Hollywood Burbank Airport has traded its creaky 1930s terminal for something far roomier. The new 355,000-square-foot passenger terminal opened to the public on Oct. 13, CBS Los Angeles reported, and the airport project team puts the total cost at just under $1.3 billion.
What did not change is the number of gates. The building still has 14, exactly as many as the old one.
Burbank’s New Terminal by the Numbers
The replacement terminal covers 355,000 square feet, up from 232,000 square feet in the old building, according to the Elevate BUR project fact sheet. The Elevate BUR site lists the total at $1,298,700,000, including a locked-in design and construction price of about $1.11 billion. For comparison, the site has also covered how United opened Houston’s Terminal B North with 22 gates this fall.
That extra space goes to elbow room rather than more flights. The fact sheet describes the same 14 gates with more space around them, plus a new ticketing lobby, a new baggage screening system, an updated TSA checkpoint and a single new baggage claim area. Burbank regulars who once squeezed through cramped hallways will likely appreciate the change, especially anyone who has read lists of the worst airport terminals travelers have endured.
A New Entrance on the Other Side of the Airfield
The biggest adjustment for returning passengers is location. The terminal sits on the opposite side of the airfield from the old building, with its entrance at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way, CBS Los Angeles reported. The project site places it in the northeast quadrant of the airport and lists a new on-airport access road and a new parking structure with electric vehicle charging.
Officials said the building is one of only two all-electric airport facilities in the country. Inside, travelers will find expanded TSA screening areas, more charging ports and kiosks, and a baggage claim hall with three carousels under one roof. Anyone heading out on a holiday trip may want to brush up on habits experienced travelers avoid at the airport before the first visit.
Some old Burbank charm survives, and fans of the airport’s small-town feel can relax. Passengers will still board and deplane outdoors, walking across the tarmac much as they did before. California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said designers “didn’t want to lose that sort of nostalgic feeling from the other terminal.” Comfortable shoes, and perhaps one of a few airport travel outfit ideas, will help on breezy winter mornings.
Why the 1930s Terminal Had to Go
The old terminal had a long list of problems. According to the project’s frequently asked questions, it did not meet current Federal Aviation Administration standards for runway separation and object-free areas, and it fell short of current state building requirements. The new design moves operations farther from potential runway conflicts and meets current seismic and accessibility standards.
Burbank voters approved the replacement on Nov. 8, 2016, through Measure B. That agreement capped the terminal at 14 gates and 355,000 square feet and gave the City of Burbank a supermajority voice on key airport decisions about expansion and noise. The existing terminal is set to be demolished now that the new one is built.
The road from that vote to opening day took nearly a decade. The fact sheet shows engineering and construction firms were chosen in 2022, a design concept nicknamed the “Icon” was unveiled in 2023, and construction got underway in 2024. The airfield work also added a 45,900-square-foot aircraft parking area for boarding and deplaning.
Who Paid for the $1.3 Billion Terminal
Local taxpayers did not foot the bill. The FAQ says the project is funded by federal airport improvement grants, passenger facility charges, airport authority funds and airport revenue bonds, with airlines covering remaining costs. The authority closed $724.78 million in 2024 airport revenue bonds as part of that package. The FAQ also states that no state, county or local funds from Burbank, Glendale or Pasadena are being used. The project’s benefits page adds that construction created hundreds of jobs and that the terminal includes a central heating and cooling plant, wider corridors and more restaurants and concessions.
The airport itself has already announced the opening. Its press release page lists both an opening-day release and a ribbon-cutting announcement from October 2026. Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi said the facility “takes everything” travelers love about the airport while adding modern amenities and accessibility.
Burbank is served by carriers including Alaska, Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and United, according to the airport, a mix that includes several of the budget airlines in the United States. Travelers comparing airports can also check how others fared in J.D. Power’s best airports for 2026, and anyone flying over the holidays should note that the Transportation Department’s flight-delay rule now takes effect Feb. 1, 2027.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Busition – CC BY 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
