Turbulence hits airlines serving L.A. County airports.

But United, Delta, American retain top three rankings

The uncertainty in the airline industry during the past few years is reflected in this week's List of the 25 largest passenger carriers using Los Angeles County airports.

The most striking thing about The List is how much it has changed since the last time the Business Journal compiled a similar one, which was ranked by passenger arrivals and departures in 1990.

In this week's List, based on passenger arrivals and departures in 1992, the rankings of only a handful of the top 25 carriers remain the same as 1990. There have been plenty of changes in airline passenger service in Los Angeles County over the past three years.

The only area in which the ranking has not changed is in the three largest carriers. In 1990, in order of passenger volume, the top three carriers were UAL Corp. (United Airlines), Delta Air Lines Inc. and AMR Corp. (American Airlines Inc.)

Those three carriers retained the top spots in this year's List, which is based on arrivals and departures at Los Angeles International, Burbank, Long Beach and Palmdale airports. In the last List, published in September 1991, the ranking was based on arrivals and departures solely at LAX, which is by far the busiest commercial airport in the county.

According to The List, United, based in Chicago, has an 18.6 percent market share in Los Angeles, with 8.8 million passengers. In 1990, United had a 14.2 percent market share at LAX, with 6.5 million passengers.

United was followed by Delta, with a 15.2 percent market share and 7.2 million passengers, and American, with 13.1 percent of the business and 6.2 million passenger arrivals and departures.

The total number of passengers carried by the 25 largest airlines operating in Los Angeles County in 1992 was 47.4 million, compared to 41.4 million in 1990 at LAX.

Following the three largest carriers, the rankings change dramatically. For instance, a major carrier, Pan American Airways, with a 4.5 percent market share and more than 2 million passengers in 1990, has gone out of business.

Three of the other top carriers, America West, Continental and Trans World Airlines, spent a good part of the past three years operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Earlier this year Continental came out of bankruptcy, as did TWA in early November.

America West, Continental and TWA were all in the top 10 of the 1991 List and they remain there in this year's ranking.

Another major change among the largest carriers is the situation with Southwest Airlines, which was No. 10 on the 1991 List. In this year's List, Southwest has moved up to No. 4.

Based in Dallas, Southwest is one of the few airlines in recent years that has significantly expanded its operations with more flights. Most other carriers have reduced service because of losses among domestic airlines that totaled $10 billion since 1990.

In the Los Angeles area, Southwest has become a major carrier, with frequent service to such destinations as San Francisco and Las Vegas. Southwest, which now holds a 10.5 percent market share compared to 3.7 percent in 1990, has attracted many passengers by offering frequent ticket discounts.

Southwest replaced USAir in the No. 4 spot on the current List. USAir, based in Washington, D.C. dropped to No. 6, with a 5.9 percent market share and 2.7 million passengers.

The List also reflects the growth of Los Angeles as a major international gateway. Though all of the 10 largest carriers are domestic airlines, the rest of The List is made up mostly of overseas-based lines. Among the largest foreign carriers, the biggest in terms of passenger volume offer service to Mexico and the Pacific Rim countries.