Hollywood Burbank Airport is preparing to open its new $1.3 billion passenger terminal on October 13, 2026, replacing facilities that have served the airport for decades.
The new terminal contains approximately 355,000 square feet, 14 gates, updated security and baggage facilities, restaurants, retail, and a new parking structure.
The airport held a ribbon-cutting ceremony October 5 ahead of the scheduled public opening.
For Los Angeles residents, this is one of the region’s significant transportation openings of the year. It also changes something practical: where travelers need to go.
What is the new Hollywood Burbank Airport terminal?
The project is known as Elevate BUR. It replaces older passenger facilities with a modern building intended to address safety, accessibility, and operational limitations.
The airport authority describes it as a safety project rather than a major flight-capacity expansion.
The new terminal retains 14 gates, the same number as the previous facility.
The goal is better passenger circulation, updated systems, and greater separation between the terminal and runways, not simply making the airport bigger.
When does the new terminal open?
The scheduled public opening is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The airport celebrated the project with an October 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Travelers should verify directions, parking arrangements, and terminal access before leaving home. Major airport transitions can involve temporary traffic changes.
Where is the new terminal located?
The replacement terminal is in the northeastern portion of the airport.
Official traveler guidance identifies the address as 2827 North Hollywood Way, with an entrance at Hollywood Way and Winona Avenue.
That is a meaningful change from the old terminal arrangement.
Regular passengers should not assume their usual driving route or pickup location is unchanged. The same advice applies to rideshare users and anyone arranging a pickup.
What will be different inside?
Passengers will use a consolidated facility with a central ticketing hall, security checkpoint, and baggage claim instead of navigating separate terminal areas.
The design includes updated technology, improved accessibility, and additional amenities.
The airport authority describes a larger environment with more shopping and dining options.
For occasional travelers and visitors, clearer circulation may be as useful as the architectural improvements.
What about parking?
Parking arrangements change with the terminal opening. According to the airport’s published guidance, parking structure and valet operations relocate to the new terminal on October 13.
Lot E is scheduled to close permanently that day. Lot C closed in August as part of the transition.
The new parking structure sits near the terminal entrance.
Check current availability, prices, and directions instead of relying on previous habits. A familiar parking route may no longer work.
Can you still take Metrolink to Burbank Airport?
Yes. Hollywood Burbank Airport is served by two Metrolink stations.
Burbank Airport–South is on the Ventura County Line. Burbank Airport–North is on the Antelope Valley Line.
Metrolink’s updated guidance says South station passengers can connect to the new terminal by airport shuttle. From North station, travelers can walk about half a mile or use an on-demand airport shuttle.
For residents with convenient rail access, that can be an alternative to driving and paying for parking. Confirm shuttle instructions before traveling.
Will the airport have more flights?
The replacement terminal does not automatically mean more flights.
The airport authority specifically characterizes Elevate BUR as a safety and modernization effort rather than a capacity expansion.
The terminal maintains the existing 14-gate configuration. Future airline service depends on airline decisions, demand, and operating conditions.
It would be misleading to present this opening as an announcement of substantial new flight capacity.
Why did the airport need a replacement?
The older terminal was built under standards that differ from current airport design requirements.
The replacement is intended to improve runway separation, accessibility, seismic performance, and passenger operations.
Those improvements may be less visible than new restaurants or a dramatic roofline, but they are central to the project.
A modern airport must work safely and efficiently for passengers, employees, airlines, and emergency services.
What does the new building look like?
The selected design is called The Icon. Its distinctive feature is a sweeping roof canopy extending toward the entrance and adjacent parking structure.
The design references Southern California’s entertainment industry and creates a recognizable arrival experience.
That is appropriate for an airport serving Burbank, Hollywood, and surrounding entertainment and production communities.
Transportation facilities also function as civic architecture. For many visitors, an airport is their first impression of a region.
Why does this matter to people living in Los Angeles?
Transportation access is part of neighborhood convenience.
Someone living in Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, Burbank, or Glendale may evaluate airport access differently from someone living in Santa Monica or the South Bay.
For some households, Burbank is already an attractive alternative to LAX because of its location.
The new terminal may improve the experience, although convenience still depends on location, route, airline, and schedule.
Transportation belongs in conversations about where people want to live because it affects everyday decisions.
Could the terminal affect nearby real estate?
Major transportation investments can change how people perceive an area, but I would not claim the terminal automatically increases nearby home values.
Airport proximity involves tradeoffs. Some buyers value convenient flights and employment access; others are sensitive to noise and traffic.
A house directly under a flight path presents different considerations from a condominium several miles away.
Buyers should evaluate actual noise exposure and transportation patterns rather than assuming airport proximity is always a benefit or always a drawback.
What should travelers do before their first visit?
Confirm the new address, review updated parking information, and check pickup or drop-off instructions.
Anyone using Metrolink should check current shuttle directions. Travelers should allow extra time during the initial transition, especially if they have not used the airport recently.
The most important change is simple: do not assume the route you used last month is still the correct route.
Frequently asked questions
When does the new terminal open? The airport has scheduled October 13, 2026. Verify the actual opening before travel.
Where is the new terminal? 2827 North Hollywood Way, near Hollywood Way and Winona Avenue.
How many gates are there? Fourteen, unchanged from the previous terminal.
Is there new parking? Yes, and parking operations are changing.
Can I take Metrolink? Yes, via connections to the South and North airport stations.
Does this mean more flights? Not necessarily. The project is a safety and modernization effort.
Paul's take
I see this as an important quality-of-life improvement for the eastern San Fernando Valley and nearby communities.
People tend to focus on the home itself when comparing neighborhoods, but transportation matters too.
How easily can you reach work? How much time do you spend driving? Is public transit useful? How convenient is the nearest airport?
The terminal will not change everyone’s daily routine, but for residents who use Burbank regularly, it is a meaningful infrastructure improvement.
Talk with Paul Adams II
If you are considering moving to Burbank, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Glendale, or another Los Angeles neighborhood, I can help you compare housing options alongside the transportation and lifestyle considerations that matter to you.