Terminals 1, 2 and 3
The eastern side of the loop. Southwest is based in Terminal 1, and Delta and its partners are mainly in Terminals 2 and 3.
Los Angeles, California KLAX #5 US airport by passengers
In the Westchester area on the west side of Los Angeles, next to the Pacific coast and about 15 to 20 miles from downtown.
LAX is laid out as a U-shaped loop around its central terminal area. Terminals 1 to 8 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) line the loop, and traffic circles it in one direction. That is why the roads are so slow at peak times and why the airport tells people to use the LAX-it lot if they are taking rideshare.
There is no single train that connects all terminals inside security, which is the biggest planning point. Most airline connections within the same airline are in the same terminal or in adjacent ones, and a short outdoor walk or a free airport shuttle handles the rest.
Main airlines: No single airline dominates. Delta, United, American, Alaska and Southwest all run large operations, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal hosts a wide range of foreign carriers.
Source: FAA National Airspace System Status, checked just now. Airline-specific delays are not shown here.
71°F22°C
Marginal: lower cloud or reduced visibility. Some delays are possible.
METARMETAR KLAX 111653Z 23008KT 10SM FEW019 BKN024 OVC060 22/16 A2964 RMK AO2 SLP034 T02170156 $
Source: NOAA Aviation Weather Center. Observed 12 min ago.
Full weather, TAF, forecast and runways →
Based on 50,435 departures from May 2026 to July 2026. A flight counts as late when it leaves 15 or more minutes after schedule.
| Airline | Departures | Late |
|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlines | 10,273 | 14.7% |
| Delta Air Lines | 10,210 | 19.6% |
| American Airlines | 8,324 | 28.2% |
| United Airlines | 8,185 | 16.2% |
| Southwest Airlines | 6,778 | 44.2% |
| Alaska Airlines | 3,122 | 25.8% |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, On-Time Performance of reporting carriers. Smaller regional carriers and some airlines are not included.
The eastern side of the loop. Southwest is based in Terminal 1, and Delta and its partners are mainly in Terminals 2 and 3.
The international terminal. Most foreign carriers are here, together with international flights from the U.S. airlines.
Home to American Airlines and Alaska Airlines among others. Airlines have moved between terminals in recent years, so confirm yours.
United Airlines is based in Terminals 7 and 8.
Neighboring terminals are connected by pedestrian walkways, and LAX runs a free shuttle that loops the terminals. The loop is long enough that you should keep extra time if your connection involves changing terminals.
Uber, Lyft and similar services pick up from a dedicated lot east of the terminals, not at the curb. A free shuttle takes you from the terminals to the lot.
A free airport shuttle connects the terminals with Metro rail stations near the airport, such as Aviation/LAX on the C Line, which connect on to the wider Metro network. Check the LAX website for the current rail connection.
A scheduled bus that connects LAX with Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and Van Nuys. It runs at fixed times; check the LAX website for current routes and fares.
Taxi lines are near the baggage claim areas and inside the terminal loop. Some destinations, such as downtown Los Angeles, have posted flat fares; ask the dispatcher before you get in.
At the LAX-it lot. Follow the signs for rideshare pickup and take the free shuttle there.
Not directly to the terminals. A free shuttle connects the airport to Metro rail stations.
Most international flights use the Tom Bradley International Terminal, but some also use other terminals. Check your boarding pass.
About 36,497,303 passengers boarded flights at Los Angeles International Airport in 2025, according to FAA enplanement data. That ranks it number 5 among US airports.
Over May 2026 to July 2026, 23.5% of departures at LAX left 15 or more minutes late, and 0.81% of flights were cancelled (Bureau of Transportation Statistics).
Guide content last reviewed October 8, 2026. Report a correction