Yesterday, American Airlines and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) officially broke ground on a $1.6 billion modernization project to ‘fully reimagine Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminals 4 and 5’.
The project marks American’s largest individual investment at an airport in its 92-year history and reaffirms the airline’s commitment to Los Angeles.
os Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Councilmember Joe Buscaino and LAWA Commissioner Sean Burton and CEO Deborah Flint joined American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker, Senior Vice President of Los Angeles Suzanne Boda and frontline team members for a ceremony to unveil the project and begin construction in Terminal 5.
“Los Angeles stands at a global crossroads — a place where the world comes to meet, innovate and create,” Garcetti said. “American’s commitment to the reinvention of Terminals 4 and 5 will create good, middle-class jobs and better connect Los Angeles to the world.”
“Our mission to create a world-class airport can only be realized in collaboration with our airline partners like American Airlines, and we are grateful for the substantial commitment they have made to improving our guests’ experience at LAX,” Burton said.
“We have set high expectations for LAX, and the project we are kicking off today will raise the bar for both American and this airport.”
In June 2017, American signed a letter of intent with LAWA, which set the framework for the carrier’s record investment. Now, less than 18 months later, construction is officially underway.
“Today marks an important milestone in the journey to creating an airport experience second to none,” said Flint. “The improvements included in the lease agreement between Los Angeles World Airports and American Airlines are ones that go to the heart of the guest experience.
Working together with our airline partners as we reimagine our airport, we will transform LAX into the gold-standard airport that this city deserves.”
“American has proudly served Los Angeles for more than 70 years,” Parker said.
“From the very beginning, when LAX first became a commercial airport in 1946, we’ve played a major role in keeping Southern California connected to the world.
This remains one of the most important and fastest-growing markets for American, and today is a tremendous step forward as we continue to grow and strengthen our presence in the City of Angels.”
“Our $1.6 billion investment will not only transform the customer experience at LAX, it will also give our team members a better place to work every day,” Boda added. “It’s an exciting time for American Airlines.
We’re investing back into our business and the communities we serve. That’s exactly what we’re doing here in Los Angeles, and thanks to our strong partnership with LAWA, the airport experience at LAX will soon set an example for the world.”
Existing infrastructure at airports in the US, 99 percent of which of publicly owned, has come under criticism in recent years from top government officials. President Donald Trump likened some US airports to ‘third-world countries’.
Further details of just how American Airlines and LAWA plan to modernise LAX can be found in a press release by the US-based carrier here.
