Hollywood Burbank Airport Welcomes the First Travelers to Its New Airport Terminal

Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) officially opened its new passenger facility today, ushering in a new era for air travel in Southern California and marking Los Angeles’ first new commercial airport terminal in decades.

The opening confirms the completion of a landmark infrastructure project that saw an entirely new passenger airport terminal built from the ground up while existing airport operations continued uninterrupted. Rather than expanding or renovating the current airport structure, the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA) constructed a new terminal and executed a seamless transition to the new facility. Designed to preserve the convenience and ease that have long defined the BUR experience, the new airport pairs modern amenities with the passenger-friendly features that have made it a preferred gateway to Los Angeles for generations.

As BUR begins operations in its new home, Executive Director John Hatanaka says, “The new terminal delivers the convenient, traveler-friendly experience that has long set Hollywood Burbank Airport apart, while providing modern infrastructure designed to serve the region for decades to come.”

Commercial operations began with the departure of an Alaska Airlines flight to Santa Rosa, followed by the arrival of a Southwest Airlines flight originating from Las Vegas; those were the first departure and arrival flights.

The new facility streamlines the journey from arrival to departure with passenger-focused enhancements throughout the airport. Travelers will find valet parking within the airport’s parking structure, along with rideshare pickup and drop-off located just steps from the building. Inside, the airport reflects both its Southern California roots and its proximity to the entertainment capital of the world. A new bar overlooking the airfield transforms pre-flight time into part of the travel experience, while rotating installations from local artists create a strong sense of place throughout the building. The airport’s beloved outdoor boarding experience, a feature increasingly rare in commercial aviation, remains an integral part of the journey.

Passenger and employee safety was the driving force to build a new terminal. The design incorporates enhanced separation between the airport runways and the terminal building, along with updates to meet current earthquake resilience standards and ADA accessibility requirements.

The opening also reinforces Hollywood Burbank Airport’s position as one of the most convenient gateways to Los Angeles. Located minutes from Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, and Downtown Los Angeles, the airport offers travelers quick and easy access to many of the region’s most visited destinations while ushering in a new era of travel built on the same convenience and accessibility that have long defined the BUR experience.

The timing is particularly significant as Southern California prepares to welcome visitors from around the world in the years leading up to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With modern infrastructure, enhanced passenger amenities, and the convenience that has long distinguished BUR from larger airports, the new airport is well-positioned to serve both residents and visitors for decades to come.