Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the operator of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California, has officially opened a new connector bridge as part of its Central Terminal Area (CTA) development program linking terminals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 with the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
The new US$148m facility enables domestic passengers arriving at the south side terminals to catch international connecting flights at TBIT without going back through Transport Security Administration (TSA) screening. It gives international passengers arriving at TBIT – who, by law, must rescreen their bags once they have cleared customs – an expedited security area that connects directly with the south side terminal concourses. TBIT and the south side terminals hosted a combined 52.3 million passengers in 2015 – approximately 70% of all the passengers who passed through the airport.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, said, “LAX is one of the driving forces of our economy, supporting more than 600,000 jobs. That’s why we’re investing US$14bn right now to make it one of the world’s premier airports. The Terminal 4 (T4) Connector will make international travel easier and more seamless for millions of passengers, and help us continue to expand our global reach.”
Deborah Flint, CEO, LAWA, said, “We are dramatically improving the guest experience at LAX, and this connector will serve an important role by helping travelers save time. They will benefit from the freedom to move between terminals, where they can access more shopping and dining options, as well as other guest amenities.”
Images courtesy of LAWA
