Modernization of LAX Terminal 1 officially begins

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KABC) -- Southwest Airlines broke ground Tuesday on a $500-million modernization of Terminal 1 at Los Angeles International Airport. Southwest says the improvements are long overdue.

The modernization program includes a 12-lane security screening checkpoint. There will also be new retail stores and gourmet restaurants.

"We are building an airport for the next generation," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The terminal will remain open during construction. The plan is not to inconvenience travelers, so the majority of the work will be done overnight. Construction is already underway. The work is expected to be completed by 2018.

Garcetti says the benefits far outweigh the $508-million price tag.

"We are looking at more than $7.3 billion worth of jobs in the next few years coming out of this airport," said Garcetti. "That means money on Main Street to spend. That means great jobs for people out of work right now."

Terminal 1 is the first thing you see when you drive into the airport. It's infamous for its traffic backups. Airport officials say it wasn't built to handle today's flight loads.

"There are about 12 percent of the passengers that use LAX that use Terminal 1," said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. "This terminal has been basically the same for about 30 years. It's time we brought it into the 21st century."

Southwest Airlines stands to gain a lot from the improvements. It's one of the busiest airlines at LAX, with 117 departures daily out of the terminal.

"Southwest is the sole occupant, so we're going to get our house in order and then we're going to invite everybody to come to the party," said Bob Montgomery, Southwest Airlines vice president of airport affairs.