LAX: July 4th holiday to bring 2 million passengers through airport

LAX expects to handle more than 2 million passengers during the Independence Day travel period and airport officials continued urging travelers on Thursday to plan ahead as one of the busiest stretches of the summer gets underway.

The holiday travel period runs through July 8, with the busiest days expected to be Wednesday and Thursday, when roughly 220,000 passengers are projected to arrive and depart each day, according to Los Angeles World Airports.

Officials said passenger traffic is expected to remain heavy throughout the summer as Los Angeles hosts major events, including FIFA World Cup matches, drawing visitors from around the world.

“This summer, Los Angeles is in the global spotlight again, and for millions of travelers, LAX is where their LA experience begins,” Courtney Moore, Los Angeles World Airports’ chief revenue and experience officer, said in a statement. “We encourage travelers to plan ahead, arrive early and take advantage of the resources available at LAX so they can spend less time navigating their journey and more time enjoying all that Los Angeles has to offer.”

Airport officials recommended arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures. Travelers also were urged to check flight status before leaving home, reserve parking in advance, consider using Metro or FlyAway bus service, and allow extra travel time because of ongoing construction around the central terminal area.

Officials also reminded travelers that REAL ID-compliant identification or another acceptable form of identification is required to pass through TSA security checkpoints and that fireworks are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage.