Long Beach Airport (LGB): Art Deco Charm and Boeing Country Heritage
Long Beach Airport (IATA: LGB) is one of Southern California's most historically significant commercial airports, housed in a stunning 1941 Art Deco terminal building that the city of Long Beach has preserved as a landmark while serving modern aviation needs. Located just off the 405 freeway in the heart of Long Beach, LGB has served as a secondary relief airport for the greater Los Angeles region for decades, offering faster processing times and easier parking than LAX. The airport sits adjacent to the Long Beach Boeing facility, where the C-17 Globemaster III military transport was manufactured for decades before production ended — a reminder of the deep aerospace heritage embedded in this corner of Los Angeles County. LGB currently serves primarily Southwest Airlines, along with American and Delta, providing nonstop service to major domestic markets from a compact, open-air terminal experience that passengers consistently rate among the most pleasant in California.
Long Beach Airport operates under strict slot controls and nighttime curfews that limit the number of daily commercial operations, a product of noise-sensitive residential neighborhoods that surround the facility. These restrictions cap commercial activity at roughly 50 daily departures, which keeps the airport from competing directly with LAX or BUR on volume but ensures a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere. The airport's single runway (12/30, with a shorter parallel runway 07L/07R for general aviation) handles the commercial and general aviation mix that defines LGB's character. The fixed-base operators (FBOs) at LGB serve a thriving general aviation community, with connections to the Long Beach sailing and boating culture, the offshore oil industry, and the entertainment-adjacent Westside Los Angeles market.
What airlines operate flights from Long Beach Airport (LGB)?
Southwest Airlines is the primary carrier at LGB, operating nonstop service to more than a dozen destinations including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Oakland, Sacramento, and Seattle. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines also serve LGB with connections to their hubs. The airport's slot limitations mean the flight schedule is fixed and seats often sell quickly, particularly for popular leisure routes to Las Vegas and the Pacific Northwest.
Why does Long Beach Airport have slot restrictions?
LGB's commercial operations are governed by an Airport Noise Compatibility Program that caps the number of daily departures and prohibits scheduled commercial flights during nighttime hours. These restrictions were established following community advocacy by residents of Bixby Knolls, Los Cerritos, and surrounding neighborhoods who documented noise impacts. The restrictions have been subject to periodic legal challenges by airlines seeking expanded access.
Is the historic LGB terminal still in use?
Yes. The 1941 Art Deco terminal building — featuring a distinctive white facade, curved lines, and original architectural details — still serves commercial passengers. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been carefully integrated into modern airport operations including updated security screening facilities and updated concessions while preserving its period character.
What is the connection between Long Beach Airport and Boeing?
The Long Beach Boeing facility (formerly McDonnell Douglas) operated adjacent to LGB for decades, producing commercial aircraft (including MD-80 and MD-90 series) and the C-17 Globemaster III military transport. The C-17 line closed in 2015, and Boeing subsequently wound down most Long Beach operations, but the aerospace heritage remains central to Long Beach's industrial identity and the airport still serves general aviation users connected to the defense industry.
Long Beach Airport - LGB Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Long Beach, California.
| Name | Long Beach Airport - LGB |
| Address | 4100 Donald Douglas Drive, Long Beach CA 90808 Map |
| Phone | (562) 570-2600 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Long Beach Airport - LGB
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LGB Ground Access, Parking, and the Long Beach Aviation Community
Long Beach Airport's compact footprint makes ground access refreshingly simple compared to LAX. Parking structures and surface lots are steps from the terminal, with short-term and economy options available at rates well below those at LAX. The airport is directly accessible from the 405 and 710 freeways, and the Metro A Line (Blue Line) light rail stops at the Long Beach Transit Mall downtown — a short bus or rideshare connection from LGB. Rideshare pickup and taxi zones are clearly marked at the terminal curb. The airport's proximity to the Long Beach Convention Center, downtown waterfront hotels, and the Queen Mary makes LGB the logical choice for convention travelers attending events at the Long Beach Convention Center, which draws major automotive shows, anime conventions, and industry conferences.
Long Beach Airport is operated by the City of Long Beach Department of Airport Operations and participates in Caltrans Division of Aeronautics' statewide aviation system planning. The general aviation side of the field hosts several flight schools, charter operators, and corporate aviation tenants drawn by LGB's position as a less congested alternative to LAX and Torrance/Hawthorne airports in the South Bay. The airport's Art Deco terminal has hosted celebrity arrivals, film productions (the distinctive period architecture provides a ready-made set), and has been recognized by travel media as one of the most visually appealing small commercial airports in the United States. For travelers originating in the Long Beach, Lakewood, Cerritos, or Carson areas, LGB offers a genuinely superior experience to the alternatives, and the slot restrictions that frustrate airlines are precisely what makes the experience so pleasant for passengers.