Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is getting a major revamp to prepare for the city’s time in the global spotlight as the host of the 2028 Olympic Games.
A significant portion of that undertaking will begin at the end of the month, with the airport’s Terminal 5 set to close in phases during the last week of October in preparation for a complete rebuild. Airlines that are based in Terminal 5 will relocate their operations to different terminals at LAX in shifts.
JetBlue became the first airline to move its operations from Terminal 5 on October 21. The carrier’s flights are now based in Terminal 1. Next, Spirit Airlines will move to Terminal 2 on October 22, followed by American Airlines changing locations to Terminal 4 on October 28.
The new Terminal 5 construction project will bring “design upgrades that are part of our plan to deliver a more seamless, comfortable, and modern travel experience,” according to the airport.
The rebuilt terminal is part of a larger $30 billion capital improvement plan underway at LAX. That improvement plan has included new airport facilities, like the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal, which opened in May 2021, as well as an automated people mover set to open in early 2026.
Terminal 5 is set to open in 2027, along with modernized features slated for the existing Terminal 4. As part of the $1.6 billion upgrade of the two terminals, travelers can expect to see a new centralized location for ticketing, screening, and baggage claim and a post-security connection between Terminal 4 and 5. The newly built and unified space will measure more than 300,000 square feet and offer a total of 30 gates.
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