Delta’s move to Terminals 2 and 3 at LAX will give it 23 gates- Delta’s old home at T5 in background. (Image: Delta)
When Delta announced plans last year to move its operations at Los Angeles International Airport, it didn’t say exactly when that would happen. Now it seems that massive relocation is coming very soon.
Los Angeles World Airports said May 12 is the date when Delta will begin to move from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3 – forcing the simultaneous relocation of several other airlines already using those two terminals.
The full process, expected to take at least five days (from May 12 to 17), is being called the biggest relocation project in LAX’s history. And all the affected airlines are expected to maintain regular operations during the mega-move. The move will only add to the mess created by other ongoing renovations and construction work at LAX.
“The moves will take place the nights of May 12, 14 and 16. Each airline will complete its relocation overnight, and start their operations in their new location the following morning,” the airport authority said. Delta noted that during the moving period, it will be operating flights from all four affected terminals, so it plans to maintain “constant communications” with customers regarding gate locations through its app, texts and emails.
The most noticeable improvement for Delta customers will be the new location that’s closer to the LAX entrance for faster and easier access into and out of the airport. More gates means your plane is less likely to have to wait for a one upon arrival. Plus Delta will now be located closer to its partner airlines and TBIT for easier connections. And there’ll be a Shake Shack (!).
Here’s a map of all airline locations at LAX as of May 17 when the move will be complete.
The overall layout of LAX terminals- Delta moving from T5 to T2-T-3. (Image: Los Angeles International Airport)
Not all the carriers currently in T2 and T3 will relocate. Delta’s rationale for the move is to position itself in the same terminals as its partner airlines to enable seamless connections. So Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico and WestJet will remain in T2 and T3. Delta owns substantial equity stakes on Aeromexico and Virgin Atlantic.
Airlines currently using T2 and T3 that will have to move out include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Avianca, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Air, Interjet, Qatar Airways, Sun Country, Thomas Cook, Volaris, XL Airways France, Allegiant Air, Boutique Air, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, and Virgin America. They are expected mostly to move to the vacated space in T5 and T6.
Related: Burbank loses Hope but gains flights
And Delta’s relocation is only the beginning of a four-year, $1.9 billion renovation and reconstruction project that will remake T2 and T3. The work will also include construction of a post-security connector from T3 to the north side of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, for easier connections to Delta’s other international partners like Air France-KLM, Alitalia, China Eastern, China Southern, Korean and Virgin Australia. Until the connector is built, an airside bus will link Terminals 2, 3 and the Bradley Terminal, Delta said.
Renovation and reconstruction of T2 and T3 is expected to take four years. (Image: Delta)
Delta said that after the terminal overhauls are finished, its customers will see new Delta Sky Clubs in both terminals, a private check-in lounge for Delta One travelers, expedited check-in services for its Delta Shuttle flights, and an integrated in-line baggage system.
“We don’t take lightly the responsibility of caring for our customers and employees before, during and after the move,” said Delta’s Ranjan Goswami, “A relocation of this scale is unprecedented, so we’re putting all our resources into planning, preparing, communicating and executing this move as flawlessly as possible.”
Los Angeles World Airports said it will post updates on the moves at http://www.laxishappening.com/relocation.aspx. Travelers can also keep tabs on the process on social media with the hashtag #LAXontheMove, on Twitter @flyLAXairport and @LAAirportPD, on Facebook at LAInternationalAirport, and Instagram at flylaxairport.
“During the relocation and in the weeks following, passengers are advised to check-in online, print boarding passes, and check terminal and gate information before coming to LAX,” the airport authority said. “They should also arrive to the airport earlier than normal. Once at LAX, passengers should check flight and gate status on flight information display boards in each terminal to ensure they are in the correct location.”
Or, you could just plan on using Burbank, Orange County, Santa Barbara, Ontario or Long Beach airports in the meantime to avoid the kerfuffle.
What do you think of LAX and this big game of musical terminals? Please leave your comments below.
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Ahhh! Ok, my bad. I didn’t notice that part when I originally read the comment. I definitely agree with what you’re saying now after going back and reading it again 🙂
Ya. I know that. But he said “avoid LAX for international connections”. If you are making a connection at LAX, you DON’T check in there. So it doesn’t matter where they put the check in counters, does it? They could move all the check in counters to a remote stand 40 miles away from the airport. Won’t make ANY difference at all to people who are connecting at LAX
I think what BlueLion meant is how several airlines will now be set up where check-in is one terminal but u depart/ arrive at another terminal. Here are the airlines that will be operating that way: Pax flying on G4, F9, or SY check in st T6 but all flights depart/arrive out of T5. Pax on AV, CM or K8, check-in at T3 and depart/arrive at TBIT. And finally, VA and Y4 check-in at T2 and depart/arrive at TBIT.
Fixed. Thanks
A Shack Shack? I’m down!
What? If you’re making a connection at LAX, then you won’t be checking in at LAX. You will do that at your originating point. So you have nothing to worry about
Checking in at one terminal and going to another to catch your plane..perfect. One reason to avoid LAX for international connections if all possible.
according to a response from the airport in response to an Facebook comment I posted they are talking 2023.
I agree, gonna be nice long term. The mess will last a while tho, until they build the walkways between T2, T3 and TBIT
Good stuff. What is the timeline for finishing this and will it coincide with construction of the train system that will finally liberate us from the gridlock traffic on the main roadway?
Oh my. Not to throw a fly in the ointment but it could take forever to get to the rental cars from that side of the terminal as you have to loop around. Hotel shuttle too.
THIS IS SO EXCITING. It was nice once they finished the SkyClub in T5, but that’s not big enough and that terminal is pretty lacking. I’m just grateful that they’re doing this now. I can deal with the mess for a while longer.