Hollywood Burbank Airport’s long-planned $1.3 billion transformation is moving closer to completion.
The airport’s major replacement terminal initiative, known as Elevate BUR, is now expected to be finished by Oct. 13, according to an updated construction schedule released Wednesday.
The new passenger terminal is designed to deliver a significant upgrade for travelers, with a more modern TSA security screening area, larger gate spaces and a broader selection of restaurants and food options.
BUR first opened in 1930, and officials have said the nearly century-old airport no longer meets today’s modern safety standards.
Airport leaders have highlighted several key improvements, including greater separation between the terminal and runways, as well as compliance with current earthquake-resistant construction requirements and ADA accessibility rules.
Travelers can also expect a 45,900-square-foot aircraft boarding area, a new parking structure with electric vehicle charging stations and a reconfigured airport access road, according to the airport.
In addition to the safety upgrades, Elevate BUR will include two levels and a basement, similar to the existing terminal, but with significantly more room. The new facility will span 355,000 square feet and serve the airport’s 14 gates.
Plans also call for a new ticketing lobby, updated airline check-in counters, baggage drop-off areas and additional retail options for passengers.
The long-awaited project was first unveiled in 2023, with crews breaking ground that December.
Construction on the massive overhaul is being spearheaded by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, which tapped the Holder, Pankow, TEC joint venture to build the new terminal, while Jacobs oversees project management.
The sleek new terminal is rising just north of the airport’s existing building, along San Fernando Road and North Hollywood Way. Once travelers move into the new digs, the decades-old terminal will be torn down, marking the end of an era for the airport.
