Page last updated: 5 August 2025
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the primary entry port to Southern California and one of the world’s busiest airports. Located within the Los Angeles metropolitan area, it supports tens of millions of passengers and significant cargo volumes each year, generating substantial economic activity for the region.
How many passengers pass through Los Angeles International Airport each year?
Los Angeles International Airport handles over 70 million passengers annually, maintaining its position as one of the world’s busiest airports.
- In 2024 LAX welcomed 76.59 million passengers, a 2.04% increase over 2023.
- Traffic peaked in 2019 at 88.07 million before the COVID-19 downturn reduced volume to 28.78 million in 2020.
- Recovery has been steady yet incomplete; 2024 totals remain about 13% below the 2019 record.
International vs Domestic Passengers
International travel has driven nearly all recent growth, while domestic volumes have leveled off.
- Domestic passengers (2024): 52.60 million (69% of total), a 0.49% decrease from 2023.
- International passengers (2024): 23.99 million (31% of total), an 8.8% increase from 2023.
Arrivals vs Departures
LAX functions primarily as an origin-and-destination airport, with nearly equal numbers of departures and arrivals.
- 38.31 million departures and 38.24 million arrivals were recorded in 2024.
- Domestic split: 26.32 million departures vs. 26.25 million arrivals.
- International split: 12.00 million departures vs. 11.99 million arrivals.
Passenger Flow: Departure vs Arrival (2019-24)
| Year | Domestic Departure | Domestic Arrival | International Departure | International Arrival |
| 2019 | 31.37 M | 30.99 M | 12.92 M | 12.78 M |
| 2020 | 11.20 M | 11.15 M | 3.22 M | 3.18 M |
| 2021 | 20.04 M | 19.98 M | 3.89 M | 4.07 M |
| 2022 | 26.60 M | 26.78 M | 8.31 M | 8.21 M |
| 2023 | 26.45 M | 26.35 M | 11.18 M | 11.04 M |
| 2024 | 26.32 M | 26.25 M | 12.00 M | 11.99 M |
What is the total number of aircraft operations at Los Angeles International Airport each year?
LAX recorded 581,779 total aircraft operations in 2024, representing a 1.16% increase from the previous year and ranking the airport seventh globally for aircraft movements.
- LAX logged 581,779 aircraft movements in 2024, up from 575,097 in 2023.
- Pre-pandemic operations peaked at 707,833 movements in 2018, meaning 2024 levels remain approximately 18% below historical highs.
- Operations fell to 379,364 in 2020, rebounded to 506,769 in 2021 and 556,913 in 2022.
Aircraft Operations by Type
- Most operations at Los Angeles International Airport were carried out by air carriers, totaling 547,779 movements.
- Additionally, air taxi operations made up 20,747 movements, while general aviation contributed 12,877 and military flights accounted for 376 operations.
Aircraft Operations at Los Angeles International Airport by Type (2019-24)
| Type | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Air Carrier | 634,515 | 346,036 | 464,803 | 513,421 | 540,404 | 547,779 |
| Cargo Operator | 38,505 | 22,647 | 27,623 | 28,565 | 21,110 | 20,747 |
| General Aviation | 17,853 | 10,348 | 13,948 | 14,392 | 13,105 | 12,877 |
| Military | 384 | 333 | 395 | 535 | 478 | 376 |
Which airlines operate the most flights out of Los Angeles International Airport?
LAX operates as a highly competitive “battleground hub” with no single airline maintaining majority market share, creating an unusually diverse competitive landscape among major carriers.
- Delta Air Lines leads with 18.8% market share, carrying 14.38 million passengers in 2024.
- United Airlines holds 15.5% market share with 11.89 million passengers, operating LAX as a major West Coast hub.
- American Airlines captures 15.3% market share with 11.74 million passengers, maintaining significant West Coast presence.
- Southwest Airlines accounts for 8.8% market share with 6.71 million passengers, focusing on domestic point-to-point service.
- Alaska Airlines represents 6.5% market share with 4.95 million passengers, emphasizing West Coast and Alaska routes.
Top 10 Airlines at LAX Airport by Passenger Volume (2024)
| Airline | Total Passenger | Market Share |
| Delta Air Lines | 14.38 M | 18.8% |
| United Air Lines Inc | 11.89 M | 15.5% |
| American Airlines | 11.74 M | 15.3% |
| Southwest Airlines | 6.71 M | 8.8% |
| Alaska Airlines | 4.95 M | 6.5% |
| Spirit Airlines Inc | 3.52 M | 4.6% |
| JetBlue Airlines | 2.67 M | 3.5% |
| Air Canada | 1.33 M | 1.7% |
| Volaris | 1.12 M | 1.5% |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 1.06 M | 1.4% |
Los Angeles Travel Resources
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- Los Angeles to San Francisco Car Rentals
- Los Angeles to Seattle Car Rentals
Trends in passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport
Passenger totals rise through late winter and spring, peak in mid‑summer, and taper off toward year‑end.
- July 2024 was the busiest month (7.32 million passengers), followed by June (7.00 million) and August (6.98 million).
- February was the quietest (5.28 million), with January (5.67 million) and November (5.93 million) also below the annual average.
Most Popular Destinations
Domestic Destinations
- New York-JFK led domestic routes with 1.4 million passengers in 2024, served by multiple carriers on this premium transcontinental route.
- San Francisco ranked second with 1.36 million passengers, representing a key West Coast business corridor.
- Las Vegas attracted 1.34 million travelers, highlighting the strength of the leisure travel market.
- Honolulu and Chicago O’Hare served around 1.2 million and 1.18 million passengers, completing the top domestic destinations.
International Destinations
- London-Heathrow dominated international routes with 1.62 million passengers, served by four major airlines.
- Seoul-Incheon ranked second with 1.17 million passengers, reflecting strong trans-Pacific business and leisure demand.
- Guadalajara, Mexico attracted 1.12 million travelers, demonstrating significant Mexico market demand.
- Taipei-Taoyuan and Tokyo-Haneda completed the top five international destinations, each serving over 1.0 million passengers.
How much cargo does Los Angeles International Airport handle annually?
LAX processed over 2 million tons of cargo annually, demonstrating the airport’s importance as a freight gateway.
- LAX processed 2.40 million tons of cargo in 2024, a 5.4% increase from 2.28 million tons in 2023.
- Cargo volumes peaked at 2.85 million tons in 2021 and remain above the pre‑pandemic 2019 level of 2.31 million tons.
Delays and Cancellations at Los Angeles International Airport (2024)
- On‑time departures (2024): 81 % (3rd among major U.S. airports)
- On‑time arrivals (2024): 80 % (4th nationally)
- Average departure delay: 70.07 minutes
- Average arrival delay: 68.61 minutes
- Cancellation rate: 0.81 %
Financial statistics of Los Angeles International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport generated an operating revenue of $1.9 billion in the financial year ending in June 2024, which reflects an increase from $1.7 billion in FY 2023.
- Operating expenses also rose from $831.5 million in 2023 to $936.6 million in 2024.
- Despite the higher expenses, operating income increased from $205.1 million in FY 2023 to $228.9 million in FY 2024, indicating improved financial performance year-over-year.
LAX Operating Financial Performance: FY 2022–2024
| FY 2023 | FY 2024 | |
| Operating Revenue | $1,726.40 M | $1,923.20 M |
| Operating Expenses | $831.50 M | $936.70 M |
| Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization | $894.90 M | $986.50 M |
| Depreciation and Amortization | $689.80 M | $757.60 M |
| Operating Income | $205.10 M | $228.90 M |
What are the notable incidents at Los Angeles International airport?
- October 2013: Two small dry‑ice devices detonated in Terminals 2 and TBIT, causing brief disruptions but no injuries.
- November 1, 2013: A gunman in Terminal 3 killed a TSA officer and wounded three others; operations resumed after security clearance.
- August 28, 2016: A false report of gunfire prompted a three‑hour lockdown and flight delays.
- May 20, 2017: Aeroméxico Flight 642 struck a utility truck near Runway 25R; eight injuries.
- July 25, 2018: Jet blast from a Dash 8 pushed baggage dollies into a United 737.
- November 21, 2019: Philippine Airlines Flight 113 returned after an engine stall; no injuries.
- August 19, 2020: FedEx Flight 1026 landed with gear failure; one pilot injured while exiting.
- July 8, 2024: A United 757 lost a main wheel after takeoff but landed safely in Denver.
- July 18, 2025: Delta Flight 446 returned to LAX following an engine fire, causing a six‑hour delay.
Other US Airport Statistics
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- O’Hare International Airport
America & USA Travel Statistics Resources
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References
- LAWA: Los Angeles International Airport data
- DT: International Destination of Passenger from Los Angeles International Airport
- BTS: Top Domestic Destination of Passenger from Los Angeles International Airport and On-Time Performance Summary
- NTSB: Los Angeles International Airport Incident Information
