The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is expecting about 19.6 million travelers this summer from Memorial Day in late May through Labor Day in early September, up 2.8 percent from the same period a year ago.

 

This will be the busiest summer season for LAX since 2001, when it served 20.5 million travelers during what turned out to be a record summer travel period for the facility, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

 

Facilities in Burbank, Ontario, Long Beach and Santa Ana are also forecasting big crowds, according to The Times. With fewer seats available in the event of flight cancellations due to bad weather or mechanical problems, officials are encouraging travelers to plan ahead.

 

The summer travel season kicks off Friday, and Los Angeles World Airports, the city facility that manages LAX and other city- owned airport, predicts LAX will handle 820,000 travelers over the four-day Memorial Day holiday, officials told the Los Angeles Times.

 

Delays, which hit record levels last year, are expected to mount this summer as carriers add flights. Labor woes at airlines and discontent among the nation's air traffic controllers could add to delays, experts told The Times.

 

At LAX, major construction in the Tom Bradley International Terminal is likely to test travelers' patience and possibly cause delays.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2007)