LAX Posts Record Passenger Year

Airport officials announced the second year in a row of record-setting passenger volume at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Year-end statistics released today show LAX airlines served 74,936,256 total passengers in 2015 — six percent above the record 70,663,519 passengers in 2014.

Of the 2015 total, a record 20,740,075 passengers (or 27.7 percent) were aboard international flights – 8.5 percent higher than last year’s record 19,106,746 passengers.  In addition, last year’s record 54,196,181 domestic passengers are 5.1 percent higher than the record 51,556,773 passengers in 2014.   

Total air cargo (mail and freight) processed at LAX during 2015 was 2,132,486 tons, an increase of 6.5 percent above the 2,002,910 tons in 2014.  Freight (goods) rose nearly six percent in 2015 to 2,038,221 tons from 1,923,033 tons in 2014.  Air mail also increased 18 percent in 2015 to 94,265 tons from 79,877 tons in 2014. 

The number of aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs) grew nearly three percent to 655,564 operations in 2015 from 636,706 operations in 2014.  Commercial airline operations grew 7.6 percent to 571,588 from 531,373 in 2014.  Air taxi (charter) operations dropped 27.6 percent to 61,652 from 85,125 in 2014; general aviation increased 12.2 percent to 20,300 operations from 18,090 operations in 2014; and military flights dropped 4.4 percent to 2,024 compared to 2,118 flights in 2014.

“The record number of passengers and increased cargo activity at LAX reflect the investments being made at LAX,” said Deborah Flint, chief executive officer of Los Angeles World Airports, the Los Angeles City department that owns and operates LAX and two other Southern California airports.  “The unprecedented $8.5-billion modernization program includes substantial capital improvements to virtually every terminal at the airport.  Another $5 billion will be invested to relieve traffic congestion with a new convenient, reliable and sustainable transportation system that will transform LAX into a world-class airport and improve the travel experience for everyone.”