For Immediate Release
Jan. 13, 2023
Contact:
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260
“Los Angeles International Airport is in the midst of an ambitious capital improvement program to modernize every aspect of our airport, and Harold Samms has the operational background that will help in the transformation of LAX into a world-class airport that provides high levels of passenger service,” Erbacci said. “He has the demonstrated ability, experience and passion to ensure the smooth and safe implementation and operation of the Automated People Mover and the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, as well as to ensure the contractual objectives and expectations for operations are delivered and maintained.”
As the director of LAMP performance, Mr. Samms will provide operational oversight to the multi-billion-dollar Public-Private Partnerships as they begin operating the Automated People Mover (APM) and the Consolidated Rent-a-Car (CONRAC) Facility. This position also will oversee the Airport Operational Readiness Division to ensure the readiness of multiple airport programs and projects. He will report to Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer Michael Christensen.
For more than 25 years, Mr. Samms has excelled in the design, construction and operation of airport people mover projects across the country, including the Skylink at Dallas, Fort Worth Airport and the AirTran at JFK Airport, along with transit systems in Jacksonville, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada. He possesses extensive knowledge and experience with current automated people movers, rail systems and autonomous vehicle technology. Mr. Samms served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army and National Guard.
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.
LAX generated 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 was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. 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, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
For more information about LAX, please visit www.flyLAX.com or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1
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.
