Already into the busy holiday travel period that began Saturday, Dec. 17, an estimated 2.9 million travelers will pass through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) through Monday, Jan. 2.

Airport officials are forecasting smooth operations as was the case during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

The 17-day holiday period’s passenger volume is expected to exceed last year’s total of 2.8 million. The increase in passengers over last year’s total is driven by an increase in international travel. Domestic travel is expected to be flat compared with last year.

The busiest travel days are expected to include Friday and Saturday, Dec. 23 and 24, and the long weekend concluding Jan. 2, with flights on those days operating at capacity.

Airport officials said the airlines, airport staff and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are prepared for the high passenger volumes, ready to provide a safe and pleasant travel experience for all travelers.

TSA officials at LAX have committed to ensuring its screening stations for passengers and checked-luggage stations will be properly staffed, especially during peak travel periods.

This year, LAX, the airlines and TSA opened eight new passenger screening lanes, bringing the total to almost 60. In particular, at Terminal 1 (Southwest, USAirways and America West) and Terminal 4 (American Airlines)—previously the two most congested terminals—separate screening stations with three lanes each were placed in service with excellent results during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

All available Airport Police and traffic officers will be on duty for crowd control, traffic management, crime prevention and parking enforcement.

Drivers coming to the airport can hear up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions on freeways and roadways to and in the airport.

LAX AirRadio 530 AM is the only source of official information on airport conditions broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

During upcoming holidays, the radio will broadcast live from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The radio station provides listeners in a 10-mile radius from LAX with information so they can adjust to changing traffic conditions, as well as security and parking conditions.

To help motorists avoid traffic congestion in the Central Terminal Area, the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 9011 Airport Blvd. offers a free parking alternative 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Motorists can wait for arriving passengers to call them on their cell phones and then drive to the curbside on the Lower/Arrivals Level to pickup their passengers.
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