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As holiday travel ramps up, one of the world’s busiest airports has seen tearful goodbyes, welcoming parties, and excited, noisy (and sometimes singing) children.
So were the crowds, long wait times, and traffic jams. It’s the season.
More than 3.2 million people are expected to use Los Angeles International Airport during the holidays. This number is slightly up from last year’s numbers, but still not at pre-pandemic levels.
Still, the surge in activity is creating new stresses for travelers.
Teresa Lai was determined to save her parents from the long journey through the 1 World Way horseshoe this year. Before leaving Minneapolis to visit them in Los Angeles, she researched how to get to the subway from Los Angeles International Airport to avoid a pick-up ride. Unsure if the information they found was correct, she and her husband ended up heading to the shuttle and catching the train.
“As our parents got older, we… [C] Lai, 32, said of her plans to head to Cerritos, especially in anticipation of the Automated People Mover train service, which will provide direct train access to the subway.
The elevated railway is expected to significantly reduce traffic at the airport by offering alternative routes in and out. This will provide travelers with a round-trip ride to the new rental car facility and parking lot, as well as a more seamless drop-off experience at the drop-off point. Officials said the dispatch area will likely move from the current zone outside Terminal 1 to Terminal 1. Economy parking area. The current experience of hailing an Uber, Lyft, or taxi can be frustrating for travelers trying to find parking, especially for those with children or luggage.
For now, Lai and other travelers are still waiting for the promised changes. Officials said the train would not be completed until December next year and is scheduled to begin operating in January 2026.
The airport had expected daily passenger numbers to reach peak numbers of about 215,000 last weekend and on Dec. 27 and Dec. 30 each day.
Rocio Arrieta sat by the window in Terminal 3 with her luggage during her several-hour layover from Costa Rica to Australia.
“I’ve been traveling for over 24 hours and it’s not very comfortable,” she said, gesturing to her makeshift seat. “I’d like a chair.”
Arietta travels regularly during the holidays, and she always notices and expects more people.
“I’m used to it. It’s part of the package,” she said.
Edgar Menu, one floor up near security, was on his way back to Salt Lake City after a winter soccer tournament.
Like Arietta, he was neither intimidated nor surprised by the large crowd.
“It’s 1,000 percent crowded, but everyone has to go somewhere on Christmas,” said Menu, 22. “California is probably especially busy this time of year because of the nice weather.”
A man who returned to Los Angeles from Mexico on Monday said he waited nearly two hours to clear customs. This was a much longer time than normally encountered.
“There were a lot of people. This time it was pretty bad,” said Eric Chen, 26.
“Holidays at Los Angeles International Airport are always busy times for everyone at the airport, but we are prepared and well-equipped to handle the passenger surge and travel rush.”Los Angeles World – Doug Webster, Airport Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer. said in a statement.
LAWA officials expect about 78 million passengers to use the airport by the end of the year. That’s about 3 million more people than last year’s tally, which saw a 12% year-over-year increase during the holiday season.
But the number is still lower than pre-pandemic levels (more than 88 million passengers in 2019) and a 2018 forecast that estimated about 100 million passengers would pass through LAX in 2024. Officials said passenger numbers forecast for 2028 are also down from record highs. The number of passengers was previously expected to be 110.8 million, but now it is about 90 million. And while passenger numbers were down in some months this year compared to 2023, other airports saw increases.
The numbers are leading to a re-prioritization of some airport projects, including a $30 billion overhaul to renovate and expand terminals and improve the traveler experience. Some terminal expansion plans will instead be turned into infrastructure upgrades, such as plumbing repairs, as funds are reallocated.
While the number of vacation travelers at LAX hasn’t surpassed pre-pandemic numbers, the number of travelers across Southern California has. According to the AAA Automobile Club of Southern California, holiday travel by car, plane, and other means such as buses and trains increased 6.8% compared to 2019.
Overall domestic travel is expected to narrowly surpass the previous record set in 2019, with more than 119 million Americans expected to travel, according to AAA national numbers.
Times staff writer Suhauna Hussain contributed to this report.
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