FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2022

CONTACT:
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260

LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS ANNOUNCES CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

(Los Angeles, CA) Today, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Erbacci announced the executive appointment of Ms. Terri Mestas to the position of Chief Development Officer.

"As Los Angeles World Airports pursues one of the largest capital improvement programs of any U.S. airport with the goal of creating the world-class airport the citizens of this great city deserve, we need the best talent in the world, like Terri Mestas, to help us fulfill our vision," said Justin Erbacci, CEO, LAWA. "With more than three decades of proven experience leading complex infrastructure projects and capital development programs, Ms. Mestas will help us deliver on our promise to create the most efficient and modern airport experience possible."

 

In her new role, Ms. Mestas will oversee LAWA's development projects, including the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), Terminal Development Improvement Program and the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Project, among others. 

Ms. Mestas most recently held the position of Senior Director for Capital Projects, Modernization, Planning, Design and Construction at The California Institute of Technology, where she led a multi-disciplinary team providing planning, space management, project management, design, engineering, procurement, building inspection, commissioning and construction services. She oversaw complex projects across 124 acres and other satellite locations that included new buildings, one-of-a-kind research laboratories, modernizations and unique specialty projects.

 

Previously, Ms. Mestas held several positions for AECOM, including Vice President, Federal Market Sector Leader, Principal in Charge and Program Manager for two NASA centers and Program Manager for the LACCD bond program. She is a subject matter expert on physical security and is registered as an LEED Accredited Professional, in addition to being a Certified Project Manager and Certified Construction Manager. She begins her new position at LAWA today.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX, the fifth-busiest airport in the world in 2021 with 48 million passengers, is in the midst of a $15-billion capital improvement program that will touch on all nine passenger terminals and build new facilities, including an Automated People Mover (APM) train, Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility and the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal.

In 2019, LAX served nearly 88.1 million passengers and offered an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 113 destinations in the U.S. and 1,200 weekly nonstop flights to 91 markets in 46 countries on 72 commercial airlines.

LAX generates 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX's ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City's general fund.

LAWA is leading the aviation industry in sustainability practices, with initiatives related to water management, energy (electricity) management, air quality, recycling and natural resources management. In 2019, LAX received Level III ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airports Council International-Europe.

LAWA is also a leader in inclusivity, operating eight programs that provide opportunities for business enterprises including local, small, minority-owned, veteran-owned and disadvantaged firms, and working together with community partners to offer the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, which targets local workers to make them ready for rewarding careers in the construction trades, and the Build LAX Academy, designed to prepare small contracting businesses for success when working on projects at LAX.

LAX was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX in 2018, and was honored as the "Most Innovative Airport for Passenger Experience" in 2019 by the American Association of Airport Executives. LAX is the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. Other recent honors have included selection as the No. 9 Best Airport (Wall Street Journal); No. 7 Best On-Time Performance for a Mega-Hub Airport (OAG); one of "The World's Best Airports for Business Travelers" (GlobeHunters); Public-Private Partnership of the Year (P3 Bulletin); Urth Caffe, Best Airport Coffee Concession of the Year (Global FAB Awards); Innovation of the Year, Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ARTBA); Best Project, United Airlines Terminal 7 and 8 Redevelopment Program (Engineering News Record California); North American Public-Private Partnership Deal of the Year (IJ Global); and Innovative Transportation Solution of the Year, Automated People Mover (WTS LA).

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.

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