Project Delivered: New Qantas LAX Hangar the Largest of its Kind in North America

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT— Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, were among the local and international dignitaries who attend today’s Grand Opening of the new Qantas Hangar at LAX.

Safe to say the new hangar is a big deal.

The Airbus A380 is the world’s largest commercial aircraft, and this new hangar is now North America’s largest A380 maintenance hangar, airline officials said. Xcel Mechanical Systems provided the HVAC, Plumbing and Piping solutions for the $30 million facility.

The hangar is 480 feet by 370 feet and 12 stories tall, big enough to accommodate and service up to four passenger jets simultaneously. In addition to aircraft maintenance, the airline will relocate its Los Angeles-based commercial business team into new office space designed into the new facility.

“The project was released under a General Contractor that we hadn’t done a lot of work with, so we were excited to land it, and to begin developing a relationship with a new industry partner,” said Juan Zelada, Xcel Mechanical project manager.

“We worked closely with the GC and the site team to help bring the design drawings forward before construction got underway. And then, we were able to take a lead on site to keep the project moving. Our field foremen did an excellent job managing their teams through to project delivery, and helped our company deliver this high-profile project.”

Qantas officials said the hangar becomes the only facility in the U.S. designed specifically to hold the behemoth plane, and touted the project as signaling the airline’s commitment to Los Angeles as well as to travelers making long-haul flights between the U.S. and Australia.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Alan Joyce said that while Australia will always be the carrier’s primary maintenance location, “LAX is our next biggest transit point so we’re pleased to now have a facility that reflects that.”

Qantas flies 40 flights per week between Los Angeles and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia. Joyce said the new hangar will make maintenance 20% more efficient because it allows more planes to fit in the facility at the same time.
Joyce said that Qantas also plans to rent out the facility to other carriers at LAX. Air France, British Airways, China Southern, Asiana, Emirates and Korean Air also fly the massive A380 jet for long-haul flights from LAX.

About Xcel Mechanical Systems, Inc.
Xcel Mechanical Systems is recognized across Southern California as an industry leader in commercial and industrial mechanical and plumbing engineering, design-build, and construction. Building owners, general contractors and consultants trust Xcel Mechanical to deliver cost-effective, dependable solutions that make buildings more comfortable, energy efficient, and easier to manage. We specialize in the Aerospace, Healthcare, Education, Commercial, Data Center, and LEED Construction sectors. For more information, please visit: www.xcelmech.com