Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Airport (LGB) is prepared to welcome passengers on essential travel this holiday travel season with measures that emphasize passenger health and safety. Although traffic levels are still reduced, LGB expects flights to increase approximately 25 percent this holiday period (Nov. and Dec.) compared to previous months and based on published airline schedules. 

Holiday air travel may look a little different this year due to COVID-19, but Long Beach Airport still provides the same easygoing experience for which it is known. LGB continues to offer affordable parking steps away from the terminal, convenient check-in, streamlined and efficient security screening, local fare and outdoor boarding. The new “Fly Easy at LGB” video provides an overview of what passengers can expect the next time they fly. 

“With its open-air setting and outdoor boarding area, Long Beach Airport’s award-winning passenger concourse provides a breath of fresh air for holiday travelers,” said Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “If you need to travel, we are one of the few airports where you can enjoy a beverage outside while you wait for your flight.”

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season and traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year, but airports across the nation have seen a sharp decline in passenger numbers due to the pandemic. 

Long Beach Airport is working closely with the Health and Human Services Department and adhering to state and local health orders to ensure the health and safety of all passengers. The states of California, Oregon and Washington recently issued travel advisories recommending against non-essential, out-of-state travel. People arriving in California from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after travel.

In accordance with health recommendations, LGB has adopted safety protocols in key areas, including: 

• Face coverings are required for all employees, passengers and visitors at the airport. All four airlines also require facial coverings. 
• Physical distancing is encouraged. Floor markings and other measures are in place throughout the airport to guide physical distancing. 
• Plastic separators are installed in high-traffic areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as ticket counters, gates and concessions. 
• Airport staff are frequently cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and objects. Airlines that serve LGB have also instituted more rigorous cleaning protocols before and after each flight.  
• Hand sanitizer dispensers have been added throughout the most highly trafficked areas of the airport and available for public use. 
• Working with its business partners, LGB is working towards a touchless experience through the airport and encourages the use of mobile boarding passes and touchless payment at dining and retail locations. 

For a smooth stress-free travel experience, LGB also offers the following tips:   

• Arrive early at the airport to allow adequate time to pass through security.  
• Check your airline’s baggage rules and verify flight schedules in advance. 
• Enjoy Little Brass Café pre-security and grab and go items or alcoholic beverages in the concourse while you wait for your flight. 
• Drivers waiting to pick up passengers are encouraged to use the free Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 3401 N. Lakewood Blvd. 
• Use the center median located in front of the terminal to access rideshare services such as Lyft, Opoli, Uber and Wingz. 
• Self-parking is available in Structure A and B; the hourly rate at both structures is $2 an hour with a maximum daily rate of $19 in A and $17 in B. Long Beach Airport Valet offers valet services and a complimentary car wash for $24 a day. 
• Download the free LGB Airport app, which provides information on arrivals, departures, parking and shopping. 
• LGB is committed to providing the best travel experience for all passengers. Accessibility information to help travelers with mobility challenges prepare for an easygoing experience is available on the LGB website. 
• Service dogs and pets are welcome at LGB and a relief area is available north of the terminal. Check your airline’s policies for traveling with animals in advance.  
• Packing properly can facilitate the screening process. Visit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) What Can I Bring? website for details. 

More information about Long Beach Airport is available at lgb.org. For real-time updates related to Long Beach Airport, follow LGB on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @LGBAirport.  

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit  longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

About the City of Long Beach  
Home to approximately 480,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly rated school district, Long Beach Airport and the Port of Long Beach. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas and bike paths. 

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

About Long Beach Airport  
Founded in 1923, Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the oldest airport in California. Among its many awards, LGB was named a Top 10 airport in the 2020 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest for Best Small Airport. LGB offers non-stop service to several U.S. cities while supporting a healthy general aviation community with more than 300,000 annual operations. The airport is also a source of substantial economic activity and employment, with the LGB Aviation Complex generating $8.6 billion in economic impact and supporting 46,000 jobs. LGB is a self-supporting enterprise of the City of Long Beach and does not receive local tax dollars. The Airport prides itself in preserving its esteemed historic legacy and maintaining a safe, sustainable, and environmentally responsible operation. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LGBAirport.   

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