Community Corner
Jet-setter Numbers up at LAX
It looks like LAX is growing in popularity—the airport announces it saw an increase in passengers last year, yet its air cargo tonnage went down.
More passengers traveled through LAX last year, according to airport officials.
The airport announced this week that its total passenger volume rose 4.7 percent—there was a 4.6 percent growth in domestic travelers and 4.9 percent growth in international travelers.
"The increased passenger activity at LAX is attributable to several things: new international service (Istanbul, Madrid, Tokyo-Haneda, and additional frequencies to Beijing, Shanghai and Dubai); an improving Asian economy; and a modest, but perceptible strengthening of the Southern California economy," said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, in a statement Tuesday, adding that LAX still has not come close to seeing its pre-9/11 traffic.
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Despite this recent jump in travelers, total air cargo tonnage at LAX dropped 3.8 percent, according to officials.
"The drop in cargo activity is somewhat puzzling. We need to dissect the numbers and understand underlying causes," Lindsey said.
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Some could attribute the drop in cargo to airlines charging extra for extra baggage. But overall, the number of flights—landings and takeoffs—increased 4.8 percent last year, LAX reported.
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