USA. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and American Airlines announced yesterday that the carrier will invest over US$1.6 billion during the next 15 years to “dramatically improve” terminals 4 and 5.
American Airlines’ letter of intent sets the framework for negotiating a new 15-year lease featuring a range of related airport improvements. These projects, expected over the next 7-10 years, include:
- A new vertical circulation core with connection to the landside Automated People Mover (APM) train system
- Unifying the passenger check-in and baggage claim areas
- Improving check-in facilities in T5
- Centralizing the T4 and T5 security screening checkpoint at the APM level
- Connecting T4 and T5 on both the landside and airside of the building, including an above-ground connection extending from the T4/TBIT Connector to T5 on the airside
These improvements will essentially be made by tearing down the lobby areas of T4 and T5 one small section at a time and building a new, “state-of-the-art” facility, all while keeping the airport up and running.
The agreement also paves the way for American to receive additional gates as it grows its operation and adds destinations.
“This is a substantial commitment on the part of American, and our Board of Airport Commissioners will soon be reviewing the details of the new lease,” said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint, who said the aim is to make LAX “a pre-eminent destination in the world”.
“This deal with American to dramatically improve terminals 4 and 5 along with projects like the new Midfield Satellite Concourse, the Automated People Mover, the consolidated rental car facility, and the renovation of terminals 2 and 3 are to deliver on our top priority – giving our passengers the world-class experience they expect and deserve,” said Sean Burton, President of Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners.
LAX is the fourth-busiest airport in the world, and second in the USA. It served over 80.9 million passengers in 2016.
