American Airlines and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) have
officially broken ground on a $1.6 billion renovation of terminals 4 and 5 at
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which are the airports' two largest
domestic terminals.
The project is to be done in phases with completion targeted
before the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. It will initially be financed by
American, but LAWA will reimburse the airline for most of the work as part of
the carrier's lease agreement.
Once complete, the project will result in a unified
departure hall that combines the entranceway of terminals 4 and 5. In addition,
the terminals will be reconfigured to have a unified 30-gate complex.
Improvements will also be made to security screening areas, terminal access from
the roadway and via public transit, and to restrooms and airport amenities, including
shops and restaurants.
Construction is already underway to reconfigure the Terminal
5 ticketing lobby.
The renovation of Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 is part of a
broader $14 billion remake of LAX that has long been underway.
Over the past decade, LAWA has spent approximately $8.5
billion on terminal work at the airport, including construction of the Tom
Bradley International Terminal, which opened in 2013. Also, construction of a
$1.6 billion,12-gate satellite international terminal is underway. In addition,
LAWA plans to spend $5.5 billion to improve airport access. That project
includes the construction of an airport people mover, which is scheduled for a
2023 opening.
Along with those projects, Delta is building a skyway to
connect terminals 2 and 3. The seven-year, $1.86 billion effort will include a
reconstruction of Terminal 3. LAWA approved the Delta project in May.