LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa today cheered the announcement today that Iberia will resume nonstop service next April from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Madrid, Spain, with four weekly flights. Iberia last served LAX from 1984 to 1997. This route will be the only nonstop service between Spain and the U.S. West Coast.
"I am excited to say 'Bienvenidos' to oneworld alliance partner Iberia starting four-times-per-week service between Los Angeles International Airport and Madrid. Each international flight brings jobs and economic activity to the region, and this new flight will connect us to one of the world's most exciting cities," said Mayor Villaraigosa.
According to a 2007 study by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, one average daily, round-trip, transoceanic flight of wide-body aircraft to/from LAX generates $623 million in economic output annually, and sustains 3,120 direct and indirect jobs in Southern California with annual wages of $156 million.
Today's Iberia announcement follows recent ones by four airlines (including Turkish Airlines that has not served LAX before) that they will begin daily service to new overseas markets during the next few months or will increase service on existing routes, including: All Nippon Airways and Delta Airlines, both to Tokyo-Haneda International Airport, beginning Nov. 11 and Feb. 11, respectively; Emirates with a second daily flight to Dubai beginning Oct. 31; and Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, Turkey, beginning March 11.
In addition, American Airlines announced on Oct. 1 that it applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate daily nonstop flights to Shanghai, China, beginning April 5, 2011.
According to airport officials, from November through April, LAX will experience a period of unprecedented growth in international air service due to these 32 new weekly flights (39 flights if American's application is approved).
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the seventh busiest airport in the world, offering more than 565 daily flights to 81 destinations in the U.S. and over 1,000 weekly nonstop flights to 66 international destinations on over 75 carriers. LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a department of the City of Los Angeles.
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