On Monday, October 5th, officials celebrated the completion of the new terminal building at Hollywood Burbank Airport, which cost nearly $1.3 billion. The facility with 14 boarding gates is scheduled to officially open to passengers in 8 days.
According to reports from the city news agency, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in the ticketing hall of the new terminal building, with regional, state, and local officials in attendance.
The new terminal building spans 355,000 square feet and is set to open to passengers on October 13th, replacing the existing terminal buildings, which were inaugurated in 1930 and cover 232,000 square feet. It will also maintain the same number of 14 boarding gates.
Airport officials described it as a replacement project and not an expansion of airport capacity.
California Transportation Director Toks Omishakin pointed out that locating the new terminal building on the other side of the airport, further away from the runway, enhances safety.
Officials stated that the building also meets current seismic and accessibility standards and is one of only two fully electrified airport facilities in the United States.
Democratic U.S. Senator from California, Adam Schiff, announced securing over $8 million in federal funding for the project. He stated that the new terminal building will boost the region’s transportation system and economic development.
The planning for the replacement terminal building dates back to the 1980s. At that time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the existing terminal buildings were too close to the runway, unable to provide sufficient flight safety margins.
Due to opposition from neighboring communities, the related plans had been stalled for decades. Burbank voters ultimately approved Measure B in November 2016 with a 70% majority, removing a major obstacle for replacing the terminal buildings.
Construction began in January 2024. In the last of three operational tests last month, 1,500 volunteers participated, testing the parking, ticketing, baggage handling, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening, and boarding operations at the new terminal building.
Airport staff, airline employees, and TSA personnel also participated in the test on September 19th. Airport officials reported that 98% of feedback was positive, with signs and directional guidance identified as areas for improvement.
The new terminal building features a larger TSA screening area, more charging outlets, self-service kiosks, and three baggage carousels in an indoor hall.
The airport will continue with outdoor boarding and disembarkation procedures rather than using covered jet bridges.
The project includes a new 7-story parking structure located opposite the terminal building entrance. Passengers using ride-sharing services can utilize the new pick-up and drop-off area near the terminal building, while rental car passengers will take shuttles to the existing centralized rental car facilities on Hollywood Way.
After the terminal’s opening on the 13th, the main airport entrance will shift from the current Thornton Avenue entrance to the intersection of Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way. Valet parking services will also move to the new terminal building, and the E parking lot will be permanently closed.
The Burbank Airport-North Metrolink station will be connected to the new terminal building through a pedestrian walkway and on-demand shuttle services.
The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, established by the three cities in 1977, owns and operates the airport. Each city appoints three members, forming a nine-member commission.
The Authority stated that the project did not utilize state, county, or local funding from Burbank, Glendale, or Pasadena. Funding sources include airport revenue bonds, federal grants, passenger facility charges, and Authority funds. ◇