LAX. But LAX will be the #2 worldwide hub for the new Airbus A380. That should help increase passenger traffic at LAX.


yes... for it's size LAX handles an incredible amount of traffic that really puts to shame much larger facilities around the country... but it's really in need of some major make over.

LAX may be smaller than DFW, but LAX is still a busier airport (barely, though).

It's true, airlines are choosing to fly to other airports instead of LAX. But LAX will be the #2 worldwide hub for the new Airbus A380. That should help increase passenger traffic at LAX.

What are the particulars concerning the A380 and L A X being the #2 hub? :)

I think the only solution mainly because of LAX being in the middle of a dense urban area is to diffuse its traffic to the smaller airports as someone has already stated. John Wayne, Ontario and Long Beach should take some of the stress off of LAX.

I think the only solution mainly because of LAX being in the middle of a dense urban area is to diffuse its traffic to the smaller airports as someone has already stated. John Wayne, Ontario and Long Beach should take some of the stress off of LAX.

Residents won't have it, especially in Orange County. Ontario is probably the only viable option.

LAX does have plenty of room to expand west toward the ocean. nothing's there but a road which would be able to go under the airport anyway. more terminals can be built in the same direction on both north and south sides as long as the hangars and other airport owned property moves westward as well.

the space can be used, but ontario needs to expand too before anything else develops around there. also, the gold line extension to ontario would be the only line that directly connects downtown to a major regional airport.

an airport on a nearby island (manmade or natural) would be great several decades from now. a high-speed train and high capacity freeway in a "chunnel" is the best way to get to los angeles from there.

that would obviously be very expensive, but necessary in the future when our airports can expand no further. at least you can build off of an uninhabited island.

an airport on a nearby island (manmade or natural) would be great several decades from now. a high-speed train and high capacity freeway in a "chunnel" is the best way to get to los angeles from there.

that would obviously be very expensive, but necessary in the future when our airports can expand no further. at least you can build off of an uninhabited island.
thats going to be the only possible method.


LAX does have plenty of room to expand west toward the ocean. nothing's there but a road which would be able to go under the airport anyway. more terminals can be built in the same direction on both north and south sides as long as the hangars and other airport owned property moves westward as well.

the space can be used, but ontario needs to expand too before anything else develops around there. also, the gold line extension to ontario would be the only line that directly connects downtown to a major regional airport.

if they went west, they would ruin the el segundo blue butterfly habitat

an airport on a nearby island (manmade or natural) would be great several decades from now. a high-speed train and high capacity freeway in a "chunnel" is the best way to get to los angeles from there.

that would obviously be very expensive, but necessary in the future when our airports can expand no further. at least you can build off of an uninhabited island.


^ That's what the problem is here in L.A.. We never get nothing done because it's too expansive and whatnot. Well it's not going to get any cheaper in the future so just start building it know!!!!

^ That's what the problem is here in L.A.. We never get nothing done because it's too expansive and whatnot. Well it's not going to get any cheaper in the future so just start building it know!!!!

you're right. also, the state keeps cutting funds heading towards LA. i think LA needs a lot more money than any other city in CA

If you're going to level one of the Channel Islands and build a 'Chunnel' more than 4 times as wide as the original, or more, why not build the tunnel through the mountains to Palmdale International? It's owned by LAWA and just sits there, waiting for someone with balls! We can't harm that poor little blue butterfly either. A two-way tunnel containing, for the sake of space, high speed maglev straight from the airport to Downtown? I mean, if we're talkin' islands... :)

^^ true, but a tunnel through mountains (i would think) would take longer to construct and be more expensive than building an underwater tunnel mainly because in water we aren't drilling through rock. palmdale is far (just... way far) and really wouldn't seam too geographically interesting to land at.

Honestly though, i prefer any option that allows an airport to expand to be the largest airport in the world with no obstruction. if palmdale works, then so be it.

Sure is one hell of a lot of real estate out there! Other big city airports are quite a distance from their host city. Charles de Gaulle is an example. :)

I dont think anyone mentioned this. The place has now officially reopened:


http://origin.dailynews.com/news/ci_7430516

Spruced-up Encounter Restaurant to reopen Monday at LAX
By Art Marroquin, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 11/11/2007 12:43:09 AM PST

The Space Age-style Encounter Restaurant at Los Angeles International Airport is scheduled to reopen Monday, allowing visitors to look out the window and catch a glimpse of construction workers shoring up the iconic Theme Building.

But the restaurant's 360-degree, panoramic views of runways, airplanes and the Pacific Ocean will be partially eclipsed by scaffolding that now envelopes the spidery structure.

While construction continues on the outside of the Theme Building until fall 2008, improvements are finished inside the Encounter, complete with a fresh coat of paint, new multicolored carpet and a new set of blue and red chairs in the dining room.

"Since there were renovations being done to the outside of the restaurant, we decided to spend a little money on the inside and give it a new face," said Kenneth Merritt, operations manager for the restaurant since 2001.

"You can't pick a better time to reopen, with this being the holiday season," Merritt said. "We're very excited."

The first sign of trouble at the Theme Building came in late February, when a 1,000-pound piece of stucco fell from one of the upper arches and crashed into the structure's main platform, just a few feet from the Encounter Restaurant's roof.

Nobody was hurt, but the loud thud startled diners.

By early March, airport engineers had examined the tops of the arches and found rust spreading through the metal support system. The damage was likely caused by water that seeped past the plaster seams and rusted the underlying metal structure.
As a precaution, diners were escorted from the restaurant during the dinner rush. No one has been back to eat there since.

For now, all the white plaster has been removed from the Theme Building's arches as crews examine and reinforce the steel cores as part of a $10 million repair project.

"It's kind of scary to be in here because of all the construction going on," said Zarmina Bashir, who has worked as a waitress at Encounter for three years.

"I mean, we know it's safe," she said. "But if people walk by and see all this, they might be scared to come in."

That fear has prompted the restaurant's operators to reopen for only a few hours each day until the clientele builds up again, according to Connie Bass, marketing director for Encounter.

The restaurant will be open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and for dinner from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Phone and Internet reservations will help gauge whether to stay open longer, Bass said.

"We've been getting calls from people around the world asking about the progress, when the restaurant will reopen," Bass said. "We were told the scaffolding will be up for a while, which is one reason we're easing back into our schedule."

The Theme Building was built in the 1950s at a cost of $2.2 million, finally opening in 1961.

The building was last renovated in 1999, when the platform's underside and the bottom of the restaurant were shored up at a cost of $3 million.

"The arches weren't exposed back then, but I still feel totally safe here," said Eleanor Ramos, a 37-year-old waitress at Encounter for more than a decade. "It just feels good to be back."

The City Council designated the Theme Building as a cultural and historic monument in 1992, meaning it cannot be significantly altered.

That has posed a challenge to architects and engineers as they examine ways to make improvements to accommodate the handicapped at the Theme Building's entrance, parking lot and elevators, according to Airport Commissioner Fernando Torres-Gil, a survivor of childhood polio who uses crutches and a wheelchair.

"It was unique when it was built, but our staff is looking at accessibility with the boundaries of working with an historic structure," Torres-Gil said. "I want to make full use of all the facilities here, so my disability allows me to have special insight into what needs to be improved."

Torres-Gil said Americans with Disabilities Act improvements have also been worked into the $720 million renovation of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, where airline ticket counters and restrooms will be upgraded.

^ Oh great we can continue to enjoy the $15 buck dirty martinis once again.

^^since when does cost stop you from drinking? :lol:

we should all go there sometime. i would just have to convince my mom to go and not tell her that you guys are going also.

hey, i'm game. i wanna get some shots of the restaurant for my blog. :cheers:

we should all go there sometime. i would just have to convince my mom to go and not tell her that you guys are going also.


^ Me too, I have to convince Mommy and Daddy to be able to attend!

shut up.:rant:

Now now, Ferney. :lol:

Tell me when and I'm there...:D...as long as it's not during Thanksgiving break, I'll be ironically be in Turkey around then. <<

Speaking of LAX does anyone know when their going to be done w/ Century Blvd???

i took some pics yesterday for my blog, but i'd like to return at night when its all lit up. anyone up for it?

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/7df534d5.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/06bbc3e4.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/9d0cf88a.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/56837d26.jpg

Forum Meet @ Encounter?

^ Yeah like some of these flakes would actually show for the meet!

Forum Meet @ Encounter?
sounds good to me!! did you have any plans to see the a380 these next few days? might be a good excuse.

^ Yeah like some of these flakes would actually show for the meet!

guess that rules out ferney! :nuts:

^ Speaking of the AIRBUS A380!!!!

What day/time/runway is it stopping by @ LAX???

My mind is going doeing...doeing...doeing... :nuts:

Love the scaffolding!:cheers:

^ Speaking of the AIRBUS A380!!!!

What day/time/runway is it stopping by @ LAX???

My mind is going doeing...doeing...doeing... :nuts:

it is here right now.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/bcce7b6c.jpg

lol. I like your avatar Bruin. That is like the coolest street name. Who came up with that name?

You've never seen that on the drive to Vegas? You haven't lived man!

Yeah. I do that drive a couple times per year. My grandparents live out there. I just love that name.

I know I'm going places when I pass that sign at 85 miles an hour!:)

it is here right now.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f269/janus020/bcce7b6c.jpg


Pictures, pictures and more pictures please!

Hey BruinA350 were you able to get inside tour approved?

Pictures, pictures and more pictures please!

Hey BruinA350 were you able to get inside tour approved?

yes, cabin shots were finally uploaded last night. take a look!

http://taxiwayalpha.blogspot.com/

:cheers:

Interesting site:)

Forum Meet @ Encounter?

So I take it you've never seen the prices there? I take my girlfriend there every year for her bday. And knowing the average age here, you guys better save your allowance money.

Allowance :) You guys are rather young! But I've been to the Encounter site, with the cool 60's sci-fi music and the menu prices. Are you saying they and their dates should stick to the chicken fingers and the Shirley Temples?

could always meet somewhere, like the in-n-out and head over as group. thats what i did for my blog. when i went, i didnt buy anything. i just asked politely and told them what i was doing. as long as you dont shoot the faces of the dinners, they 'll be ok with it.

on a side note, for being one of the tallest structures in LA, i dont think i've seen pics of the control tower here. hmm.

could always meet somewhere, like the in-n-out and head over as group. thats what i did for my blog. when i went, i didnt buy anything. i just asked politely and told them what i was doing. as long as you dont shoot the faces of the dinners, they 'll be ok with it.

on a side note, for being one of the tallest structures in LA, i dont think i've seen pics of the control tower here. hmm.

In-N-Out...perfect, and before Ferney moves out to the AV or we'll wind up at Pamldale Airport instead :)

is the over capacity at lax due to the terminals arrangement and/or number, or is it there is not enough space for all the planes to take off and land [more runways]?

i think it has to do with not enough runways and the terminals are too small and old.

In-N-Out...perfect, and before Ferney moves out to the AV or we'll wind up at Pamldale Airport instead :)

so whats up Ferney? In-N-Out sometime in the next few days? i'll be out there tomorrow. will you FINALLY visit???

LAX hasnt expanded enough to handle the higher number air traffic and passengers

An international problem.....

Airports as a Brake on Global City Growth

Anthony Townsend
10 December 2007 - 9:10am
Tagged:
It seems that global cities across the world are running up against an unforeseen brake on their future growth - airport and airspace congestion.

Last Thursday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - a quasi-governmental body that operates, among other things, the three urban disasters we call Newark, LaGuardia and JFK Airports - announced a number of measures to relieve congestion. Read the full report) Alone, these three airports account for one-third of the nation's flight delays. According to the New York Times, which quotes the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M, the economic hit to the region is on the order of $7.4 billion annually.

Heathrow officially launched its bid to add a third runway last month. Here's what The Economist has to say about flying through Heathrow:

The experience is so miserable it even has its own name: the “Heathrow hassle”. The world's busiest international airport is overcrowded, prone to delays and infuriatingly likely to lose your luggage. On November 14th City bigwigs told the chancellor, Alistair Darling, that subjecting travellers to such awfulness is bad for business. A poll for Intelligent Life, our sister quarterly, puts Heathrow wheels and undercarriage below all other airports for sheer misery.

Finally, O'Hare seems to be moving ahead with its long-overdue expansion, but it hasn't been easy. Los Angeles seems to be the only global city that's managing air congestion - but they've solved it the same way they solve everything in the Southland, through massive decentralization.

Anthony Townsend is a research director at the Institute for the Future (IFTF) in Palo Alto, California.

Some comments.....Old Thinking
Submitted by frank@theblurgh.com on 13 December 2007 - 9:30am.
These congestion problems seem like a direct outgrowth of the outdated hub-model that most airlines use. Many of these cities that have huge delays are both final destinations AND flight transfer locations. That might have worked when flying was a luxury, but no longer. Although you'll never get rid of congestion resulting from people flying to a city without increasing the size of the airport, there are plenty of smaller airports that can take on many of the transfer flights.

Pittsburgh is a great example of such an airport. Since USAir largely abandoned it, the airport is at half or less capacity. Reroute some of the flights that transfer in NYC or Chicago to Pittsburgh, and it'll help the entire system run more smoothly.

The Blurgh
http://www.theblurgh.com

»
LA's Unsolution
Submitted by Josh Stephens on 12 December 2007 - 11:35pm.
I'm glad that LA's nascent efforts to regionalize air travel have garnered some attention, but I'm afraid that calling efforts thus far a "solution" is an overstatement.

I do, however, think that LA's efforts to regionalize air travel -- though they are far from "massive" (and don't officially include SNA and LGB) -- make a great deal of sense. Obviously LAX demands careful management, and we can't shirk everything off on to Ontario. But regionalization in LA acknowledges that LA is simply too big for people to drive two and three hours just to get to LAX. Therefore, increasing regional air traffic while also spreading it out makes sense both on the ground and in the air. It works better in LA than in New York, for instance, where LGA and JFK are too close together and where both JFK and EWR are a pain to get to no matter what.

As long as no one unwittingly flies into Ontario, Palmdale, or Long Beach expecting to be on the Sunset Strip by dinnertime, LA's network shows some promise.

Long Beach is actually quite crowded which is good. It shows that people are trying to use alternatives to LAX which is why our airport system works so well. Finally, we can honestly, 100% surely say we are better than every other global city at something.

Even though LAX is a nightmare during the holidays, I love using it. We have an awesome airport with lots of character.....no comparison.

The Blue Line should connect to LB airport and the Green to LAX. But the there isn't even a shuttle from the Blue Line stop to the airport......that needs to be fixed.

Even though LAX is a nightmare during the holidays, I love using it. We have an awesome airport with lots of character.....no comparison.

You know, I travel a lot and often hear the comment about how horrible LAX is. Yes it needs a bit of updating and the train needs to go into it but I personally find it to be one of the easiest major airports to get in and out of. VERY user friendly compared to other large airports.