Airports

Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX) is the largest and busiest airport in both the Greater Los Angeles Area and in the state of California, the second busiest airport in the United States, and one of the largest international airports in the world. It is the only airport in the world to serve as a hub for five major airlines.^{[citation needed]} The airport is most often referred to by its IATA airport code (and FAA LID) LAX, with the letters pronounced individually.

LAX is in the southwestern Los Angeles area along the Pacific Ocean between the neighborhood of Westchester to its immediate north, the city of El Segundo to its immediate south and the city of Inglewood its immediate east. It is owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, an agency of the government of Los Angeles, formerly known as the Department of Airports.

As the largest and busiest international airport on the U.S. West Coast, LAX is a major gateway to and from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania. With its deep connections to Asia and Latin America in particular, LAX is also considered to be the premier gateway to the Pacific Rim

In 2016, LAX handled 80,921,527 passengers, an increase of 8% from the previous year, making it the world's fourth busiest airport by passenger traffic, and country's second busiest overall after Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. The airport holds the claim for "the world's busiest origin and destination (O & D) airport," and has for many years. Relative to other airports, many more travelers begin or end their trips in Los Angeles than use it as a connection. The airport also was the world's third busiest by aircraft movements. It is also the only airport to rank among the top five U.S. airports for both passenger and cargo traffic. LAX serves as a hub for Alaska Airlines (which purchased Virgin America in 2016), American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The airport serves as a focus city for Allegiant Air, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Volaris. LAX serves as either a hub or focus city for more Mainline US Carriers than any other airport in the U.S.

While LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles Area, other airports, including Hollywood Burbank Airport, John Wayne Airport, Long Beach Airport, and Ontario International Airport, also serve the region. Covering 3,500 acres (1,416 ha) of land, LAX is also notable for its four parallel runways.