For Immediate Release
May 31, 2023
Contact:
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260
Occasion Marks Key Milestone Before the Full Delta Sky Way Project Opens to the Public at LAX’s Terminal 3 This Summer
(Los Angeles) At a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together Delta and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) executives, local elected and civic leaders and other key stakeholders, Delta and LAWA celebrated the opening of Delta’s new West Headhouse and Delta One Check-in and Ticketing Lobby at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)’s Terminal 3. The milestone represents the second to last major phase before the full Delta Sky Way project opens to the public later this summer. Together through a joint $2.3 billion investment of both LAWA and Delta funding, the partners are modernizing one of the airline’s key global hubs.
The West Headhouse, which features self-service kiosks for passengers to drop their bags and print boarding passes, provides another entry point to easily check in and get to security. At the Delta One check-in area, located on the lower arrivals level of Terminal 3, Delta One customers can access a private TSA screening lane and direct access to the Delta Sky Club.
“A transformation of LAX is on the horizon.” Rachel Freeman, Deputy Mayor of Business and Economic Development, said. “The newly completed investments at Terminal 3 are another step in upgrading the guest experience at LAX and building an airport that Angelenos deserve. We look forward to continuing the work with our partners in providing a more seamless, modern, and world-class experience for all of our guests.”
As with previous phases, this stage of the Delta Sky Way project provided opportunities for local workers, with approximately 30% of the project team comprised of L.A. residents. The project team also includes ten graduates of LAWA’s renowned HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program.
“Our projects aim to serve travelers for generations to come, but the ways in which they support the local economy and workforce start at day one. On the Delta Sky Way project, 2,065 workers from the local community represent 30% of the project team,” said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Beatrice Hsu. “When we celebrate the full opening of the project later this summer, it will be alongside the dedicated workers who saw the project to completion.”
The Memorial Day travel window before the ceremony saw over one-million passengers move through LAX, the most passengers at the airport over a holiday weekend since pre-pandemic. The trend in passenger traffic is predicted to continue, reaching the highest levels the airport has had in the past several years. The opening of the new Delta West Headhouse and Delta One Check-in and Ticketing Lobby will further accommodate the influx of passengers on the 150-plus daily flights that Delta operates.
"I am eager for guests to enjoy Delta’s new West Headhouse and Delta One Check-in and Ticketing Lobby at LAX’s Terminal 3, in addition to the entire Delta Sky Way project when it opens later this summer. These projects truly are establishing the new norm of first-rate guest experiences passengers will find across LAX," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. "My deep appreciation goes to Delta, Hensel Phelps, the team at LAWA, our shared community of supporters and the workers who are continuing to usher the Delta Sky Way project forward."
Further enhancements include the addition of 100 more seats to the Delta Sky Club, the re-opening of the original Terminal 3 passenger tunnel – complete with its signature 1960s tile mosaic and direct access to baggage claim – an enlarged T3 Help Center and a second connection point to LAX’s People Mover train when it opens in 2024.
“We’re building on our position as LAX’s leading premium global carrier and achieving yet another infrastructure milestone ahead of schedule – enabling an ever-elevated travel journey for our Los Angeles customers,” said Scott Santoro, Delta Vice President of Global Sales. “Now that the summer travel season has officially kicked off, Delta couldn’t be more ready to get our customers where they want to go most.”
Terminal 3, where the projects are located, is designed to meet LAWA's commitment to eliminate carbon emissions from its facilities and the greater Delta Sky Way project features a wide array of sustainability integrations, like low-flow plumbing fixtures that make use of recycled water. Additionally, all of the building's systems, including structural, façade, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and lighting are designed to meet CalGreen 2016 and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver certification standards.
Art is also an important consideration within the space. The Delta One check-in area features one-of-a-kind artwork from two local artists in partnership with ArtLifting, a social enterprise that champions artists impacted by disabilities and housing insecurity. LAX’s art team also collaborated with Delta on the installation of two new murals in Terminal 3’s pre-security Level 3 Departures Lobby. “Collider Beaming” by Timothy Nolan is a vinyl mural of collaged imagery that features the representation of tiny, subatomic particles intermingling to create maze patterns, and “A Place for Us All” by Sarah “Buckley” Samiani is a hand-painted mural that explores themes of movement and energy through colors and juxtapositions that recall the environment of the city. The Delta Sky Way project is one of many initiatives advancing LAX’s future-focused modernization. Interested parties can learn more about LAX’s transformation and subscribe for updates at http://bit.ly/LAX-Transformation.
MEDIA ASSETS
A PDF of this press release and high-resolution images are available to download here: bit.ly/LAXandDeltaWestHeadhouse. Credit all assets as “Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports and Delta Air Lines.”
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.
