BURBANK, Calif., July 8 (Burbank News Online) — Hollywood Burbank Airport is replacing its existing terminal complex with a new single terminal expected to open in October 2026. The project, overseen by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, is designed to change how passengers move through the airport — with a new ticketing lobby, security checkpoint, baggage claim area, shops, restaurants and parking structure — while keeping the airport’s 14-gate count the same.
The replacement terminal is one of the biggest transportation projects in Burbank in years. Here is what it is, why it is being built and what travelers should expect.
What is being built?
The project replaces Hollywood Burbank Airport’s two smaller terminal areas with one larger building. Airport project materials describe the new facility as a modern terminal with 14 gates, a new TSA checkpoint, baggage claim, concessions and a parking garage.
Project descriptions put the terminal at roughly 335,000 to 355,000 square feet. The reporting available on the project does not show a single official figure, so the size is best understood as approximate.
The new entrance is planned for the Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way area, according to airport officials quoted in reporting on the project.
Why is the airport doing this?
The airport says the replacement project is meant to modernize an aging facility and make the passenger experience easier to use. A voter-approved replacement project was first approved in 2016, and the broader effort is referred to as Elevate BUR in project materials and reporting.
The old terminal buildings are expected to be torn down after the new one opens.
When did construction start, and when will it open?
Construction began in January 2024. One project update says terminal construction itself began in May 2024.
The airport has said the project is on track for an October 2026 opening. An updated timeline cited in reporting lists Oct. 13, 2026, as the opening date.
Progress reports have varied over time. One update said the terminal was about 32% complete in March 2025. Another said the project was about 55% complete in September 2025, after steel framing was finished.
What will change for passengers?
For travelers, the biggest change will be a single, larger terminal instead of the current split setup. That should mean a more centralized ticketing area, a new security screening checkpoint and a new baggage claim area.
The airport is also building a parking structure. One project description says the garage will hold 2,007 spaces, including 400 valet spots, while the airport’s total parking supply will remain 6,637 spaces.
Airport officials have said the airport’s operating hours and number of flights will not change as part of the project.
What stays the same?
The airport’s 14 gates will remain in place, even though the terminal building itself is being replaced.
The airport will still serve the same region and keep the same basic air service pattern once the new building opens. The main difference will be the passenger facilities and the layout of the terminal area.
Who is building it?
Project reporting identifies the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority as the public body coordinating the work. The design-build team includes Holder Construction, Pankow Builders and TEC Constructors & Engineers, with Jacobs handling project management. Architectural work is also associated with Corgan and CannonDesign.
What is known about the money?
The project is described as a $1.3 billion replacement terminal. The available project summaries do not provide a full funding breakdown, so the public information here shows the total project cost but not how every dollar is being paid for.
Why does this matter for transportation in Burbank?
Hollywood Burbank Airport is a major regional airport for Southern California, and the replacement terminal is intended to make arrivals, departures, parking and security screening work more smoothly. Because the airport also sits near the Metrolink Burbank Airport North stop, the project matters not only for air travelers but also for people connecting by rail and using nearby road access.
For passengers, the bottom line is simple: the airport is not shutting down, but its main terminal experience is being rebuilt around a new building that airport leaders say should be ready by October 2026.
