For Immediate Release
Aug. 29, 2019
Contact:
Heath Montgomery
(424) 646-5260
Independent Analysis Finds Average Wi-Fi Download Speeds on the Fast and Free LAX Service Now Top 70 Mbps
(Los Angeles, CA) Wi-Fi speeds at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) continue to grow, with a new independent analysis showing that average download speeds on the airport’s fast and free network are among the best in the U.S. and Canada.
The analysis, conducted by the internet speed test company Ookla, shows that Wi-Fi speeds at LAX now top 70.6 Mbps – an increase of 541 percent since 2016, when the average download speed on LAX Wi-Fi was about 11 Mbps. Average upload speeds on the LAX network now reach 87.39 Mbps, according to Ookla, which tested 51 of the largest airports in the U.S. and Canada during the first half of 2019.
Based on separate LAX testing, airport guests can often experience Wi-Fi speeds in excess of 100 Mbps thanks to recent improvement projects designed to enhance the passenger experience and accommodate increased traffic.
“Free, fast and accessible Wi-Fi is one of the top priorities of the modern traveler, and at LAX we are focused on continuous improvement in our speed and our ranking for our service,” said Barbara Yamamoto, Director of Guest Experience and Innovation, Los Angeles World Airports. “Being able to easily access digital content means our guests can curate their own airport experience and access the many amenities we offer, including our digital marketplace.”
Wi-Fi demand at LAX grew by nearly 40 percent over the past year, with more than half of all passengers now relying on connectivity for their smartphones, laptops, tablets and other devices. LAX worked with wireless provider Boingo to upgrade Wi-Fi service with faster speeds and more coverage and capacity. LAX previously introduced Passpoint® Wi-Fi technology in its networks, which offers a seamless and secure handoff from congested cellular networks to a trusted Wi-Fi network.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the public space in all LAX terminals and is part of a continued investment in technology and improvements that are putting the airport experience in the hands of travelers.
In July, LAX was named the “Most Innovative Airport (large hub)" by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) for the launch of the new Shop and Dine digital marketplace, developed in partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The digital marketplace allows guests to pre-order food from airport restaurants while at the gate or before they even arrive at the airport. Guests can also browse an online catalog of products, digital menus and new offerings by visiting FlyLAX.com to place their orders and make purchases.
The airport also recently launched its new automated Twitter feed, @FlyLAXStats, which provides real-time updates on parking, traffic and TSA wait times to help airport travelers better plan their arrival.
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.
LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
