Dramatic LAX Renovation To Reportedly Create 40,000 Jobs

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Travelers who pass through Los Angeles International Airport will soon be treated to the ultimate Beverly Hills experience.

KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports celebrity chefs joined L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials in unveiling an $80-million renovation project at the airport.

"L-A-X, when it comes to airports these are some of the most recognizable letters anywhere, not just in the country but in the world," said Villaraigosa, adding that the iconic airport was in need of a facelift.

The mayor said the project is intended to reclaim LAX's identity as an international destination that will increase tourism and keep Angelenos working.

"We have an airport that says to the world, 'LAX is back and better than ever,'" he said.

Over 50 premier dining and luxury retail outlets- including 22 local brands - will make up the latest installment in a $1.5 billion development project for the new Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

High-end stores including Armani, Coach and Hugo Boss are among those expected to debut when Phase One of the renovation is completed next spring.

Developer Westfield Concession Management along with tenant partners are investing in the remake of the terminal, which also includes a Great Hall and 18 new boarding gates built to accommodate next-generation aircraft like the Airbus A380 super jumbo jet.

Along with eclectic - and expensive - dining options like Petrossian Caviar and Champagne Bar and Lucky Fish by Sushi Roku, Westfield Co-CEO Peter Lowy said the new terminal will also offer many local flavors among the high-end eating options.

"The way you capture the flavor of a city is through is food," Lowy said.

The renovation is the largest public works project in L.A. history and part of an ongoing $4.1-billion LAX modernization program that is projected to create 40,000 jobs without the use of taxpayer dollars, according to officials.