The Los Angeles International Airport, more commonly referred to as LAX, is the biggest and busiest airport in California. With 59,494,539 passengers in 2008, LAX was ranked sixth busiest airport in the world that year by the Airports Council International. LAX is a hub for Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin America and others.
LAX takes up 3,500 acres of land near the Pacific Ocean and is located 15 miles southwest of downtown LA. Because of its proximity to the sea, LAX is known for getting occasional heavy fogs. The airport is a popular aircraft spotting location. People can sit at the Imperial Hill spot or the approach runways 24 L&R to watch low flying planes passing overhead.
History
LAX began as a small airfield in 1928. The LA City Council decided to build the field on 640 acres of land in south Westchester.
The field was named Mine's Field, after the real estate agent who set up the purchase. The first building built on the airfield was Hangar No.1, in 1929. The Hangar is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.In 1930, the airfield opened officially. In 1937 it became a municipal airfield, and after some expansions, it became the Los Angeles Airport in 1941. In 1949 its name was changed to the Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX. In the course of the next few years, it continued to expand westward. In 1953, an underground tunnel that let Sepulveda Blvd pass directly below the airport was completed to allow for expansion of the LAX runways.
In 1958, the large architectural firm Pereira & Luckman was hired to complete a major renovation of the airport that called for the construction of a system of massive airport terminals and parking structures, pulled together by a large, central dome.
The dome idea was abandoned and replaced by the famous "Theme Building", which was completed in 1961 and designed by Pereira & Luckman architect Paul Williams.Ground Transportation
Passengers who are driving and wish to park at LAX often call in advanced to reserve a parking spot. Parking at LAX can be notoriously difficult otherwise, especially during peak seasons. There are over 8,000 parking spots in eight different terminal parking structures. There are also remote Parking Lots B and C, located a few blocks away from the airport. Free shuttles take passengers from these lots to the airport and back. Passengers can also take the Metro Rail's Green Line train to the Aviation Station, from where another free shuttle can then take them to the airport terminals.
Interesting Facts About LAX Airport