In May of 1961 the New York Times proclaimed there was a “spectacular airport opening in Los Angeles.” It was a pronouncement that the “Jet Age” of airport design was here, as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) set new standards for air travel around the world with its revolutionary design and unrivaled passenger amenities.

On opening day, June 25, 1961, the new LAX offered six new satellite terminals with a radical modular layout and underground passageways, 5,000 parking spaces, and the now iconic Theme Building – which offered admission to its observation deck at a cost of 50 cents for adults or 25 cents for children, with a coffee or cold drink included. The world was greatly impressed at this progressive, elegant airport that was the epitome of mid-century design, and that revitalized the golden age of travel using aircraft that were modern miracles of aviation.

Today, we acknowledge our proud history and heritage with the 60th anniversary of the Jet Age terminal dedication at LAX. More importantly, we also celebrate our future, which has never been brighter. For an airport that has evolved constantly during its nearly 100-year history – from a bean field in Westchester to one of the busiest airports in the world – there is a historical significance to this moment in time. We find ourselves once again on the cusp of unveiling yet another new age for air travel in Los Angeles.

Our $14.5 billion modernization is reimagining the LAX experience. The Automated People Mover train will fundamentally transform how tens of millions of people access the airport each year. Every terminal has been or will be modernized with the latest in technology and amenities. We are creating a digital marketplace in which passengers will be able to control most of the aspects of their journey from their phone, from reserved parking with automatic payment to streamlined mobile food ordering and delivery. And we will do so sustainably, with bold goals to become carbon neutral by 2045.

At the same time, we are preparing to meet the demands of the future while staying within our existing footprint, with the environmental review process underway for airfield safety improvements, a new concourse and terminal, and elevated roadways to separate airport traffic from neighborhood traffic. We are doing all of this while being responsible, first-class neighbors to our community and engaging with local residents as we build the future world-class airport Los Angeles deserves ahead of the spotlight of the 2028 Olympics.

Below is a snapshot at how far we have come, and where we are going, as our history of innovation and imagination repeats itself at LAX.

Justin Erbacci
Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports

• The project included 1.2 million square feet of buildings and 175 acres of pavement, including parking lots and airfield surface
• The drainage complex utilized six miles of reinforced concrete pipe
• 19 miles of underground electrical conduit were laid
• Three miles of sewer lines were installed
• Thirty miles of underground lines carrier jet fuel
• 38,000 miles of wire and cable were installed by Pacific Telephone Co.
• 6,500 rolls of roofing felt covered the new terminals
• A half-million square yards of plaster was installed, enough for 900 average homes at the time
• 29,000 lighting fixtures were installed
• 165,000 tons of concrete was used