LAX debuts one of the ‘crown jewels’ of modernization effort

The $1.73 billion West Gates building at LAX, which is adjacent to the Tom Bradley International Terminal and capable of serving up to 15 aircraft — both international and domestic — had its official grand opening Monday with a host of local dignitaries in attendance.

The 750,000-square-foot complex is part of an overall $14.5 billion modernization effort at Los Angeles International Airport, which began in early 2017. The five-level building, which Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday called one of the “crown jewels” of the modernization effort, connects to the international terminal with a 1,000-foot tunnel equipped with moving walkways. Travelers enter the building through a grand hall and multilevel atrium.

“This is a big day in a big city that’s building

out a big new infrastructure,” Garcetti said at the opening ceremony. “We have for the last eight years, from transit to the port to the airport to our roads, been building a new city. And this airport reflects that.”

The West Gates complex includes shopping and dining, along with work counters and charging stations, three children’s play areas, touchscreen kiosks, pet relief areas and gallery space. It also includes a baggage-handling and boarding system billed as the most advanced of any airport in the country.

“This is very clearly, as you look at it, a sign of a world-class airport,” City Councilman Mike Bonin said.

“A decade ago you would have had a hard time imagining somebody saying something complimentary about their experience at LAX,” he added. “You know, this is a new LAX.”

Garcetti hailed the work of the construction crews who brought the building to life and have been overhauling the rest of the airport, which includes building or renovating 10 terminals and concourses.

“We’ve essentially built a new airport,” Garcetti said, “while we were running one of the busiest airports in the world.”

“This is very clearly, as you look at it, a sign of a world-class airport.” — Mike Bonin, Los Angeles city councilman

PHOTOS BY ASHLEY LANDIS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS An automated storage and retrieval baggage handling system uses plastic trays with radio-frequency tags to track and store passengers’ bags at the new West Gates complex at LAX.

A chandelier hangs behind interactive kiosks at the new West Gates complex, which includes shopping and dining, children’s play areas, pet relief areas and gallery space.