Narrative:

While working the local assist position; I began coordinating with the departure radar controller about the release of aircraft from a satellite airport. Once I returned to monitoring the local frequency; I heard the end of a read back from aircraft X; and all I heard was him saying his call sign. As I looked out the window; I saw aircraft X crossing the hold bars at runway 24L to take the runway for departure. I assumed the local 2 controller has issued instructions to line up and wait (luaw); as there were 3 aircraft holding in between runway 24L and runway 24R. Our SOP states that no aircraft can be holding in between the runways when an A380 is departing. A moment later; I noticed aircraft X was beginning takeoff roll; while the 3 aircraft were still holding in between.because I was offline coordinating; I did not notice that the local controller had issued a takeoff clearance; rather than luaw. Otherwise I may have been able to prevent it. The A388 departed without incident.the fact that there can be no aircraft holding in between when an A380 is departing is egregious. Holding aircraft in between while an air driven generator-vi (aircraft design group vi) [includes B747-8 and A380] departs is a practice that we did multiple times per day for years without incident. Then one day; due to some administrative change in paperwork; we are no longer allowed to do it.we have attempted to mitigate this by asking the airport to move the hold bars on certain taxiways in between runway 24L and 24R. We have been met with resistance from the airport citing cost and time measures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LAX Tower Controller reported an A380 departed the left runway while multiple aircraft were holding between left and right runways.

Narrative: While working the Local Assist position; I began coordinating with the Departure Radar Controller about the release of aircraft from a satellite airport. Once I returned to monitoring the local frequency; I heard the end of a read back from Aircraft X; and all I heard was him saying his call sign. As I looked out the window; I saw Aircraft X crossing the hold bars at Runway 24L to take the runway for departure. I assumed the Local 2 Controller has issued instructions to line up and wait (LUAW); as there were 3 aircraft holding in between Runway 24L and Runway 24R. Our SOP states that no aircraft can be holding in between the runways when an A380 is departing. A moment later; I noticed Aircraft X was beginning takeoff roll; while the 3 aircraft were still holding in between.Because I was offline coordinating; I did not notice that the Local Controller had issued a takeoff clearance; rather than LUAW. Otherwise I may have been able to prevent it. The A388 departed without incident.The fact that there can be no aircraft holding in between when an A380 is departing is egregious. Holding aircraft in between while an ADG-VI (Aircraft Design Group VI) [Includes B747-8 and A380] departs is a practice that we did multiple times per day for years without incident. Then one day; due to some administrative change in paperwork; we are no longer allowed to do it.We have attempted to mitigate this by asking the airport to move the hold bars on certain taxiways in between runway 24L and 24R. We have been met with resistance from the airport citing cost and time measures.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.