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LAX closing another runway as part of safety improvements -- Los Angeles International Airport will continue a series of runway closures Monday to complete safety improvements, officials said. LAX spokeswoman Katherine Alvarado said north outboard runway 24R/6L will close for 113 days, until Oct. 19. People living near LAX may notice a change in flight activity and noise, as aircraft landings will be diverted to the north inboard runway, Alvarado said. To limit the impact on operations, LAX is phasing the construction, one runway at a time. Nereida Moreno/Torrance Daily Breeze
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Steady LAX passenger increases continue in May -- Passengers traveling through Los Angeles International Airport grew steadily again in May, according to figures released Friday. Last month, 6.4 million passengers moved through the airport, an increase of 4.5 percent over the same month last year. International traffic rose 4.9 percent to 1.7 million passengers, while the number of domestic travelers increased 4.4 percent to 4.6 million. Air cargo rose 7.9 percent from a year ago with mail cargo up 15.2 percent compared to the same month a year ago. Freight cargo rose 7.7 percent. Carol Lawrence/Los Angeles Business Journal LAX Statistics
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ONT passenger traffic up nearly 2 percent -- Since May, passenger activity at LA/Ontario International Airport is up nearly 2 percent. According to figures released by Los Angeles World Airports on Friday, 1.67 million passengers have used ONT in the first five months of the year compared to the 1.64 million for the same time in 2014. A total 365,059 travelers flew in and out of ONT compared to 352,828 travelers in May 2014. International traffic continues to grow, carriers AeroMexico and Volaris, served 13,413 passengers in May, a 54 percent spike from the same time last year. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin ONT Statistics
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Tri-Cities Airport exceeds fundraising goal -- The Port of Pasco has surpassed its goal and raised almost $300,000 from local governments and businesses to match a potential federal grant that would support daily flights to Los Angeles. Some contributing to the effort to secure a Small Community Air Service Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation are still seeking final approval from their governing boards and councils, Ron Foraker, director of the Tri-Cities Airport, told the port's commissioners Thursday. Ty Beaver/Tri-City Herald
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The busiest airport in the world is about to get a whole lot better -- The world's busiest airport is about to get some much needed improvements to its domestic terminal. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, home base of Delta Air Lines, already has some pretty impressive features. Like a club owned by Jay-Z. And arguably more important - an average of 8.1 outlets per gate. Yet, the domestic terminal has remained in roughly the same state since it opened its doors in 1980. Graham Rapier/Business Insider
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Atlanta creating development plan for thousands of acres of airport property -- Atlanta plans to create a "development and action plan" for hundreds of acres it owns around the Atlanta airport and thousands of acres it owns in Dawson and Paulding counties. The city owns about 500 acres around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, about 10,000 acres in Dawson County north of Atlanta, and about 9,400 acres in Paulding County, west of Atlanta. David Allison/Atlanta Business Chronicle
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Dubai Airports CEO: Building huge new airports does not guarantee an improved passenger experience -- The Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Airports is perhaps the last person you would expect to say that building huge airports is not necessarily in the best interests of passengers. After all, Dubai World Central is the site of the new Al Maktoum International Airport, which over the course of the next eight years will see annual passenger capacity increased to in excess of 100 million, and the ultimate long-term ambition is for the airport to be able to handle as many as 240 million passengers per year. Ryan Ghee/Future Travel Experience
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Airportrs.com gets travelers to center of the action in 40 cities -- Before you jump into the airport taxi line, check out your other options. Name: airportrs.com What it does: Displays the most pertinent transportation options and costs for getting from the airport to the city center in 40 metropolitan cities around the globe. What's hot: It does an important task simply and well. The home screen displays a grid of airport codes listed alphabetically. Click on the relevant code and you're taken to a page with a list of transportation options. Jen Leo/Los Angeles Times
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Airlines, travel groups praise gay marriage ruling -- The skies just got a little friendlier. Travel organizations welcomed the Supreme Court's decision Friday that the 14th Amendment guarantees the right of same-sex couples to marry. American, Delta and United airlines had filed arguments with the court supporting gay marriage for what they said would be a more inclusive workplace. "Today's historic ruling is a long-awaited victory for all those who chose to take a stand for marriage equality, and we applaud the Supreme Court for affording same-sex couples the respect and dignity they deserve under the law," United said in a statement. Bart Jansen/USA Today
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United Airlines to pay $100 million for Azul stake, for foothold in Brazil -- United Airlines has agreed to pay $100 million for a 5 percent stake in Azul SA, Brazil's third-biggest airline, as it attempts to catch up with U.S. rivals with more established ties in South America's biggest air travel market. Azul's founder and chief executive, David Neeleman, who also founded JetBlue Airways Corp, announced the deal on Friday in Sao Paulo. Priscila Jordao & Jeffrey Dastin/Reuters
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JetBlue's balancing act: Keeping fliers and shareholders happy -- JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes stepped into his new job five months ago tasked with delivering value to passengers and the carrier's shareholders at the same time. One of the biggest tests of that delicate balance may come by the end of June. That's when JetBlue, among the last U.S. carriers to allow passengers to check a bag for free, is expected to shift to a new, tiered-fare structure that will mean for the first time, fliers who check luggage pay more than those who don't. Charisse Jones/USA Today
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The man who saved Southwest Airlines with a '10-minute' idea -- The early 1970s were a turbulent time for a little startup called Southwest Airlines. The company had a tiny fleet of just four airplanes that flew to three destinations - all of which were in Texas. But by 1972, Southwest had already posted a net loss of $1.6 million, and the company was forced to sell one of its planes. "They were not yet a year old. They were consistently losing money. They were constantly scrambling to see what they could do to save cost or boost revenues," says Terry Maxon, the aviation reporter at The Dallas Morning News. Daniel Hajek/NPR Bonus: 1982 Southwest 10-Minute Turn TV Commercial
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For onboard Wi-Fi, not all airlines are equal -- Nothing ruins an otherwise productive workday like the hours of dead time on a plane without Wi-Fi. Onboard Internet is an engineering marvel-it's either beamed up to a plane's belly (or side) from hundreds of ground towers or bounced off a handful of satellites from above. But as most business travelers have experienced, it's hard to get the kind of speeds that most people take for granted on the ground, and access is often expensive. Mark Fahey/NBC News
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FAA releases recordings from Hawaiian Airlines emergency landing -- Last month, Hawaiian Airlines Flight 24 was heading to Oakland, Calif. when fumes filled the cabin. The incident prompted the flight to return to Maui and inflate its emergency slides. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration released traffic control recordings from the flight, allowing us to hear for the first time what went on inside the cockpit. Hawaiian Airlines determined that the odor originated from the plane's cabin cooling system and was not a safety-of-flight issue. KHON-TV Honolulu
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Female airline pilots wish more women would join them -- It's a career above the clouds, a sky full of opportunity. So America's female airline pilots have one question: Why aren't there more of us? "There have been women airline pilots for decades. But it is not a warm and fuzzy profession," says Karen Guadagni, 49, of St. Joseph, who is a captain for ExpressJet on flights for United and Delta airlines. In her 14 years as a pilot, Guadagni estimates that she has been paired with another woman only about 20 times on the flight deck. Ellen Creager/Detroit Free Press
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Lightning strikes airport passenger in Columbia, S.C. -- Lightning struck a passenger who was getting off a plane Saturday at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, where a flight had been diverted because of bad weather. The woman, whose name was not available Sunday morning, was hospitalized in the Columbia area and in stable condition Saturday night, an airport spokeswoman said. The American Airlines flight had been on its way from Hartford, Conn. to Charlotte, but was diverted to Columbia due to the weather in Charlotte. Sammy Fretwell/Charlotte Observer
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DFW-bound flight diverted to non-commercial airport -- A Delta flight from Laguardia Airport in New York to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was diverted to a non-commercial airport in Greenville, Texas, Friday night after running low on fuel as storms blew in to North Texas. "When we got close - within 15 minutes of DFW - the severe weather hit and we were asked to divert," passenger Jeanette Jones told News 8. Delta Flight 7306 departed New York at 3:56 p.m. locally and landed at Majors Airport at 7:21 p.m. Friday after the small airport had closed for the day. WFAA-TV Dallas
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Disneyland and Disney World are banning the selfie stick -- If you want a picture with Mickey and Minnie, you might have to ask someone else to take it. Disneyland and Disney World have banned selfie sticks starting Tuesday, due to safety concerns. "We strive to provide a great experience for the entire family, and unfortunately selfie sticks have become a growing safety concern for both our guests and cast," Suzi Brown, a spokeswoman for Disneyland Resort, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. Rene Lynch/Los Angeles Times
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11 coolest airport hotels around the world -- Remember when staying at an airport hotel meant cookie-cutter design, a downer continental breakfast and bad pay-per-view movies? Forget all that. A new breed of properties is changing the art of the layover, thanks to ultra-luxe amenities, cutting-edge tech, killer design and top-notch food. You may even push that flight another day. Custom Hotel, LAX: A chill L.A. vibe permeates this chic boutique hotel ,where stylish guests lounge in poolside cabanas or hang out at the hotel's American bistro. Jetsetter.com
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Music acts are coming to Marriott hotels to attract millennials -- Hotel lobbies are fast converting from a place to pick up and drop off a room key to a public living room, where guests hang out to enjoy snacks, drinks and listen to music. Several small hotel brands, including Aloft, have turned their lobbies into small concert venues for local and lesser-known musical acts. Marriott International, one of the world's biggest hotel companies, is taking this idea a step further by partnering with Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, to arrange performances in hotel lobbies by established and emerging musicians. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times
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TSA may soon answer your questions via social media -- The TSA may be ready to talk to you now. The Transportation Security Administration, following the lead of several major airlines, is considering a plan to respond directly to questions and comments from travelers, via Twitter. The agency that was formed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks sent out a solicitation last week for a business to help the TSA create a web-based system that lets a team of ten employees respond to Twitter posts aimed at the agency. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times
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If Boston stumbles in 2024 Olympics bid, L.A. could be asked to step in -- Five months have passed since Boston defeated Los Angeles in a close race to represent the U.S. in bidding for the 2024 Summer Olympics. It has been a difficult stretch for organizers in the Massachusetts capital, who have faced persistent opposition and watched public support dip below 40% amid concerns about the cost of the Games. The bid committee has reshuffled its leadership and promised a revamped master plan on Tuesday. The clock is ticking. David Wharton/Los Angeles Times
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Airport to hold special rideshare session -- The last remaining roadblocks obstructing Uber and Lyft pickups at San Diego International Airport could be removed sooner than expected. A special Airport Authority board meeting has been scheduled for July 1 at 2:30 p.m. to rehear a motion that failed to pass at Thursday's regularly scheduled meeting. The motion, which pertains to requirements for commercial vehicle driver permits, has important implications for the city's two largest rideshare companies, or transportation network companies (TNC) as they're called in California. Jennifer Van Grove/San Diego Union-Tribune
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Ride-hailing services revving up again -- After a thwarted launch last year and four months of intense lobbying at the Nevada Legislature, Uber now can legally operate its ride-hailing service in Nevada, thanks to a pair of laws signed last month by Gov. Brian Sandoval. But don't pull out your smartphone and download the app just yet. Before Uber drivers can start giving rides to valley residents, even more rules will need to be written, this time by the Nevada Transportation Authority. Conor Shine/Las Vegas Sun
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Parks and LaBonge, on their way out, are a contrast in styles -- Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard C. Parks marked the end of his legislative career miles from City Hall, clutching a jackhammer as it pulverized a broken sidewalk near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Parks managed to rip into the city bureaucracy at the same time, saying L.A. officials had failed to spend money put aside for sidewalk repair. Too often, he said, officials have been unwilling to hire less-expensive contractors to get the work done. That same week, Councilman Tom LaBonge had a far more sentimental send-off, reaching for the tissues at a tearful two-hour farewell on the council floor. His colleagues praised him as "Mr. L.A.," then called for an intersection in Los Feliz to be named in his honor. David Zahniser/Los Angeles Times
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David Ryu, L.A.'s first Korean American City Council member, is sworn in -- David Ryu, the Los Angeles City Council's first Korean American member, was officially sworn in Sunday during a ceremony on the south lawn of City Hall. Flanked by his parents, Ryu, 39, took the oath of office administered by former Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, who he once worked for as an aide. Matt Hamilton/Los Angeles Times
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City of L.A. slow to repair sidewalks despite complaints and injuries -- Los Angeles' crumbling sidewalks long have symbolized the challenges facing pedestrians in this car-dominated city. After years of hearing complaints about sidewalks made impassable by cracks, buckles and bulging tree roots, officials recently announced plans to spend nearly $1.4 billion on an ambitious, 30-year repair campaign. But figuring out which sidewalks to fix is proving a major challenge. Ben Poston & Ryan Menezes/Los Angeles Times
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New digital billboard laws set for consideration in Los Angeles -- Comstock Hills Homeowners Association president Jan Reichmann was elated two years ago when the digital billboards in her Westside neighborhood went dark, the result of a judge's order to shut down the blinking displays. Now, digital signs may be returning to Los Angeles. Sparking a new round of debate about where to place digital displays in Los Angeles, a City Hall panel on Tuesday will consider a new law. At issue is whether to limit the billboards to special "districts" or allow them throughout the city via a special permit. Dakota Smith/Los Angeles Daily News LA Times Editorial: How not to regulate billboards in L.A.
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Last-minute changes tweaked focus of Garcetti's Washington trip, he says -- White House meetings that Mayor Eric Garcetti cited as his primary reason for leaving Los Angeles amid demonstrations over a police shooting of a mentally ill black man were a last-minute addition to his itinerary for a campaign fundraising trip, the mayor's office acknowledged. Peter Jamison/Los Angeles Times
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L.A. council members look to tighten gun safety measures -- Los Angeles lawmakers have been mulling new rules that would require residents to lock up their handguns or disable them with a trigger lock when they are not being used. But the plan, championed by Councilman Paul Krekorian as a way to spare children from deadly accidents, has spurred unexpected opposition from the city police officers' union, which argues that retired officers shouldn't be held to those rules. Emily Alpert Reyes/Los Angeles Times
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