LAX celebrates Breeze flight to Westchester, NY, milestone in modernization effort
LAX celebrated a new airline destination on Wednesday, Nov. 2, the same day it achieved another milestone in its massive modernization project.
Officials with Los Angeles World Airports and Breeze Airways gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the latt’er inagural flight from LAX to New York’s Westchester County. But Los Angeles International Airport on Monday also opened Terminal 4.5 Core, which provides a centralized location where passengers can travel between the Lower/Arrivals and Upper/Departures levels, as airport officials continue upgrading the West Coast travel hub.
LAWA CEO Justin Erbacci and Breeze Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman were among those who convened at LAX for the first flight to the New York state airport, which is near White Plains and a little more than 35 miles north of New York City.
The celebrants, who enjoyed cupcakes during the event, got to watch as the Breeze plane took off for the East Coast.
More quietly, LAX officials also announced a major component of the airport’s $1.62 billion modernization project at Terminals 4 and 5 is now complete.
The Terminal 4.5 Core allows passengers to travel between the Lower/Arrivals and Upper/Departures levels on the pre-security side using elevators, escalators and stairs. The building also connects directly to the Terminal 5 baggage claim and check-in lobby.
When the entire Terminal 4/5 modernization project is complete, the Terminal 4.5 Core will also connect directly to the Terminal 4 baggage claim, check-in, and security screening checkpoint, access to the future Automated People Mover train’s West Central Terminal Area station by way of a pedestrian walkway, and a post-security connection between Terminals 4 and 5.
“The opening of the Terminal 4.5 Core is an exciting step toward the complete reimagination of Terminals 4 and 5,” Erbacci said, “and will allow guests to efficiently move through our facilities to help streamline their travel journey.
“We would like to thank American Airlines,” he added, “for their partnership and investment in the modernization of our airport.”
The next phase of the Terminal 4/5 project is expected to be completed in 2024, and includes the western half of the Terminal 4 headhouse and south concourse.
The west headhouse will feature new ticketing counters and baggage claim carousels for American Airlines and a consolidated security screening checkpoint. The south concourse will feature additional space for hold rooms, concessions, restrooms and a bus gate that will service both domestic and international flights, according to LAWA.
LAX, the fifth-busiest airport in the world in 2021 with 48 million passengers, is in the midst of a capital improvement program that will touch on all nine passenger terminals and build new facilities, including the people mover train, Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility and the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal.