Inside Long Beach Airport (LGB): Complete Guide On Passenger Stats, Terminal, and Facilities

Long Beach Airport (IATA: LGB, ICAO: KLGB) is only 3 miles south of downtown Long Beach, California. It is the 10th busiest airport in California, with approximately 1.4 million passengers passing through the airport annually. Compared to the congested LAX airport 20 miles to the north, Long Beach makes things easier by imposing a noise abatement program that has restricted flights since 1981. Initially, there were only 15 flights permitted per day. By 2023, the maximum number of flights will be set at 58 flights per day: 41 permanent daily flights and 17 supplemental flights (adjusted annually depending on the noise levels). 

Furthermore, it is still the main hub for taking flights in Los Angeles. Most flights in this airport are operated by Southwest Airlines, Delta, and Hawaiian. The airport also clears 57,000 tons of cargo a year and is one of the busiest in the world when it comes to smaller aircraft, with almost 400,000 flights in the year 2007.

Distance from Major Cities

Long Beach Airport can provide easy access to the rest of Southern California and even beyond. The following is the distance of LGB to major cities and airports and an estimate of the travel time.

Long Beach Airport Passenger Statistics (2020-2024)

The passenger turnout at Long Beach Airport has recorded a notable shift in the last six years. The table below illustrates the stats of passengers from 2020 to 2024.

Long Beach Airport Terminal Details

Long Beach Airport consists of a single terminal with four commercial airlines. The terminal is constructed in a specific manner known as Streamline Moderne architecture, which makes it look unique and historic. The terminal is a cultural heritage landmark due to its significant design.

(Image reference: https://www.fly.faa.gov/Information/west/zla/lgb/LGB_layout.pdf)

It has four major airlines in the airport: Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and US Airways. Having a single terminal to move in, passengers can move around it with ease, and it takes them a short time to travel to Anaheim, which is nearby. Long Beach Airport is small, and thus, there is reduced walking and waiting time compared to big airports.

Long Beach Airport: Facilities Acknowledgement

Long Beach Airport occupies an area covering 1,166 acres and is located only 60 feet above sea level. There are three major runways at the airport, along with four helipads that provide ample equipment to accommodate various forms of aircraft.

Runways and Aircraft Operations

The longest runway of the airport is a 10,000-foot runway, which is ideal for large commercial aircraft. 

There are two shorter runways to serve smaller aircraft, one 6,192 ft long and another 3,918 ft. It has all the runways paved with asphalt to ensure smooth landings and takeoffs.

In the case of helicopters, the four helipads are of various sizes. Its largest helipad is 300 feet, and the small ones are 20 feet square, respectively.

Once, the airport had a total of five runways, out of which two were permanently closed and removed in 2016 to accommodate other improvements in the airport

Shopping & Dining Options at the Terminal

Here are all the shopping & dining options at Long Beach Airport, based on the official site:

(Map Reference: https://www.ifly.com/airports/long-beach-airport/terminal-map)

Conclusion

Long Beach Airport is evidence that not all airports need to be large to be good. LGB has a prime location and an affordable size and puts its passengers first, serving as a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of bigger airports. You can find everything you need here and more, whether flying on business or leisure, from good food options to easy parking and fast security lines.

The fact that the airport is growing consistently in terms of passenger numbers indicates that people are finding out about this little gem. So, when you are planning your next journey, think of Long Beach Airport and travel with ease of mind. It is near all the places you want to visit and yet far from the hassle of bigger airports.

(Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach_Airport)