Travelers in Southern California can now fly out of a brand-new facility in the Los Angeles area following the official opening Tuesday of a modernized Hollywood Burbank Airport.
Airport officials say the project marks the first time in decades that a new commercial airport terminal has been built from the ground up in the Los Angeles area.
The new terminal was designed to preserve the convenience and ease that long defined the former Bob Hope Airport, while introducing updated features and a modern travel experience ahead of major upcoming events across the region.
Rather than expanding or renovating the existing structure, authorities constructed the facility on a separate footprint and executed a transition while existing operations continued without interruption.
Commercial operations at the facility began Tuesday with the departure of an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Santa Rosa. Shortly after, a Southwest Airlines flight coming in from Las Vegas became the first arrival at the facility.
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“The new terminal delivers the convenient, traveler-friendly experience that has long set Hollywood Burbank Airport apart, while providing modern infrastructure designed to serve the region for decades to come,” Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Executive Director John Hatanaka said in a statement.
While modernization and an aging facility were part of the equation, officials said safety concerns were the primary driver behind building the new structure.
According to a press release from the airport authority, the new building incorporates enhanced physical separation between the airfield runways and the main facility. Designers also built the facility to meet current earthquake resilience standards and updated Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements.
Despite the structural overhauls, travelers will still encounter familiar elements from the old site. Travelers will still board their flights on the tarmac, an increasing rarity in modern aviation, and one that officials say was a popular part of the boarding experience.
To streamline the trip from arrival to departure, the location now features valet parking within the main parking structure. Rideshare pickup and drop-off zones were also relocated just steps from the main doors.
Inside, the design incorporates elements from the entertainment industry and Southern California culture.
A new bar overlooking the airfield is intended to transform pre-flight time into “part of the travel experience,” while rotating installations from local artists are featured throughout the building, officials said.
The former Hollywood Burbank Airport was among the most beloved hubs among Angelenos due to its ease of access, quick security, and convenience that the larger Los Angeles International Airport has always lacked. It was considered by many L.A. residents to be one of the best kept secrets among locals and frequent flyers.
For those who are planning trips to Los Angeles via Burbank, there are many nearby destinations worth the trip.
The airport is just minutes from Universal Studios Hollywood, downtown L.A., Pasadena, and the broader San Fernando Valley.
Airport officials said the timing of the opening is particularly significant as Southern California prepares to welcome international visitors leading up to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Officials say the reborn airport will be able to serve both local residents and regional visitors for decades to come.
Building the Hollywood Burbank Airport
The grand opening of the new airport terminal is a major milestone for the Los Angeles area, and a testament to what can be built when major infrastructure projects are planned the right way.
It took only 33 months to build, and cost around $1.3 billion for the 355,000-square-foot facility.
Its successful opening has been contrasted with the LAX People Mover, which was originally set to open in 2023, but has since been pushed back to next year at the earliest, and is already believed to be more than $1 billion over budget.
