Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has been making strides in its recovery from the pandemic, welcoming 44.46 million passengers between January and July 2024. While this represents a significant rebound, a closer look reveals that passenger traffic is still down 13.7% compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic hit. This makes LAX one of the USA’s least-recovered major airports, raising the question of how long it will take to fully recover and surpass pre-pandemic passenger volumes.
Delta Air Lines has emerged as the top carrier at LAX, consistently holding this position since 2021. Previously, American Airlines held the top spot from 2016 to 2020. Delta’s dominance can be attributed to its expansion of route offerings, including notable additions like Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2023 and a seasonal service to Eagle/Vail in December.
United Airlines, on the other hand, leads in terms of destinations served thanks to its extensive international network. Despite challenges, United has also made significant international route additions in recent years, introducing flights to Auckland and Hong Kong in late 2023, followed by routes to Tulum and Calgary in 2024. Notably, United’s international traffic at LAX exceeded one million passengers between January and July, making it the only carrier to reach that milestone during this period.
LAX’s recovery hinges on how airlines like Delta and United continue to expand their route networks, particularly internationally. The domestic market accounts for nearly 70% of total passengers, but traffic has seen a decline of 16.6% compared to 2019 levels. In contrast, international traffic has shown a stronger recovery, down just 6.8%, albeit from a smaller base.
The decline in traffic can be attributed to factors such as Southwest Airlines halting international flights, several carriers, particularly those from China, significantly reducing their flight schedules, and American and Delta downsizing their international operations. American’s flight frequencies dropped by nearly a third, causing it to fall from the top international carrier in 2019 to fifth place currently.
Despite these challenges, LAX has welcomed numerous new airlines since 2021, contributing to its growth. These new additions include: [List of new airlines]. As LAX continues to rebuild, its recovery will depend on the airlines’ ability to maintain and expand their route networks, especially internationally, attracting more passengers and solidifying its position as a major global travel hub.
