LAX began as a barley field named Mines Field in 1928 and is now the main gateway between Southern California and the world.
Airliners and cargo flights within 25 nm of LAX. Routes come from a community database matched on flight numbers, so a few will be wrong or out of date. Flights without a route are marked "est." and judged from altitude and climb or descent.
History
Los Angeles International began as Mines Field, a 640-acre site in Westchester that the city leased on August 13, 1928. It opened on October 1, 1928, and was dedicated as Los Angeles Municipal Airport on June 7, 1930. The city bought the land in 1937, and the airport took its current name in 1949.
American Airlines flew the first jet passengers out of LAX, to New York, in January 1959. Terminals 7 and 8 opened for United Airlines on June 25, 1961, as part of a new central terminal area that also includes the Theme Building.
Ahead of the 1984 Summer Olympics, Terminal 1 opened in January 1984, and the International Terminal, later named for Tom Bradley, opened on June 11, 1984.
Quick facts
- Codes
- LAX / KLAX
- Opened
- October 1, 1928, as Mines Field
- Dedicated as Municipal Airport
- June 7, 1930
- Renamed International
- 1949
- Runways
- Four parallel east-west runways: 6L/24R, 6R/24L, 7L/25R and 7R/25L
- Tom Bradley International Terminal
- Opened June 11, 1984
Sources: History of Los Angeles International Airport (Wikipedia)
Watch and listen
Listen to live air traffic control for LAX on LiveATC. The feeds come from volunteers, so availability varies.
Where plane spotters watch
- Imperial Hill (Jim Clutter Park), off Imperial HighwayOn the south side of the airport. The elevated position gives clear photos, and there are benches, shade and food nearby.
- In-N-Out Burger, Sepulveda Blvd at 92nd StreetRight under the approach to runways 24L and 24R, with good photos from the car park.
- Dockweiler State BeachDepartures heading out over the ocean, and now and then a big jet passing directly overhead. The beach is less than half a mile from the runway.
- Tom Bradley International Terminal parking garageThe top level looks over much of the action, especially the north side.
The In-N-Out spot is poor for watching aircraft on the ground. One of the guides is from 2016, so check that places are still open before you go.
As described in: Airports of Los Angeles - a spotting guide (Airport Spotting), Where to go plane spotting in Los Angeles (Time Out). Guides can be out of date. Stay on public property, follow posted rules, and never block roads or driveways.