LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn, City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski (District 11) and airport officials today announced the endorsement by the Air Transport Association (ATA) of the Consensus Plan for the proposed modernization of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
ATA's association members include American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and America West. ATA's airline members transport 90 percent of all passenger and cargo traffic in the United States. ATA announced its endorsement of the modernization plan on behalf of the LAX Airlines Airport Affairs Committee, an association of domestic airlines that operate at LAX.
"The airlines are undeniably a critical stakeholder in this process to modernize LAX and I am so pleased that ATA is here to stand with us as a partner in our effort," said Mayor Hahn. "The Consensus Plan will help us to achieve additional layers of security and improved passenger convenience at the world's fifth busiest airport."
City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski, whose district includes LAX, said, "The Air Transport Association's endorsement delivers a strong message that the Consensus Plan will provide stakeholders at LAX with the access and oversight needed for the LAX Master Plan that addresses the desires and concerns of businesses, communities and the airline industry." She added, "We are looking forward to continuing to work with our stakeholder partners, including the ATA, to implement a master plan that works, and to get important work done at LAX."
"From the beginning, we shared Mayor Hahn's dual objectives of creating a safer and more secure LAX while continuing to set a high standard for customer service," said James C. May, ATA's president and chief executive officer. He added, "The LAX Consensus Plan is good for Los Angeles. It's good for the airlines. It's good for travelers. It's also good for local jobs in greater Los Angeles. And it's good for the local economy by energizing LAX as one of this region's primary economic engines."
The Consensus Plan, developed by Mayor Hahn and City Councilwoman Miscikowski, is a process or implementation approach to airport modernization that would allow Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to move forward on elements of the LAX Master Plan Alternative D that enjoy the support of many stakeholders. These elements include realignment of the southside airfield, a new consolidated rental car facility, a new intermodal transportation center that links to regional transit, an automated people mover, and an expansion of the FlyAway program.
The Consensus Plan would also require additional studies involving vehicular traffic impacts, aviation activity and security issues before "yellow-lighted" elements of Alternative D were implemented. These elements include a new ground transportation center located east of the current passenger terminal area; northern runway improvements; demolishing Terminals 1, 2, 3 and the north end of the Tom Bradley International Terminal; and construction of a new western terminal.
Public hearings on the LAX Master Plan are scheduled in City Hall before the City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee on Sept. 29; the Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 7; and the City Council on Oct. 1 and 19.