Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) opened its new $1.3 billion passenger terminal Tuesday, Oct. 13, replacing its aging facilities with a larger, modern building designed to improve safety and passenger comfort while preserving the airport’s small-scale appeal. The 355,000-square-foot terminal features updated security checkpoints, indoor baggage claim, and additional passenger amenities, but retains the airport’s 14 gates and outdoor aircraft boarding.
A Terminal Designed Around Safety and Efficiency
The new terminal replaces facilities dating to 1930, addressing longstanding concerns about runway proximity, earthquake safety and accessibility. Built on the opposite side of the airfield from the former terminals, the building increases the distance between terminal and the nearest runway from about 257 feet to approximately 880 feet. The project took 33 months of construction and cost about $1.3 billion. Despite the larger footprint, airport officials have described it as a replacement rather than an expansion of the airport’s overall gate capacity.
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin highlighted the importance of maintaining the airport’s character during the transition.
“You can see just exactly that, that they didn’t want to lose that sort of nostalgic feeling from the other terminal,” Omishakin said during the terminal’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new building also meets current seismic and accessibility standards, while its redesigned layout moves passenger operations farther from potential runway conflicts.
The terminal offers higher ceiling, wider corridors, additional charging outlets and a centralized indoor baggage claim area with three carousels. Eight Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening lines serve the terminal, compared with five in its previous setup. Passenger will also find a new entrance at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way, replacing the former entrance off Thornton Avenue. A new parking structure provides about 2,000 spaces, including electric vehicle charging facilities. However, Burbank is retaining one of its most distinctive features: passengers will continue boarding and leaving aircraft via outdoor stairs rather than enclosed jet bridges.
The opening also brought initial challenges, according to reports by Los Angeles Times, airport staff had to redirect passengers who arrived at the former terminals, while several food concessions were not yet fully operational on opening day.
What the Opening Means for Los Angeles Travelers
Located in the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood Burbank airport (BUR) is an alternative to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for travelers seeking access to the region. Its smaller footprint and convenient location have long appealed to passengers looking to avoid the larger airport’s more complex layout.
The new terminal modernizes the passenger experience without increasing the number of gates, whether the upgrades translate into shorter waits and smoother journeys will become clearer as airlines and airports staff settle into the new facility. For now, the opening marks a major milestone for an airport whose replacement terminal had been discussed for decades, bringing its infrastructure closer to modern aviation safety while preserving its regional identity.
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