LOS ANGELES - American Airlines is entrusting leadership at one of its premier west coast gateways to 25-year industry veteran Art Pappas. The new managing director of American`s Los Angeles International Airport operation takes the helm of a growing operation, a redesigned facility and a group of highly dedicated American employees.

Pappas succeeds George Hazy who recently was appointed vice president of American`s hub in Miami.

“Art underscores the depth and breadth of our management team here at American,” said Dan Garton, the airline`s executive vice president-Customer Service. “He brings to Los Angeles two decades of experience in airport operations that will help us further differentiate ourselves from our competitors in terms of good old-fashioned customer service in one of the world`s most important aviation markets.”

Pappas began his career with American in 1976 as a reservations agent in Buffalo, N.Y. During his tenure at the airline, he has held a positions in reservations, passenger service, ramp service and operations in Buffalo, Hartford, New York’s Kennedy and LaGuardia and at Dallas/Fort Worth. At American`s Dallas/Fort Worth hub Pappas served as Passenger Service manager, manager of Operations and the manager of Ramp Service where he oversaw more than 3,000 employees who handled baggage, mail and cargo for over 500 flights per day.

Pappas also served as managing director of American`s System Operations Control with responsibility for overseeing the daily operations of American`s more than 2,500 daily flights. Most recently he served as regional managing director for Customer Service and oversaw all of American`s airports in the Northeastern United States.

“American is committed to making choosing an airline in Los Angeles one of the simplest decisions people have to make,” Pappas said. “I`m inheriting a great team of people who are working day in and day out to ensure our passengers have the best experience possible, in the air and on the ground.”

Operating out of Terminals 3 and 4 at LAX, American now offers 106 daily flights to 27 nonstop destinations, including 10 flights a day between Los Angeles and New York`s JFK featuring the airline`s award-winning American Flagship Service.

American has nearly completed renovation of its Terminal 4 facilities to ensure an even more convenient passenger experience. Among the many amenities will be the addition of 30 OneStop Self Service Check in machines that permit passengers—including those with baggage—to check themselves in, select seats and receive a boarding pass all without waiting in line.

American Airlines, the world’s largest carrier, together with its regional affiliates American Eagle and the American Connection carriers, serves more than 250 cities in more than 40 countries and territories with more than 4,400 daily flights.

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