Hollywood Burbank Airport's $1.3 Billion New Terminal Set to Open October 13
Why It MattersAirport terminal upgrades built with larger tarmac footprints signal how regional fields position themselves to accommodate bigger narrowbody aircraft without expanding gate count.
What happened
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is on track to open its new $1.3 billion terminal on October 13, alongside a new parking structure. Ground was broken on the project in early 2024, and construction crews are now in the final phase of work.
The new terminal sits on the northeast corner of the airfield, with views of the Verdugo Mountains, replacing the original terminal on the southeast side. That older facility poses safety concerns due to its proximity to the runways and does not meet California seismic standards. Aircraft arriving on Runway 8 currently pull directly into gates after exiting the runway; the new terminal sits approximately 800 feet from the nearest runway, 15/33.
The terminal retains 14 gates, the same number as the current facility, but has a more expansive tarmac capable of accommodating larger aircraft such as the Boeing 737 MAX 10 and Airbus A321, though neither type currently operates at BUR. Southwest Airlines, the airport's largest carrier, flies the 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8 at BUR. Alaska Airlines, the second largest, operates the 737-900ER and MAX 9 and has the MAX 10 on order. American Airlines mainly schedules regional or narrowbody aircraft such as the A319, A320, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8 at the airport. The design incorporates Hollywood-themed elements, including a canopy called the "Silver Screen" with a perforated pattern inspired by the gown Marilyn Monroe wore when she serenaded President John F. Kennedy at his 1962 birthday celebration, and floor stripes echoing a searchlight motif. Passenger amenities include a large indoor ticketing area with self-service kiosks, a grand hall security checkpoint, indoor baggage claim carousels, large natural-light windows, and a post-security area with a bar and concessions overlooking the airfield. The floor follows the site's natural incline via ramps rather than steps.
Industry impact & what to watch
Airports built decades ago often face a mismatch between original runway-adjacent terminal siting and modern seismic and safety codes, and BUR's relocation to a site roughly 800 feet from Runway 15/33 illustrates how airports address that gap without adding gate capacity. Keeping the gate count at 14 while widening the tarmac footprint suggests officials are planning for aircraft size rather than flight volume, since neither the 737 MAX 10 nor the A321 currently flies scheduled service there.
Carriers at BUR currently operate smaller variants: Southwest's 737-700/800/MAX 8, Alaska's 737-900ER/MAX 9 with a MAX 10 on order, and American's A319/A320/737-800/MAX 8. Whether any of them shift to larger aircraft at BUR will depend on demand and on Alaska's pending MAX 10 delivery timeline, not on the terminal alone.
The airport plans at least two passenger trials before the October 13 opening, and demolition of the current terminal will follow, though no use for that vacated space has been announced. Those trial runs, and any carrier announcement about deploying larger aircraft at BUR, are the next concrete markers of whether the expanded tarmac capacity gets used.
