American Airlines starts $1.6B renovation project at LAX

American Airlines kicked off construction Wednesday on a major overhaul of two terminals that the airline operates out of at LAX.

As part of a new lease agreement with Los Angeles World Airports, American plans to spend $1.6 billion over the next decade remodeling terminals 4 and 5.

To start, the airline will build a connection between the terminals and a planned people mover system that will shuttle riders from the airport to a future Metro station at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street.

According to a statement from American, the company further plans to combine the entrances of the two terminals, creating a “unified departure hall” with new ticket counters and check-in areas. American will also upgrade the bathrooms, restaurants, seating, and shopping areas in the terminals.

The terminal upgrades are part of a larger overhaul at LAX that includes installation of the people mover system and a reconfiguration of the airport’s rental car facilities. Both are projected to open in 2023.

Some of the airport’s other terminals have already been upgraded, and Delta began a $1.9 billion renovation of terminals 2 and 3 earlier this year. LAWA, which operates LAX, is also adding a new 12-gate concourse to the Tom Bradley International Terminal. It’s set to open at the end of 2019.

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