World City Guide

Getting There By Air

Note that all airports are non-smoking facilities. Though confirmation is not mandatory, it is always a good idea to check flight departure times before leaving for the airport.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Tel: (310) 646 5252.
Website: www.lawa.org

Located on Santa Monica Bay, 24km (15 miles) from the city centre, LAX is the world’s fifth-busiest airport in the world, handling almost 55 million passengers in 2003. It is particularly important as the US gateway to the Pacific.

Major airlines: Los Angeles is served by 78 major airlines. United Airlines (tel: (800) 241 6522; website: www.united.com) and American Airlines (tel: (800) 433 730; website: http://aa.com) connects Los Angeles to all the major US cities, including daily flights to New York and Chicago. Other major US carriers include Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest Airlines Ted and US Airways. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate daily flights to London, as does Lufthansa to Munich. Other international airlines with regular services include Air Canada, Air France, Air New Zealand, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Airlines, Qantas and Singapore. Smaller airlines such as AirTran, Alaska, and Hawaiian Air Lines also depart from LAX.

Airport facilities: Facilities include foreign exchange and banking services, ATMs, baggage storage, medical and first aid, language assistance and a variety of shops and restaurants. Visitor information booths are located outside the main arrivals building, where staff can advise visitors as to the best route to their destination within the city. Car hire is available from all the major operators, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty, as well as many local operators.

Business facilities: Business services, including notary, fax, photocopying and moneygrams, are available at the ICE Currency Exchange Booth. Travel Right Cafe in Terminal 4 Departure Level and Neptune Networks kiosks provide Internet access and public telephone throughout the airport offer Internet data port access. Centres are located in Terminals 3, 7, 8 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Transport to the city: Taxis can be found at the lower level. Passengers are presented with a ticket stating typical fares to major destinations. The taxi fare from the airport to Downtown Los Angeles is approximately US$38. Several private shuttle services will drop airport passengers at the door of their hotel or other destinations. These include Super Shuttle (tel: (310) 782 6600, 323 775 6600, (562) 498 6670, (213) 688 0444 or (800) 258 3826; website: www.supershuttle.com), Xpress Shuttle (tel: (310) 323 7222 or (800) 427 7483; website: www.xpressshuttle.com) and Prime Time Shuttle (tel: (800) 733 8267 or (310) 342 7200; website: www.primetimeshuttle.com). Charges are reasonable, starting from US$13-22, depending on the destination.

A free shuttle bus runs between terminals and from the airport to Parking Lot C, where passengers can connect with MTA (tel: (800) COMMUTE/266 6883; website: www.mta.net) buses, which run to most places in the city. There is also a free shuttle to Aviation Station on the MTA Metro Green Line. Pick-up is on the lower arrival level under the LAX Shuttle sign. Bus and rail fares into the city are US$1.25.

Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Tel: (909) 937 2700.
Website: www.lawa.org

Located 56km (35 miles) east of Downtown Los Angeles, Ontario International is the city’s newest airport (opened 1998) and served over 6.5 million passengers in 2003. It handles international and domestic flights and is the closest airport for the heavily settled Orange County.

Major airlines: Among the 13 major airlines serving Ontario Airport are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, America West, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, TWA, United/Ted and United Express.

Airport facilities: Facilities include information kiosks, ATMs, foreign exchange, and a variety of shops and restaurants. Car hire is available from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National.

Business facilities: The business centres have fax service, telephones, Internet ports, mail box/postage vending machines, travel insurance services, money wires and notary public. They are located in the upper level of both terminals.

Transport to the city: Taxis and several shuttle bus services (see above under LAX) provide transportation throughout the region.

Bob Hope Airport (Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport) (BUR)
Tel: (818) 840 8840.
Website: www.burbankairport.com

Bob Hope Airport is served by six domestic airlines only, serving some 5 million passengers annually. It is the closest airport to Downtown LA (20km/13 miles away), Hollywood and the Valley.

Major airlines: Alaska Airlines, Aloha Airlines, American Airlines, America West, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all provide regular services to Burbank Airport.

Airport facilities: Facilities include shops and restaurants, ATMs and tourist information. Car hire is provided by Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and National.

Business facilities: None.

Transport to the city: Metrolink (Monday to Friday only), MTA Bus lines and Amtrak (see Rail) have nearby stations at Burbank and there are free connecting shuttles to/from the airport. The airport is also connected by many MTA bus lines. Taxis are readily available.

John Wayne Airport (Santa Ana, Orange County)
Tel: (949) 252 5200.
Website: www.ocair.com

Located approximately 67km (42 miles) south of downtown Los Angeles, John Wayne Airport served 8.5 million travellers in 2003. Eleven domestic airlines use this passenger-friendly airport.

Major airlines: Aloha, Alaska, American, America West, America West Express (Mesa), Continental, Delta, Frontier, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest and United provide regular service.

Airport facilities: Facilities include shops and restaurants, ATMs and tourist information. On-site car hire is provided by Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Business facilities: None.

Transport to the city: Taxis, limousine and shuttles (see LAX) provide service to the city.

Approximate flight times to Los Angeles: From London is 10 hours 15 minutes; from New York is 5 hours 20 minutes; from Chicago is approximately 4 hours; from Toronto is 5 hours 30 minutes and from Sydney is 14 hours on non-stop flights.

Arrival/departure tax: All arrival/departure taxes are paid upon purchase of ticket.