Massive relocation of LAX airline gates off to a smooth start, officials say
Officials said that the first day of the terminal relocations,
which began late Friday and will continue over the next five days, went
smoothly. The moving involved towing aircraft to new locations, installing new
signage and moving computers, furniture and ground service equipment.
“It went extremely well. There was an army of people out there,” said Mary Grady, a spokeswoman for LAX. “It was unbelievable how quickly people were working. We said it
would be well-choreographed and it was. All in all, it is going well.”
The reorganization involves moving Delta Air Lines’ operations from Terminals
5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3 and shifting 14 other carriers into the facilities
vacated by Delta. Among the airlines involved in the move this weekend are
Virgin America, Virgin Australia, Allegiant, Boutique Air, Frontier, Sun
Country and Volaris.
Delta, the largest operator affected by the move, will take
three days to complete its relocation effort. As of Saturday morning, Delta
flights were arriving at and departing from Terminals 3, 5 and 6.
The largest terminal move in LAX history will allow the Atlanta-based
airline to expand its local operations, adding seven passenger gates, and allow
better access to Tom Bradley International Terminal for itself and its
partners: Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet.
Delta will pick up the $60-million tab for all of the
relocations.
Though the first night of the terminal relocations was
uneventful, airport officials said there were some minor problems with the
accuracy of flight information provided by some travel websites unaffiliated
with the airlines and the airport.
They also said additional signage was needed in certain
terminal areas to inform passengers of the changes. LAX had put out about 1,000
signs of various types for the relocation.
Charles Pannunzio, an airport spokesman, said both problems were
being addressed Saturday.
LAX officials estimated that the undertaking on Friday night
involved 176 movers, 30 volunteers, 1,100 dollies and 3,500 boxes.
About 300 computers were moved along with the furniture, office
equipment and aircraft. An estimated 600 computers were relocated in the days
leading up to Friday night.
The first phase of the move involved eight airlines. It began
about 10 p.m. Friday and was largely completed about 4:40 a.m. Saturday, a few
minutes ahead of schedule, Grady said.
On Saturday morning, volunteers were in place to help passengers
reach their flights and neon green-painted shuttles were operating to move them
between terminals.
As the affected airlines resumed operations Saturday, airport
officials said there were no flight delays related to the move and few
complaints from passengers who had trouble finding their planes.
“There were just a handful of travelers who needed to be
transferred by shuttle to terminals,” Grady said. “Passengers have apparently
gotten the message.”
Seven airlines have now completed their moves to new terminals.
Delta will continue with the second phase of its move overnight Sunday and into
Monday. At the same time, Avianca and Interjet airlines will move from Terminal
2 to Tom Bradley International Terminal (with check-in at Terminal 3), and
Spirit Airlines will move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5.
The next phase of the reorganization will take place overnight
Tuesday and into Wednesday. The affected airlines include Delta, Air Canada,
Hawaiian and Southwest International. XL France will move from Terminal 2 to
Terminal 6 on June 4.
Airline and LAX officials advised passengers to arrive earlier
than normal at the airport, download boarding passes, check their flight status
and consult their airlines’ websites. In addition, Delta has added shuttle
buses on airport roads and the tarmac side of the terminals to transfer
passengers who arrive at the wrong gates.
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