This Southern California Airport Is Getting A Brand-New $1.3B Terminal In 2026

There are two popular options for travelers who prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Long Beach Airport (LGB) and Hollywood Burbank (BUR). And while Long Beach Airport made the list of the most efficient and traveler-friendly U.S. airports in 2025, Hollywood Burbank Airport has been awaiting facility improvements for decades. The wait is finally over! Later this year, on October 13, Burbank will open the doors of its new $1.3 billion terminal, as soon as what's being called the "Elevate BUR" project is complete. The new terminal is situated north of the current terminals and will offer the same 14 gates (currently split between Burbank's Terminal A and Terminal B), but with a much larger footprint, focusing on convenience, safety, and a new, modern look. Due to safety standards, the old facility is set to be demolished.

Operation at Burbank Airport commenced in 1930, so it's no wonder that its facilities were in need of some upgrades. Elevate BUR doesn't just address customer comfort, convenience, and efficiency — it also satisfies requirements per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and current earthquake design standards. The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA) coordinated with neighboring cities and the surrounding communities to plan Elevate BUR, and the project, which began in 2016, broke ground in 2024.

Main highlights of the undertaking include airfield improvements (such as improved distance between runways and the terminal), and a new parking garage, but read on to learn more about specific benefits travelers can expect from Burbank's brand-new, 355,000-square-foot terminal.

While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may be doing its best to improve the experience of going through security (such as using touchless ID for screening and launching a new, upgraded security program), most passengers still dread this air travel requirement. But those flying out of Burbank Airport later this year can look forward to updated TSA passenger checkpoints, as well as improved baggage security screening and processing. Before passing through security, Elevate BUR upgrades will include a new ticketing lobby, airline check-in, and baggage drop-off facilities, while improvements in the gate areas offer wider corridors, bigger waiting areas, and more shopping and dining options. ADA accessibility standards are met throughout, and as it was a strong desire within the community to continue opting out of jet bridge use, there will be a new 45,900-square-foot aircraft parking area to better support outdoor boarding and deplaning.

As for the aesthetic of Burbank's new airport, it was important to honor the history of this location — after all, Hollywood is even part of its name. Several main focal points pay homage to the "Golden Age" of the film industry, according to Brent Kelley, managing principal at Corgan, an architecture firm that worked on the project. "The theme is definitely a throwback to old Hollywood," he told CoStar. The use of silver for a metallic canopy brings to mind the silver screen, while the columns that support it are meant to evoke images of the searchlights that accompanied old movie premieres. There will also be several art installations dedicated to the history of aviation.