Improvements Taking Off at LAX

Improvements Taking Off at LAX

The new Tom Bradley International Terminal was a source of pride for Los Angeles as we welcomed the world to the 1984 Olympics. That was 27 years ago — enough time for 1 billion passengers to fly in and out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Time also extracted a major toll on the facilities, so did delays caused by lawsuits and a lack of commitment and fortitude by elected officials. Some observers were convinced that the politics of Los Angeles would doom LAX to third world status forever.  

But thanks to the constant drumbeat by the business community, the leadership of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the commitment of the Los Angeles World Airport Board of Commissioners and the professional knowledge and persistence of Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey, LAX is undergoing $4 billion worth of improvements and is poised to regain its reputation for service and efficiency in aviation.  

Mayor Villaraigosa's leadership was key. He initiated the settlement of a lawsuit by neighbors that had been holding up progress for years. He also appointed outstanding citizens to the Airport Board of Commissioners and personally selected Lindsey as the candidate for the job. Then, he did something else that is hard for mayors to do; he allowed the talented team of people he had selected to go to work without interruption.  

In Los Angeles, it is easy for politics to trump economics, but that has not been the case with the $4 billion worth of improvements that are currently underway. The economics were clear. LAX needed new gates to handle the next generation of aircraft that are taller and have a wider wingspan. The airport needed a new baggage handling system to meet the new security requirements since 9/11.  It also needed better restaurants and stores to accommodate travelers who were spending more time in the airport due to the need to arrive earlier.  And as was obvious to all, the entire airport, from the restrooms to the elevators and the hallways needed a huge dose of tender loving care.  

Some of these improvements will be immediately obvious to passengers, but many others will not.  As with any organization, it is often what is happening behind the scenes that makes everything work smoothly.    

The $4 billion worth of improvements currently underway will not complete the job, but it is a great start.  Furthermore, this progress should inspire confidence in the Airport Board and Lindsey as they tackle other challenging goals like bringing rail service to the airport and creating a north runway configuration that is safe and efficient for the next generation of aircraft that will be flying passengers around the world.  

LAX should be the heartbeat of the Southern California economy.  It should symbolize the dynamics of our economy and be a welcome beacon for visitors from around the world.  Join the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce in saying thank you to Mayor Villaraigosa, the Airport Board of Commissioners and Gina Marie Lindsey and her staff for tackling these important improvements that our community had been unable to address for too long. 

And that's The Business Perspective.