LAX Modernization is On the Wrong Track

I’ve been critical of LAX overspending on terminal projects to make them architecturally significant before, and this week the airport has effectively confirmed that they’re happy with this misguided strategy. California Home and Design magazine has stated that the LAX Bradley expansion project is one of the “ten most promising future projects of California architecture.” That’s a problem.

Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of LAWA, the organization that operates LAX, said “This distinction proclaims that we are on the right track in terms of modernizing LAX, dramatically enhancing the passenger experience and re-establishing the airport as a modern U.S. gateway in a competitive global market.” I couldn’t disagree more.

Were LAWA able to make a statement by keeping costs to a minimum, then I wouldn’t have a problem. But this multi-billion dollar project is far more expensive than it needs to be to gain the same improvements in functionality that are being targeted. It’s no coincidence that earlier this week, IATA sent a letter to LAX on behalf of the carriers operating at the airport asking that the airport pay closer attention to lowering project costs.

Despite the claims of LAWA officials, IATA regional VP Douglas Lavin said it best. “Building an iconic gateway at this time is simply unnecessary and unaffordable to airlines and their passengers. It will threaten the competitive position of Los Angeles as an international destination for cargo business and personal travel.”

Amen. It’s just too bad that LAWA continues to ignore these warnings for the sake of making this project an important architectural landmark. It will mean lost flights and passengers when operating costs inevitably rise to pay for this.