First New Gates Built Since Early 1980s

For the first time nearly 30 years, Los Angeles International Airport will be gaining some new gates - 10 to be exact.

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously for the new gates on Wednesday in a reported effort to not only accommodate new jets coming on the market, such as Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A380, but also to remain competitive with other city airports, according to the LA Times.

All 10 of the new gates will be able to handle widebody jets. The price tag for the project is expected to run in the neighborhood of $1.2 billion.

Improvements already underway at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, a project costing $723.5 million, will allow for two gates to handle the larger jets as well.

"Many of the airlines are buying the larger planes and were looking to go to other airports" able to accommodate them, City Councilwoman Janice Hahn said. "This sends a message to the airline industry that we want a world-class airport."

The council is quite interested in potential revenue to the city that stands to be produced through such an expansion - from tourism and airline fees.

The Times reports the new gates will be located west of the Bradley terminal on an area that currently houses hangars. There will be an underground transportation system to get people to and from terminal.

Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, told the city council the new structure should be completed by 2012 and would be paid for by airline usage fees.

LAX has remote buildings with gates already in use, but passengers have to be bused to the infrequently used facilities. Airlines have expressed their dislike of putting passengers fresh from an overseas flight onto a crowded bus.

The city of Los Angeles has struggled for years to form a solid, comprehensive master plan for its airport. The last proposal was blown apart by a lawsuit filed by nearby residents on the 'more-airport-means-more-noise' premise.

FMI: www.lawa.org