Los Angeles World Airports
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1 World Way Los Angeles, California 90045 33°56′34″N 118°24′09″W / 33.9428°N 118.4026°WCoordinates: 33°56′34″N 118°24′09″W / 33.9428°N 118.4026°W |
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Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is the airport oversight and operations department for the city of Los Angeles, California. Its headquarters are on the grounds of Los Angeles International Airport in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Westchester.
History
In 1982, LAWA purchased Ontario International Airport, in bordering San Bernardino County.[1]
In April 2013, the City of Ontario, California filed a legal complaint against LAWA alleging mismanagement of Ontario International Airport, ultimately resulting in a 40% decline of traffic between 2007 and 2013. LAWA countered the complaint citing the Great Recession was responsible for the decline in activity.[1] In December 2015, LAWA sold back its shares of Ontario International to the newly-formed Ontario International Airport Authority for a total of US$190 million.[2] LAWA transferred operational management of Ontario International Airport to the Ontario International Airport Authority on November 1, 2016.[3]
LAWA formerly owned the dormant terminal of Palmdale Regional Airport, though it was transferred to the city of Palmdale at the end of 2013, and the United States Air Force's Plant 42 still owns the airport.
In February 2018, LAWA introduced a new face recognition system In LAX to allow passengers in boarding areas.[4][5] The same month, LAWA signed a contract with the United States Soccer Federation to promote the USA-Canada-Mexico bid to organize the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[6]
Operations
As of October 2015, Los Angeles World Airports owns and operates two airports:[7]
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the city of Los Angeles
- Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in the Van Nuys neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley
LAWA operates the FlyAway bus service, which runs four shuttles between LAX and Van Nuys Airport; Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles; and the University of California, Los Angeles in Westwood Village.
Governance
LAWA is a branch of the city of Los Angeles, also known as the Department of Airports, and is governed by a seven-member Airport Commissioner's Board. The board is appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles and approved by Los Angeles City Council. LAWA employs close to 2,500 employees who work for the two airports under its control.
LAWA raises revenue by collecting aircraft landing fees, in addition to property leases and concession fees from airport tenants. Expenditures include runway and building maintenance fees, capital improvements and administration.
Law enforcement
LAWA maintains its own police department, the Los Angeles Airport Police sometimes referred to as "LAWAPD" or "LAXPD".[8] LAWAPD is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County, with more than 1,100 law enforcement, security and staff personnel. LAWAPD has patrolled jointly with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) since the opening of the current terminal area in 1961. In 2002 then-mayor James Hahn assigned additional LAPD officers to LAX to provide armed law enforcement officer coverage at passenger screening stations. Those officers are trained by LAWAPD officers to perform this function. They are assigned on an overtime basis, with LAWA reimbursing LAPD and, in turn, receiving substantial reimbursement from the Transportation Security Administration.
Awards
- LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Award, after a $737 million renovation of LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal in 2010[9]
References
- 1 2 Eve Bachrach (11 April 2013). "Ontario is Getting Ready to Sue LA For Airport Neglect". Curbed Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ Jeff Wattenhofer (17 December 2015). "Ontario Has Finally Wrested Control of Its Airport From LA". Curbed Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ Dan Weikel (1 November 2016). "Ontario officials get ownership of international airport and pledge more flights and services". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
After years of litigation and negotiation, Ontario officials assumed ownership of LA/Ontario International Airport from Los Angeles on Tuesday. [1 November 2016]
- ↑ "Los Angeles Airport progresses biometric boarding trial". Planetbiometrics.com. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ↑ Chris Galford (21 February 2016). "TSA, Los Angeles World Airports unveil new security checkpoint technologies". Homelandprepnews.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ↑ Dakota Smith (27 February 2018). "L.A.'s bid to be host city for 2026 World Cup takes a step forward". Latimes.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ↑ "About Los Angeles World Airports". Los Angeles World Airports. October 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ "About LAXPD". Los Angeles Airport Police. 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ↑ "Los Angeles World Airports receives Sustainability Award". World Interior Design Network. July 9, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
The Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has received the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability Award, after $737 million renovation of its TBIT terminal.