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Los Angeles World Airports presents $1.29B operating budget and offers to absorb city employees to soften layoffs
Summary
Los Angeles World Airports officials told the City Council Budget Committee that LAWA is financially strong but facing passenger declines and industry headwinds; LAWA offered to absorb some city workers and civilianize 48 LAX police duties to free officers for higher‑value policing and to help other departments through the city’s budget crisis.
Los Angeles World Airports CEO John Ackerman told the City Council Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee on May 6 that LAWA’s 2026 proposed operating budget is $1.29 billion and that the airports authority remains financially strong even as passenger volumes lag pre‑pandemic levels.
Ackerman said LAWA sold $1.6 billion in revenue bonds in late March and maintains one of the highest credit ratings of major U.S. airports. But he warned that passenger numbers are down relative to 2019 and that tourism headwinds, especially a steep drop in air travel from Canada and Mexico, are squeezing revenue. “Our enplanements … are projected to be down by 13% relative to 2019,” Ackerman said.
Why it matters: LAX and Van Nuys generate operating funds from parking, concessions, rental cars and airline fees, not the city general fund. Declining passenger volumes reduce those revenues and can ripple into the broader local economy—affecting concessionaires, airport jobs and related city reimbursements.
Key details - Budget size and drivers: Ackerman told the…
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