USA. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and Westfield unveiled the new-look Terminal 6 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday. It features a striking new design inspired by the city’s Sunset Boulevard and 21 new retail and dining concepts in 22,000sq ft of reconfigured space.
Key partners included Delaware North; HMSHost; Hudson Group; J&H Enterprises; SSP America and Tumi.
The opening is the latest big development in the modernisation of Los Angeles International and was possible through a US$70.5 million total investment from LAWA, Westfield and partners. It is the second redesigned terminal unveiled this year following the transformation of Terminal 2, which opened in February.
Westfield said the investment would deliver a +93% surge in sales at the terminal.
“We’re raising the bar for what’s possible at an airport,” said Los Angeles World Airports Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint. “LAWA and Westfield are providing passengers a special experience that allows them to sample the best of L.A., food and drink, unique shops and modern amenities. Now they can find all that and more in Terminal 6.”
Los Angeles Airport had a record-breaking year in 2015, with 74.9 million passengers as it undergoes a US$8.5 billion modernisation programme.
“What you see here today in Terminal 6 marks a milestone in our efforts to transform LAX as part of our Modernization Program, the largest construction programme in Los Angeles City history,” said Board of Airport Commissioner Gabriel Eshaghian. “We thank Westfield and our airline partners for contributing to this tremendous effort and know we cannot realize our vision of a world-class airport without their help.”
“LAWA had the bold vision to completely transform the traveller experience at the airport,” said Westfield’s Vice President at LAX Keith Kaplan. “We’re so honoured to help make that happen, right here in our hometown, and we’re infusing the culture and spirit of Los Angeles into LAX.”
The Sunset Boulevard design was aimed at unifying a terminal that had been built out over 40 years.
The central satellite was built in 1961, and a connector was later added for the 1984 Olympics. The south end connector was built in the 1990s to accommodate additional growth.
Using the existing terminal components, like winding hallways and varying elevations, the new experience is claimed to mirror the drive along Sunset Boulevard.
The new terminal experience is organised by interconnected neighbourhoods that guide travellers on their journey. After passing through the TSA checkpoint, they initially encounter a Downtown L.A. area, said to feel like an urban street, complete with concrete walls and metal finishes.
The ribbon ceiling and terrazzo floor guide travellers into Sunset Plaza, which has open spaces to eat, drink and relax. Travellers then flow into the Sunset Strip and Garden Terrace zones, with high-end retail and local dining inspired by West Hollywood.
The traveller journey is completed at the ‘beach’ zone, in renewed gate areas.
“HMSHost is so excited to be part of the enhancements in LAX’s Terminal 6 by bringing new restaurants to travellers,” said HMSHost Vice President of Business Development Amy Dunne. The company operates seven dining concepts in the new Terminal 6.
“These locations provide variety to travellers while delivering unique culinary offerings and superior customer service. We look forward to continuing to elevate the traveller’s dining experience here at the airport.”
“Osteria is one of the latest examples of SSP America’s ability to bring cool restaurants to the airport,” said SSP America CEO Michael Svagdis. SSP will also operate Peet’s Coffee & Tea.
“We’ll serve almost 50,000 pizzas this year alone in a restaurant that truly is a stunning addition to T6. We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring this incredible restaurant to LAX.”
As noted, the new dining and retail collection features 21 new concepts and 14 L.A. brands:
*Electronics and cutting-edge technology at Belkin;
*L.A. beach-inspired cuisine at Blu2o;
*Healthy, fresh juices and salads for a signature California lifestyle at earthbar;
*California-style charburgers at The Habit Burger Grill;
*Designer apparel for men, women and kids from Southern California boutique M.Fredric;
*MAC Cosmetics;
*The Marketplace by Wolfgang Puck, featuring The Kitchen, WPizza, and The Wine Bar;
*Italian cuisine at Osteria by Fabio Viviani; a debut L.A. concept created by the Top Chef;
*Peet’s Coffee & Tea;
*Local craft brewery Point the Way Café;
*See’s Candies;
*Starbucks (two locations);
*Business, accessory and travel lifestyle brand Tumi;
*Wahoo’s Fish Taco; and
*Travel essentials at Los Angeles Magazine News, Access Hollywood, Sunset News, and Market 8600.
“Hudson Group and Dufry are proud of the latest improvements at Los Angeles International Airport Terminal 6, which will further transform the travel experience for airport customers in L.A.,” said Hudson Group Executive Vice President of Business Development and Strategy Michael Mullaney.
“The new luxurious destination features thoughtful concepts, local perspectives and well-known brands. As the largest concessionaire at LAX with more than 47 stores, and the largest retail concessionaire in LAX T6, we could not be more excited to offer our traveller’s best friend philosophy to customers at one of the country’s busiest airports.”
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