Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has opened a new taxiway to improve safety on the ground at the busy hub.

The $83 million taxiway, which has been under construction over the past 12 months, is 1.8 miles long and is part of a wider programme of improvements to the airport's south side facilities.

The Federal Aviation Administration said: "This is an immense safety improvement because it eliminates the circustmances that lead to many runway incidents on the south airfield, including some very serious incidents".

The FAA was referring to LAX's poor record for runway incursions in recent years. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released last December said LAX recorded the highest number of near-misses on airport taxiways and runways of any US airport since 2001.

Runway Incursions at LAX

In 2006 and 2007, according to FAA figures, there were no fewer than 16 runway incursions at LAX.
Officials from both the FAA and LAX's operator Los Angeles World Airports, said LAX's new taxiway would reduce the potential for collisions.

The incursions occurred because the previous taxiway layout resulted in aircraft stopping too close to the innermost runway, which is used for take-offs. The new taxiway solves the problem by increasing the space between runways.

The taxiway necessitated the reconstruction of the airport's southern runway.

Jon Russell, an airline pilot and a member of the regional Air Line Pilots Association, said: "Pilots can no longer make a straight shot across the airfield. They will have to slow down and make a turn onto the center taxiway. It keeps planes moving and simplifies the controller's job".

Source - Airport International's US Correspondent

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