LAX Terminal to Get Major Upgrade

The Los Angeles City Council's recent approval of new lease terms with Delta for its terminal allows the multi-million dollar upgrade to go forward at no cost to taxpayers.

"The City Council's action allows LAWA and our partners to continue forward on modernizing Terminal 5 and enhancing customer service for the nearly 6.6 million domestic and international travelers who pass through the terminal each year,'' said LAWA Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey.

The lease, which expires in 2025, calls for Delta to cover $11.8 million in renovations to "proprietary'' areas such as boarding gates and club lounges. The Transportation Security Administration covered $25 million for a new "in-line'' checked baggage screening system. And LAWA put up the remaining $192 million for the rest of the construction.

The LAWA-paid improvements come mainly from passenger fees and LAX parking revenue, according to airport officials, who also said they anticipate the lease and improvements will generate about $283 million in revenue for the airport authority through 2025.

A number of renovations at Terminal 5 are already complete, including improvements to federal screening areas and new escalators and elevators. Officials claim the infrastructure will be safer through the use of infra-red sensors and more energy efficient through the use of a "sleep mode'' for some parts of the terminal.