The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is by far the area's largest airport and one of the busiest in the world. LAX ranks sixth when it comes to the number of passengers in all of the world's airports. Located about 25 miles southwest of Pasadena, the Los Angeles International Airport deals in both international and domestic flights. LAX features a two-level roadway, nine passenger terminals, a car rental center, a first aid station and a shuttle service to and from the parking lot. LAX also offers brand-name restaurants, shopping and newsstands to pass the time while you wait for your flight.
The Los Angeles/Ontario International Airport resides about 40 miles east of Pasadena, in California's Inland Empire. Similar to LAX, the LA/Ontario airport offers both domestic and International flights on many commercial airlines. The airport was renovated and reopened in 1998 and, as of January 2011, services over 220 commercial flights daily, making it one of the area's largest airports. Aside from commercial travel, the LA/Ontario International Airport provides freight service in conjunction with the area's major freeways and railroads. With its ideal location, the airport carries airfreight for cargo shipping throughout the Pacific Rim and Europe.
The Bob Hope Airport, also called the Burbank Airport, lies only about 15 miles northwest of Pasadena in the city of Burbank, Calif. The Bob Hope Airport maintains over 80 flights daily, making it much smaller than LAX and LA/Ontario. The airport prides itself on its small size, calling themselves a "no-hassle airport" with average security wait lines of just five minutes.
Located in the city of Long Beach, Calif., the Long Beach Airport is about 35 miles south of Pasadena. Another fairly small airport, as of January 2011 the Long Beach Airport flies to just 19 destinations across the United States. The main terminal is considered a cultural historic landmark, as it was built in 1941, almost 30 years before LAX's commercial terminal.
Another airport named after a celebrity, the John Wayne Airport is about 50 miles south of Pasadena in Orange County, Calif. The airport is home to two cargo-, two commuter- and 10 commercial airlines servicing multiple destinations within the United States. With only two runways, the John Wayne Airport is one of the area's smallest.
