Los Angeles World Airports: Board Of Airport Commissioners Gives Key Approvals To Two Projects That

State-of-the-art facilities and better connections between the terminals on the north side of the airport are on tap following a trio of votes by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC).

Commissioners on Thursday approved a project to modernize Terminals 2 and 3, as well as connect them to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), and also voted in favor of a lease agreement with Southwest Airlines for a new building (Terminal 1.5) that will include a connector between Terminals 1 and 2, as well as space for additional ticket counters, baggage carousels, a bus gate and an additional Security Screening Check Point.

"Plans for the dramatic renovation of Terminals 2 and 3, spearheaded by Delta Air Lines, and the new building between Terminals 1 and 2 are two of the keys to eventually connecting the entire airport beyond the security checkpoints," said BOAC President Sean Burton. "This will mean easier connections, along with more freedom of movement for guests throughout all nine of our terminals. These are the kind of facilities that will help us complete the transformation of LAX into the gold-standard airport the city of Los Angeles deserves."

"Terminal 3 has gone the longest without significant renovation, so its reconstruction, upgrades to Terminal 2 and the connection to the Tom Bradley International Terminal are critically needed," said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint. "Meanwhile, the development of Terminal 1.5 will provide Southwest Airlines with additional space as well as connect Terminals 1 and 2 and improve the guest experience, much like the excellent improvements already made by Southwest in Terminal 1."

During Thursday's meeting, the BOAC took a number of actions as it approved the Terminal 2 and 3 Modernization Project, including certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report and adoption of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Findings of Fact, the Statement of Overriding Considerations and the Mitigation and Monitoring Reporting Program (MMRP). The commissioners also recommended that the Los Angeles City Council concur with their actions.

Delta Air Lines plans to invest as much as $1.9 billion in the modernization, which would include upgrading the Terminal 2 concourse, demolition and reconstruction of the Terminal 3 concourse building, demolition of the southern appendages of the Terminal 3 satellite (oval shaped structure at the north end of Terminal 3), and demolition and reconstruction of the passenger and baggage processing facilities (ticketing buildings). According to the environmental impact statement, reconfiguration of the gates as part of the projects could add as many as four gates between the two terminals.

The BOAC also approved two actions related to Southwest Airlines, amending its Terminal Facility Lease and License Agreement for space in Terminal 1 while approving a new lease for the future Terminal 1.5.

The new building is a 417,515-square-foot, six level facility that will span the gap between Terminals 1 and 2, and require demolition of Gate 10 in Terminal 1. In addition to providing space for baggage claims, ticket counters, a Security Screening Check Point, and two floors of office space, the building will connect Terminals 1 and 2. There will be connections between the non-secured areas of the terminals on the Lower/Arrivals and Upper/Departures levels, while the connection on the Concourse Level will be on the secured side of the building, allowing passengers to more easily transfer between the terminals.

Terminal 1.5, estimated to cost $490 million and expected to open in 2020, will also include a vertical circulation core to connect it to the future Automated People Mover, and feature a bus gate that will allow Southwest Airlines to transport passengers to TBIT for international flights.