LOS ANGELES - Delta unveiled a three-year, $229-million refurbishment of Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday with a media event hosted by company President Ed Bastian; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports; and Ranjan Goswami, Delta's V.P.–Global Sales-West Region.
“We’re fast on our way to becoming the airline of choice in Los Angeles by understanding what moves L.A. – its most prominent industries, its most desired destinations, and its discerning customers’ required amenities for travel," said Bastian in a release. “Our investments in T5 now offer Angelenos a more premium airport experience from check-in to take-off. Many thanks to our Los Angeles-based employees for their hard work and great attitude over the course of this massive construction project. Our people and our customers really made the difference.”
Other enhancements to the terminal, which have been completed in phases over the past few years, include new jet bridges; an expanded ticketing lobby and four additional security screening checkpoints; a renovated Sky Priority lobby; an updated Delta Sky Club; new baggage carousels and international baggage recheck facilities; and a new food and beverage program featuring local favorites.
The recent suite of enhancements to T5 marks the completion of a considerable investment at LAX as Delta continues to build its network in this global gateway.
Delta’s seat growth in Los Angeles has grown more than 100 percent since 2009, the most of any other carrier. The airline has also significantly expanded its Los Angeles network over the past year with service to new destinations, including Shanghai, China – which launches July 9 – and an increased number of flights to destinations it already serves, including New York-JFK, to which Delta will add a ninth daily nonstop flight from LAX in August.
“I can’t thank our LAX team enough for the incredible job they have done taking care of our customers day in and day out over the past three years of this incredible T5 renovation,” said Tony Klekas, Director–Airport Operations-LAX. “Despite the construction in the terminal, and the exponential growth our station has gone through over the past three years, customer feedback has clearly shown that the LAX team has risen to the challenge, delivering year-over year improvements in several of our customer service scores. The new Terminal 5 is by far the best terminal at LAX, and is another milestone in Delta’s goal to become the preferred airline in Los Angeles.”
Alongside its airport investments, Delta has made it a priority to build a presence in Los Angeles by partnering with many key community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles, The Motion Picture and Television Fund, Junior Achievement Southern California, Covenant House California, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, LA Regional Food Bank, KaBOOM! and AIDS Walk Los Angeles.
Delta has also innovated on the Sales and Marketing front in the region by teaming up with partner United Talent Agency earlier this year to organize invite-only Delta Festival Shuttle flights to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and to SXSW Interactive in Austin, Tex. These efforts successfully engaged key influencers in the L.A. business community.
In coordination with the completed T5 enhancements, Delta is launching a new integrated Marketing campaign customized to Los Angeles -- dubbed “LAX to LUX”-- to show Los Angeles travelers how Delta’s thoughtful investments, touches of luxury and attention to detail are setting a new standard for customers traveling in and out of LAX. At the digital hub, customers can learn more about Delta’s premium offerings in LAX from curb to claim.
