Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known as LAX, is one of the busiest airports in the world, handling over 76 million passengers in 2024. However, despite its popularity, LAX is plagued by notorious traffic bottlenecks caused by its outdated design. The airport’s horseshoe shape has long been considered its worst feature, leading to congestion and delays for travelers.
In a recent video by WSJ Pro Perfected, airport transit expert discusses the challenges of LAX’s design and the $30 billion in upgrades currently underway at the airport. With major events like the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the pressure is on to modernize LAX and solve its congestion problem once and for all.
The video breaks down the key issues facing LAX, including the inefficiency of moving people around the horseshoe layout and the need to remove cars from this area to alleviate traffic congestion. The expert also highlights the importance of increasing airside capacity to accommodate the growing number of flights at the airport.
As experts in engineering and design, WSJ Pro Perfected delves into the complexities of LAX’s design flaws and offers potential solutions to improve the airport’s overall efficiency. With the future of LAX at stake, it will be interesting to see how these upgrades will impact the airport’s ability to handle its ever-increasing passenger numbers and events like the 2028 Olympics.
Overall, LAX’s horseshoe shape may be its worst feature, but with the right upgrades and improvements, the airport has the potential to become a more seamless and efficient travel hub for millions of passengers each year.
Watch the video by The Wall Street Journal
Video “Why LAX’s Horseshoe Shape Is the Airport’s Worst Feature | WSJ Pro Perfected” was uploaded on 03/12/2025 to Youtube Channel The Wall Street Journal