Hollywood Burbank Airport's New Terminal Opens October 13 |
Elevate BUR brings a $1.3 billion makeover, a new entrance and major parking changes |
 Illustrative airport photograph; not the new Hollywood Burbank Airport terminal. Photo: D YQ / Unsplash. |
Hollywood knows how to make an entrance. With a new passenger terminal scheduled to open on October 13, 2026, the region's smaller, famously manageable airport is preparing an entrance of its own.
Hollywood Burbank Airport's replacement passenger terminal, known as Elevate BUR, is a roughly $1.3 billion investment designed to bring the airport into a new era without sacrificing the convenience that made it a favorite alternative to LAX.
The replacement terminal's scheduled opening date is October 13, 2026. Travelers should check the airport's latest directions and terminal status before leaving home.
A New Terminal, Not More Gates
The new building covers approximately 355,000 square feet, compared with about 232,000 square feet in the existing terminal. That is a substantial change in space, but not in gate count.
The airport will still have 14 gates. The goal is to modernize the passenger experience and address longstanding safety and accessibility concerns, rather than simply squeeze in more gates.
That distinction matters in a region where airport expansion can be a sensitive subject. A bigger building does not automatically mean a bigger flight schedule.
The replacement terminal occupies the northeast portion of the airfield, farther from the runways than the aging facility. Airport officials have identified that separation as a central safety reason for replacing the old terminal.
Updated earthquake design, accessibility improvements and more modern passenger-processing systems are also part of the project.
What Will Feel Different Inside?
Travelers can expect a more spacious ticketing area, updated security screening, improved baggage handling and claim areas, and additional room to wait for flights.
New restrooms, charging opportunities and expanded food and retail options are part of the plan. The connected terminal layout is intended to make those options accessible regardless of a passenger's departure gate.
Anyone who has navigated a giant airport with a boarding pass in one hand and a rapidly cooling coffee in the other may appreciate the idea.
Burbank's appeal has long been its relatively compact footprint. The test for Elevate BUR will be whether the extra space makes the trip easier without turning a short walk into an expedition.
The airport has also emphasized that its familiar outdoor aircraft boarding experience will continue.
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The Important Change: Where You Drive
For travelers using the replacement terminal, one of the most consequential differences happens before reaching the check-in counter.
The new terminal entrance is at Hollywood Way and Winona Avenue, rather than the familiar approach to the old passenger terminal. Travelers should update their destination and follow current airport signage.
That is especially important for anyone arranging a ride, picking up relatives or heading out before dawn on autopilot.
Parking arrangements are changing too. The airport says its parking structure and valet operations will move to the new terminal on October 13.
Lot E is scheduled to close permanently that day. Lot C had already closed in August.
Drivers should review current lot availability and rates rather than assume their usual parking routine still applies. Construction-related traffic changes may also affect approaches around Hollywood Way.
Official parking details are available on the Hollywood Burbank Airport website, while the Elevate BUR project website carries construction updates.
Why the Old Terminal Had to Go
The original airport opened in 1930, and the existing passenger facilities reflect a much earlier era of aviation. They served generations of Angelenos, tourists and entertainment workers.
But an airport building can be beloved and outdated at the same time.
The replacement effort has been discussed for decades. Burbank voters approved the project in 2016, and a formal groundbreaking took place in January 2024.
The project has involved a new passenger terminal, parking infrastructure, access roads and supporting facilities. The total estimated project cost is approximately $1.3 billion, a figure broader than the construction contract for the terminal alone.
Officials have presented the move as a way to address modern safety standards while keeping Burbank's airport identity intact.
After passenger operations transfer, the old terminal is expected to be demolished as part of resolving the runway-clearance problem.
Why Hollywood Travelers Should Care
Despite its Burbank address, the airport is an important gateway for Hollywood, Universal City, North Hollywood, Studio City and nearby production centers.
For travelers headed to a television shoot, a family gathering or a weekend away, its location can be a welcome alternative to the cross-city journey to LAX.
That does not make it the best airport for every itinerary. Routes, prices and ground transportation still matter. But the airport's scale has always been part of its appeal.
The replacement terminal gives Burbank an opportunity to preserve that advantage while providing a more comfortable and accessible experience.
Before Your Next Flight
The scheduled opening date is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The new entrance is at Hollywood Way and Winona Avenue, and the airport retains 14 gates.
Parking structure and valet operations are set to relocate on opening day, while Lot E closes. Check current airport advisories, airline notifications and transportation instructions before departing.
The official project site also offers construction videos that show the new facility taking shape. Those are a useful way to see the real building, rather than an artist's imagined version of it.
Hollywood is good at dramatic transformations, but this one will be judged by something wonderfully ordinary: whether travelers can arrive, find their gate and get on with their day.
If the new terminal manages that, it may turn out to be Burbank's most successful production yet. |
Sources and official traveler updatesOfficial Elevate BUR project Hollywood Burbank Airport — traveler information Corgan — October 12 terminal announcement Official terminal design renderings Hollywood Burbank Airport — official airport video Authentic new-terminal photographs — Senator Schiff's official gallery |
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