Traffic delays expected around LAX on day before Thanksgiving

Students traveling through Los Angeles International Airport today for Thanksgiving break can expect extra traffic delays because of a service employee demonstration scheduled in the surrounding area.

The labor demonstration, which is being organized by a union of service employees of the hotels and other facilities in the vicinity of the airport, is expected to take place from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on and around Century Boulevard, according to a press release from Los Angeles World Airports, released Nov. 19.

The labor demonstration could create traffic delays on Sepulveda Boulevard and the Sepulveda Tunnel as well, according to the press release.

The labor demonstration was planned for Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving ““ one of the busiest traveling days of the year ““ to make a greater impact, said David Karwaski, planning and policy manager for UCLA Transportation.

The labor demonstration came as a surprise for Alan Golombek, a first-year undeclared student who is planning on flying home to New York from LAX today.

“I expected normal holiday traffic, but not a full-on strike delay,” Golombek said.

Students getting on shuttle buses that run between UCLA and LAX should plan ahead to accommodate the possible delays, Karwaski said.

To allow travelers to get to LAX in a shorter amount of time, police will divert traffic routes around the demonstration areas, according to a statement from LAX airport police.

LAX police recommend travelers arrive at the terminal two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights, said Belinda Nettles, a representative of the LAX police department.

In light of the planned demonstration, travelers should add 90 minutes to their total travel time, Nettles said.

Some students said they were unaware of the potential delays from the demonstration, but will now adjust their travel plans in accordance with the possible delays.

Daniela Mayack, a second-year communications student, said she does not see the potential traffic delays as a big problem, though they do interfere with her plans to fly home from LAX today.

She said she was planning on taking the 6 p.m. FlyAway bus with her friends to catch her flight at 8:20 p.m.

“(This) means that I will have to pack instead of doing a group project,” Mayack said.

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