A Look At Los Angeles International Airport’s Shortest Routes

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the primary international airport serving the greater Los Angeles area. It is one of the busiest airports in the nation and in the world. Serving over 75 million passengers with nearly 600,000 aircraft movements, the airport has an economic impact of approximately $15 billion.

The LAX airport is known for its domestic and international network and a range of global airlines that fly to it. The airport website Flylax.com suggests that 71 global airlines fly directly to LAX airport. While it serves some of the world’s longest routes, it also offers very short hops to nearby cities. This article explores the shortest routes from LAX, all of which are under 204 NM (235 miles).

Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock

According to Flylax.com,

“A reimagined Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is on the horizon as part of a $15 billion Capital Improvement Program that will modernize terminals, provide an elevated guest experience, create a safer airfield, improve access to one of the world’s busiest airports and provide the long-awaited connection to regional transportation.”

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Shortest routes from LAX

Southern Airways Express, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines operate some of the shortest scheduled flights from LAX. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, shows that each of the three airlines offers 60 or more flights during the month of June. Here are the top three shortest routes from LAX.

Los Angeles (LAX) to San Diego, California (SAN)

Two of the big three US carriers, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, offer scheduled services to San Diego International Airport (SAN) from LAX. Both airlines are scheduled to operate 90 flights each to San Diego in June. Delta offers 6,300 seats and over 686,000 ASMs on the route. United, on the other hand, offers 6,786 seats and nearly 740,000 ASMs.

Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock

On a typical day in June, Delta operates three flights to SAN using the Embraer ERJ-175 jets. United also operates the 54-minute hop using its ERJ-175 aircraft. While there is no other competition on this route, a large number of codeshare airlines (of Delta and United) market and sell tickets for the route.

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Los Angeles (LAX) to Santa Barbara, California (SBA)

United Airlines will operate 60 flights to Santa Barbara (SBA) airport in June. The twice-daily service (on most days) is operated by the carrier’s ERJ-175 jets. SkyWest operates the 56-minute route on behalf of United Airlines. With no other direct competition, Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Avianca, among others, market their route as a codeshare opportunity. United Airlines offers over 9,000 seats on the route in June on 120 flights, offering over 800,000 ASMs.

Los Angeles (LAX) to San Luis Obispo, California (SBP)

Another short route between LAX and San Luis Obispo (SBP), which lasts one hour and five minutes, is operated twice daily by United Airlines. The second-largest carrier by revenue offers 60 round-trip flights in June, amounting to nearly 8,700 seats and nearly 1.3 million ASMs. Operated by Skywest Airlines on behalf of United, the Embraer ERJ-175 jets are utilized. Avianca, Copa, and Austrian market the flights on codeshare rights.

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The other two

Los Angeles (LAX) to Fresno, California (FAT)

United Airlines connects Fresno, California (FAT) to LAX by means of 60 roundtrip services offered. The twice-daily route is operated using the carrier’s Embraer ERJ-175. This one-hour 14-minute journey up north is also marketed by United Airlines’ codeshare partners, including Lufthansa, Asiana, and Air New Zealand.

Photo: Jetstream Aviation Capital

Los Angeles (LAX) to Imperial, California (IPL)

Southern Airways Express operates this 75-minute hop to Imperial using its Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. With up to three daily flights, the airline offers 71 flights in June, with 568 total seats. This accumulates to approximately 1.7 million ASM on the route. All Pilatus aircraft in the carrier’s fleet can seat up to eight passengers.

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What are your thoughts on the shortest routes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)? Have you traveled on any of these routes? What was your shortest flight? Share your experience in the comments section.