Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is projected to be the busiest airport in California in 2025, with more than 259,000 scheduled departures according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company. This places LAX at the top of a list of seven major airports across the state that play significant roles in both domestic and international travel.
The ongoing modernization at LAX includes renovations to aircraft support services, terminal areas, and the public transportation system known as the “People Mover” train line. These efforts are intended to accommodate rising passenger demand ahead of events such as the 2028 Olympics.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ranks second with nearly 190,000 scheduled departures. United Airlines operates almost half of SFO’s total traffic, while Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines handle most of the remaining flights. SFO serves as a gateway for transpacific and transatlantic routes operated by airlines such as China Airlines, Asiana, Korean Air, All Nippon Airways, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and Lufthansa.