Passenger Traffic at Los Angeles County Airports Shows Mixed Performance in February

In February, the four airports serving Los Angeles County saw a slight increase of 0. 6% in passenger traffic compared to the same month last year, with a total of just over 6 million passengers passing through their gates.

Mixed Performance Among Airports

The performance among the four airports was mixed, with two airports, Los Angeles International and Ontario International, experiencing increases in passenger tallies of 0. 9% and 6. 3% respectively. The other two airports, Hollywood Burbank and Long Beach, saw drops of 6. 5% and 3. 1% respectively.

Factors Affecting Passenger Traffic

The passenger traffic in February was impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires, which caused some tourists to postpone trips or choose other destinations. Additionally, the partial government shutdown at the beginning of the year, which affected the parent agency of the Transportation Security Administration, caused delays at airports across the nation. The shortage of TSA agents became more acute in March, and airfares also soared due to the U. S. and Israel’s joint attack on Iran and the resulting closure of the Persian Gulf. It remains to be seen how much of an impact these factors will have on the March passenger numbers.

Significant Cargo Tonnage Increase

In contrast to the passenger traffic, air cargo tonnage showed a significant increase of approximately 10% in February at both LAX and Ontario airports.

Ontario’s Impressive Performance

Among the two airports with positive performance, Ontario International stood out with a 6. 4% increase in passenger traffic in February compared to the same month last year. This was primarily driven by a remarkable 55% gain in international passengers, while domestic passenger traffic grew by a more modest 2%. According to Ontario airport authorities, this increase can be attributed in part to the airport’s stepped-up marketing efforts since its return to local control in 2016.

LAX Shows a Reversal in Trend

While Ontario had a bigger percentage increase, the 0. 6% increase in passenger traffic at LAX appears to signal a reversal in trend for the airport. Throughout 2020, LAX experienced a year-over-year decrease in passenger traffic for every month, leaving the airport about 18% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels. However, in February, both domestic and international passenger traffic showed gains of approximately 1% compared to the same month last year.

Decrease in Passenger Traffic at Hollywood Burbank and Long Beach

On the other hand, Hollywood Burbank and Long Beach airports both experienced a decrease in passenger traffic, with Hollywood Burbank recording a bigger drop of 6. 5%. This was mainly due to the restructuring of two airlines, Spirit Airlines Inc.and Avelo Airlines Inc., which resulted in the loss of thousands of passengers each month.

Brighter Outlook for Hollywood Burbank

However, the situation is expected to