LAX predicts a record in summer travelers: 24.6 million -- Los Angeles International Airport is expected to be even more crowded than usual this summer when it serves a record 24.6 million passengers. The nation's second-busiest airport is expected to host 6.7% more travelers than last year's record of 23 million fliers, according to airport officials. The summer season began with a crush of travelers over the Memorial Day weekend -- an estimated 811,000 flyers, an increase of 6.7% over the same weekend last year. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times AP

Hundreds participate in Officer Tommy Scott Memorial 5K/10K Run -- Los Angeles Airport Police motor officer Raymond Woods completed the 10K memorial run in honor of fallen LAX officer Tommy Scott in full gear on Sat. May 16 coming in at just under 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Woods, a 14-year department veteran and Medal of Valor recipient, ran the entire course adjacent to LAX in full motor uniform, complete with motor boots, belt and helmet to honor Scott who was killed ten years ago at the age of 35 in a carjacking incident after stopping a suspicious man near LAX. Sentinel News Service

ONTARIO AIRPORT: Bill to help takeover passes Assembly -- Legislation that would help the city of Ontario finance the takeover of Ontario International Aiport cleared the state Assembly on Friday, May 22. The bill, sponsored by assemblymen Freddie Rodriguez, D-Pomona, and Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, allows the city to issue bonds to buy the airport, which is owned by the city of Los Angeles. "This bill is the result of members representing the Inland Empire and Los Angeles working together to come to a solution," Rodriguez said in a news release. Jeff Horseman/Riverside Press-Enterprise Liset Marquez/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

American Airlines flight returns safely to LAX after reporting issue in cockpit -- An American Airlines flight headed to Boston has landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport after reporting a problem in the cockpit. Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman, said the Boeing 737 reported equipment issues after leaving LAX en route to Boston's Logan International Airport. It appears a cargo indicator light was faulty, airline spokesman Kent Powell said. The plane was taxied to the gate. Veronica Rocha/Los Angeles Times

Prison for woman who hid cocaine in underwear at Oakland Airport -- An Oakland woman was sentenced Thursday to three years in federal prison for trying to smuggle nearly two pounds of cocaine in Spandex underwear through Oakland International Airport security. Cheryl Denise Frazier, 48, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in San Francisco to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. She admitted that she tried to get onto a flight with the drugs, which were to have been distributed to another person, authorities said. Henry K. Lee/San Francisco Chronicle

To avoid summer airline delays, stay clear of N.Y. and New Jersey -- If your summer vacation plans include flights in or out of New York or New Jersey airports, chances are pretty good that your flight will be delayed. A study of on-time arrival rates over the last 10 summers found that the top three airports for summer delays are Newark-Liberty International, LaGuardia International and JFK International. Each of the top three have on-time arrival rates lower than 68%, according to the study by MileCards.com, a website that compares travel reward programs. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times

More airport security badges missing as pols demand answers -- Washington lawmakers are demanding an accounting of how many airport security badges have been lost or stolen around the country as an NBC News investigation reveals the problem may be bigger than originally thought. "Clearly there are an awful lot of things falling through the cracks and there's just no room for error when it comes to this issue. We need answers. They're not providing them," said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who chairs the Transportation Committee. Scott Friedman & Tracy Connor/NBC News

Uber closes in on its last frontier: Airports -- In a productive week, Ingemar Smith, driver for hire, picks up about 50 passengers from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Instead of pulling up to the curb outside the baggage claim area, the typical zone for fetching fliers, Mr. Smith and his silver Toyota Prius often lurk in the short-term parking deck, another minute's walk. Mr. Smith works for Uber, the ride-hailing service that has helped upend the taxi business in many corners of the world, with one exception: airports. Mike Tierney/New York Times

United Airlines makes a big statement about women in the cockpit -- Women have long had a role in the airline industry, but mostly as flight attendants and ticket and gate agents and in the executive suite. In the cockpits of commercial airliners, however, women are still infrequently seen at the controls. But the situation is improving, and United Airlines made a point of showing just how much yesterday as it took delivery of a new Boeing 737-900 ER narrow body aircraft at Boeing Field in Seattle. Lewis Lazare/Chicago Business Journal

Which new destination is Southwest Airlines adding now? -- Southwest Airlines will add new nonstop service from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Orlando, Florida, beginning on Nov. 1. Dallas-based Southwest has been aggressively adding flights - especially out of Dallas Love Field- since slightly before the expiration of the Wright Amendment in October 2014. The amendment put restrictions on flights out of Love Field, where Southwest has the lion's share of gates. Bill Hethcock/Dallas Business Journal

Hawaiian Airlines axing flights to Sendai, Japan; weak yen blamed -- A weak yen and lack of passenger interest have led Hawaiian Airlines to drop service to Sendai beginning in September. Sendai, Japan's fifth-largest city, is the fourth international destination cut by the state's largest carrier in the last two years after an aggressive expansion attempt abroad, reports the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. AP

Hawaiian Airlines fined for violating baggage compensation and price advertising rules -- A finding that Hawaiian Airlines violated federal rules on liability for mishandled domestic baggage and full-fare advertising will cost the carrier $160,000. In addition to levying the monetary penalty, the Department of Transportation ordered the airline to cease and desist from further violations. "Consumers deserve truth in advertising, and fair treatment when airlines lose or damage their property," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. James Limbach/Consumer Affairs

Airlines making it harder to comparison shop, study says -- Delta Air Lines has banned several travel websites from posting its airfares and routes as part of a bigger trend in the airline industry that has made it harder for travelers to comparison shop. That is the conclusion of a study by a Yale economics professor who estimates that travelers are losing out on more than $6 billion in savings a year because of the limits to shopping. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times Rhonda Schaffter/The Street

Troubled Malaysia Airlines to be completely revamped: new CEO -- Loss-making Malaysia Airlines is set to undergo a complete overhaul as it is restructured into a new company, with a rebranding that will be unveiled next week and changes planned to its fleet and network strategies. Christoph Mueller, who joined from Irish national carrier Aer Lingus, said in his first ever interview since taking over as chief executive on May 1 that the new company will be like a "start-up". Siva Govindasamy & Al-Zaquan Amer Hamzah/Reuters

Australia's local airlines under threat -- Australia is considering taking the unusual step of allowing foreign airlines to fly domestic routes in the tropical north of the country to help speed up the region's economic development. Any decision to open up Australia's skies to foreign airline operators would potentially hurt local carriers, including Qantas Airways Ltd., and aviation-industry unions have already criticized the government's objective. Ross Kelly/Wall Street Journal

Flying the A350: Airbus's most technologically advanced airliner -- Airbus and Boeing are betting their futures on a new generation of long-range widebody twins with better fuel efficiency, lower operating costs and reduced noise and emissions compared with today's two- and four-engine widebodies. The A350 is Airbus's largest, longest-range, highest-flying and fastest-cruising twin. The A350-900, the first version now entering service with Qatar Airways and other carriers, is a larger aircraft than Boeing's 787. Fred George/Aviation Week

Will Ryu stir the pot or play ball with Wesson? -- For the last two months, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson was a reliable ally of Carolyn Ramsay, helping her as she ran in last week's election for the seat being vacated by her former boss, Councilman Tom LaBonge. Ramsay, who had described Wesson as a mentor and role model, secured the council president's endorsement right after the March primary. Wesson hosted a fundraiser for Ramsay the following month, helping her campaign pull in more than $68,000 in a single day. David Zahniser/Los Angeles Times