CBP and LAWA Advise International Travelers to Prepare for Peak Summer Demand at LAX

LOS ANGELES – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in partnership with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announced today the implementation of proactive measures in anticipation of an expected three-fold growth in international passenger volume for the 2021 summer season at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

CBP expects the passenger count to reach 18,000 a day, compared with 4,500 a day in the summer of 2020, an increase of over 300 percent.

The expected reemergence of international travel is the result of the current vaccination levels, and subsequent lifting of local COVID-19 restrictions bringing more international tourists as Southern California attractions gradually open.

“CBP is proactively mitigating any potential impact in wait times by maximizing our available resources, said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “In order to improve the traveler experience this summer, we are realigning personnel during the peak hours and will be constantly adjusting those resources based on passenger demand.”

“As travelers return to our airports this summer, they’ll find that LAX and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have integrated the very latest in touchless technology to create a safer, cleaner and more efficient experience,” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles World Airports. “Whether it’s the use of biometric identification or the fast and easy-to-use Mobile Passport app, passengers entering the country through LAX have many options to ensure a faster and smoother journey.”

Starting immediately CBP at LAX will compound available resources to staff primary inspections during peak times, while maximizing the use of biometric technology to expedite passenger processing. CBP will be also working closely with industry partners and stakeholders on passenger flow efficiencies and will keep the traveling public informed about how to prepare to avoid unnecessary delays.

“We are advising travelers to be prepared to experience high volume of passenger traffic and to avoid unnecessary delays,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Acting Area Port Director Los Angeles International Airport. “Just downloading the CBP Mobile Passport Control App (MPC) on their smartphones would allow travelers to skip long lines by using MPC dedicated lanes.

Quick Guide to Planning Ahead for Travel at LAX:

• Wear a face mask. Face masks remain mandatory for employees and passengers, regardless of vaccination status.
• Take all the travel documents required for the countries you are visiting, as well as identification for your U.S. reentry. U.S. citizens need passports to reenter the country by air. Go to www.state.gov/travelers for destination information.
• Use your smartphone and skip the long lines. Available to download on Google Play Store or Apple App Store CBP Mobile Passport Control App streamlines a traveler’s entry into the U.S. Once your QR code is obtained, look for MPC dedicated processing lines.
• Declare everything you bring in from abroad, even if you bought it in a duty-free shop. Be cautious when buying something from street vendors. Items brought abroad for personal use or as gifts are eligible for duty exemptions. If you are bringing them back for resale, they are not eligible for duty exemption.
• Be aware of U.S. prohibited merchandise, such as ivory, tortoiseshell products, and counterfeit items.
• Many foreign-made medications are not approved for United States use and are not permitted in the country. When traveling abroad, bring only the medication you will need. Make sure the medication is in the original container.
• Travels to and from Cuba - Before departing on your trip, check the latest information for the full list of prohibited and restricted items on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Cuba Sanctions website, as well as other related government resources.
• Before bringing food to the United States, please check the list of prohibited items. All live animals, birds and bird products may be restricted, quarantined or require certification.
• CBP officers can inspect you and your belongings without a warrant to enforce U.S. laws.
• For transit passengers, give yourself enough time in between connection flights due to possible delays.
• Check parking options ahead of time: Real-time parking availability within the LAX Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking structures is available on the Parking at LAX page.
• Parking and traffic updates are available 24/7 via the automated @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed.
• Consider alternative ground transportation, FlyAway® bus service is available to and from Union Station and Van Nuys, with parking available at both locations. www.LAXFlyAway.org. Municipal buses, LA Metro Green Line (light rail) at Imperial Highway and Aviation Boulevard. Read more on our website. Guests who are leaving LAX via taxi or ride app vehicles (Uber, Lyft, Opoli) can walk to the LAX-it lot located at 9610 Sky Way, across from Terminal 1, or take one of the LAX-it shuttles from stops located on the Lower/Arrivals Level.
• Check in online with your airline before you leave for the airport. This prevents the need to interact with a check-in kiosk. If you are traveling without checked luggage, you can skip the ticket counters entirely this way.
• Picking someone up? Curbside pickup and drop-off is permitted on the Upper/Departures and Lower/Arrivals levels. All parking structures are free for the first 15 minutes, and the Terminal B (Tom Bradley International Terminal) pickup area is also free to use.
• Know the rules. Many destinations, both international and domestic, have implemented travel restrictions or rules for visitors. Knowing the current rules for your destination is essential this year. Non-vaccinated guests arriving at LAX from other countries or states, as well as California residents returning from out-of-state travel, are required to complete a mandatory form acknowledging that they have read and understood the state's travel advisory. The form can be found on the Travel Safely page, or for more information visit the Travel & COVID-19 website.

To get familiar with federal laws and regulations visit the travel section of the CBP website.

For more information, read the CBP brochure, "Know Before You Go." Request printed copies or view it on the CBP Publication Catalogue page.

Office of Field Operations (OFO) is the largest component in CBP and is responsible for border security—including anti-terrorism, immigration, anti-smuggling, trade compliance, and agriculture protection—while simultaneously facilitating the lawful trade and travel at U.S. ports of entry that is critical to our Nation’s economy.

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is the City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports. Both play an integral role in helping to meet the Southern California regional demand for passenger, cargo and general aviation service. Both airports make a distinct contribution to the strength of the system as it provides a high level of safety, security and service for its customers, communities and stakeholders.

As the aviation authority for the nation's second largest city and hub of one of the world's most populous metropolitan areas, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is faced with the challenges of providing an airport system to serve a major portion of the Southern California market. LAWA has met this challenge, and at no cost to taxpayers.