(Los Angeles) With the busy summer travel season in full swing, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) expects as many as 115,000 departing passengers per day during the Independence Day weekend. With parking structures already filling to capacity, guests are encouraged to plan ahead for parking and pickup well in advance this year.

"We expect the Independence Day holiday weekend to be the busiest we've had in more than two years, and we want to make sure our guests know about the tools available that can make every part of their journey easier and faster," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). "Spending just a few minutes online to check traffic conditions, pre-book parking and review any recent communications from your airline can ensure you have a great start or end to your summer vacation."

Passenger traffic at LAX is expected to increase as much as 37% compared with last year's Independence Day weekend, which averaged 84,000 passengers per day through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening areas from July 1-5. The number of departing guests is expected to see peaks of between 100,000 and 115,000 passengers per day on Thursday, June 30, through Saturday, July 2, as well as for the Tuesday and Wednesday following the holiday. Between 87,000 and 90,000 passengers are expected to depart on Sunday, July 3, and Monday, July 4. The following weekend, Saturday, July 9 to Monday, July 11, also is expected to be busy.

Vehicle traffic in the Central Terminal Area also is expected to continue increasing, with an estimated average of up to 95,000 vehicles per day during the travel period. People driving to the airport are encouraged to check real-time traffic and drive times using the LAX automated Twitter account @FlyLAXstats.

Parking facilities are expected to fill up quickly, and most Central Terminal Area garages are anticipated to be at capacity through the holiday period. Travelers are highly encouraged to book a parking space at the LAX Economy Parking facility using parking.flylax.com. The LAX Economy Parking facility offers 4,300 spaces and provides a 24-hour fast and free shuttle to the terminals using a dedicated shuttle lane that avoids other terminal traffic. Reserving a space ahead of time is the only way to guarantee a parking spot, and online reservations offer the best daily rates available. Reserving a space also means that guests will not be circling roadways looking for parking when garages are filled, further backing up traffic and creating a stressful travel experience for all involved.

Guests can also save time by ordering from concessions by their smartphones using LAX Order Now. This service allows LAX guests to browse, order, pay for and pickup food from any of the airport's terminals using an online order system. Delivery service to the gates is now available inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the West Gates at Tom Bradley. Remember, guests can remove face coverings to eat or drink, but must put them back on when finished. Click here to learn more about this service.

Guests are also encouraged to check with their airline for possible itinerary changes before beginning their trip to the airport, and should arrive at least two hours before departing domestic flights or three hours before international flights. 

All guests traveling through LAX ages 2 and older are required to continue wearing masks in all terminals in accordance with the Health Officer Order issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

LAX remains under heavy construction as part of its $15-billion modernization, which includes an Automated People Mover train, a Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility and modernizing every terminal. When coming to LAX, passengers should look for and follow wayfinding signage near all construction sites to ensure their safety and to enhance mobility. Be prepared to drive slowly and with caution around work zones.

Due to construction at Terminal 2, access to Terminals 2 and 3 is currently through the new Terminal 3 headhouse, which includes a ticketing lobby and baggage claim area as well as a consolidated security checkpoint.

• Check parking options ahead of time. Real-time parking availability within the Central Terminal Area parking structures is available here. Parking structures can fill up at any time, so be aware of LAX Economy Parking and other off-airport private lots as alternatives. Stops for off-airport parking lot shuttles are located on the Upper/Departures Level, and are identified by red curbside pillars.
  
  
• Parking and traffic updates are available 24/7 via the automated @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed.
  
  
• Consider alternative ground transportation
  
  • FlyAway® bus service is available to and from Union Station and Van Nuys, with parking available at both locations. Fares are $9.75 one way. For pick-up at LAX, the FlyAway buses make use of dedicated inner lanes on the Lower/Arrivals Level. For more information on FlyAway, including a real-time bus tracker, visit www.LAXFlyAway.org.
    
    
  • Municipal buses are available from LA Metro, Beach Cities Transit, Culver City, Santa Monica (Big Blue Bus) and Torrance.
    
    
  • LAX also offers the free LAX Metro Connector Shuttle to and from the Aviation/LAX Metro Station, which serves the LA Metro C (Green) Line (light rail) at Imperial Highway and Aviation Boulevard. Read more on our website.
    
    
  • Guests who are leaving LAX via taxi or ride app vehicles (e.g., Uber, Lyft) can walk to the LAX-it lot located at 9610 Sky Way, across from Terminal 1, or take one of the LAX-it shuttles from stops located on the Lower/Arrivals Level. At the LAX-it lot, guests will find taxis as well as ride app vehicles. Taxis are also available on the lower level of Parking Structure 3 and east of Terminal 7 on the Lower/Arrivals Level. Taxis and ride app vehicles drop off departing guests at the terminals.

• Check in online with your airline before you leave for the airport. This prevents the need to interact with a check-in kiosk. If you are traveling without checked luggage, you can skip the ticket counters entirely this way.
  
  
• Picking someone up? Curbside pickup and drop-off is permitted on the Upper/Departures and Lower/Arrivals levels. All parking structures are free for the first 15 minutes, and the Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal) pickup area is also free to use. To access the Terminal B pickup area, use the second entrance to Parking Structure 3 from World Way North on the Lower/Arrivals Level. This area is for passenger loading only with no parking allowed.
  
  
• To help speed their journeys, travelers are encouraged to enroll in the Transportation Security Administration's Pre√® (Pre-Check) or other trusted-traveler programs, such as U.S. Customs & Border Protection's Global Entry and Mobile Passport, which improve security and reduce wait times.
  
  
• Know the rules. Many destinations still have COVID-19 related travel restrictions or rules for visitors. Knowing the current rules for your destination is essential. Contact your destination's government for its most up-to-date requirements for arriving and departing, and visit travel.state.gov to read advisory sheets for each country.
• Wear a face mask at all times at LAX. Face masks remain required under the County Health Order for everyone over age 2 at LAX, even those who are fully vaccinated.
  
  
• COVID-19 tests are available for purchase at the lab across from Terminal 6. Make an appointment online or visit www.FlyLAX.com/TravelSafely for more information.