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After 33 months of construction and $1.3 billion in spending, the Hollywood Burbank Airport’s new terminal opened on Tuesday morning, with a medley of arrivals and departures in the minutes after 7 a.m.

Instead of the snug, historic facility whose Spanish Colonial Revival style dated to 1930, travelers found themselves in a sleek terminal at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way, distinguished by high ceilings, contemporary art, twinkling terrazzo floors, abundant charging stations and landscaping full of cactus and succulents, along with a few “wet paint” signs. Passengers gawked at mirrored grid artwork by Glenn Kaino overhead.

Passengers at Pete’s Pub inside the new Hollywood Burbank Airport terminal. None of the 13 food concessions are fully open.

(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

“It was weird,” said Tanya Radke, 25, of Van Nuys, who was headed to Kansas City and caught off-guard by the terminal switch. “It was not what I thought was going to happen today for me.”

But looking around, the passenger called the new space a big upgrade. “It reminds me a lot of the Kansas City airport,” Radke said. “It was well overdue.”

The day’s schedule called for about 90 departures and arrivals by eight airlines, roughly the same schedule as in the previous buildings. The new terminal also has the same two runways and same number of gates — 14 — as the airport’s previous two-terminal alignment. And passengers still often board planes from the front and back, using outdoor steps from the tarmac, rather than enclosed tunnels. That practice is something travelers have long praised for its informality and efficiency.

But the new building does bring many changes. It measures about 50% larger than the two old terminals combined — about 355,000 square feet — with higher ceilings and a pair of illuminated steel sculptures by Cliff Garten flanking the main entrance.

The first departure was Alaska Flight 3401 to Santa Rosa at 7:03 a.m. with 33 passengers aboard. The first arrival: Southwest Flight 189 from Las Vegas, which landed at 7:16 a.m. with 30 passengers aboard.

The new terminal opened after 33 months of construction and $1.3 billion in spending.

(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

“The taxi off was a little different. Instead of turning right, you turn left,” said Southwest Airlines pilot Mike Petros, who arrived at 7:31 a.m. with a planeload of passengers from Sacramento. At the start of the flight, Petros said, “We told them that we would be flying to a new terminal, so if they had anybody picking them up, let them know.”

Still, many were surprised. Airport management deployed several staffers to redirect confused travelers from the old terminals (now idle) to the new one. Anthony Bailey, 29, said he learned of the switch from an Uber driver on his way to the airport.

“So far, I’m liking it,” Bailey said of the new terminal, standing near gate 13 before catching a flight to Las Vegas. “Nice and clean. The TSA line was pretty smooth.”

While most of the six retail stores were open on Tuesday, none of the terminal’s 13 food concessions were fully operating. Two eateries were offering grab-and-go options, and airport spokesperson Mike Christensen said more options would arrive later in the day and week.

Katelyn Bailey and travel companion Pigeon check in for a flight to the Bay Area.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

When the new terminal concessions open, dining options will include Guy Fieri’s Flavor Town, Spring Chicken, Diane’s Farm Table and Italian Market, Jones Coffee, Perry’s Joint, Poquito Mas, West Coast Smash Burgers, Massis Kabob, Starbucks, Border Grill, Jet Tila’s Asian Table, Santa Canela bakery and a bar, Pete’s Pub, with picture-window views of the runways and Verdugo Mountains.

Many travelers, including William Langlois and Annie Cerillo of Tampa, noted the shortage of eating options on Tuesday. “It’s horrible, there’s no restaurants and not enough security stations,” said Langlois, who had gone to the old terminal first and was redirected. Before this change, “this was the easiest airport,” said Cerillo.

In the new terminal, airport officials say, the walk from the entrance to the farthest gate is 1,285 feet, down from 1,600 feet now, with wider corridors and sidewalks and access to power plugs for devices from every seat. (Its many charging stations are now mostly USB-C ports, not USB.) The new terminal includes eight TSA lines, versus five in the old set-up. Baggage claim carousels have moved from outdoors to indoors.

The airport’s new parking structure includes about 2,000 spots and 310 charging ports for electric vehicles. (The airport’s total number of parking spaces is 6,637, the same as before.)

Alaska Airlines Flight 3401 to Santa Rosa was the first flight to depart from the new terminal at Hollywood Burbank Airport on Tuesday.

(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

As it did before, the airport supplies shuttle bus service between the new terminal and Burbank Airport-South Train Station (which connects with Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner) and the Burbank Airport-North Station at San Fernando Road and Hollywood Way.

Among many preparations for the day, Burbank airport officials staged a “passenger simulation trial” on Sept. 19, inviting 1,500 volunteers to behave like passengers in the new building, giving dozens of airport workers staffers, including TSA staffers and airline gate agents, a chance to prepare for Tuesday.

The airport, second busiest in L.A. County, was built in 1930 and is run by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. For decades it has been favored by many local travelers as a simpler, faster, quainter alternative to Los Angeles International Airport. The Burbank airport’s site in the San Fernando Valley, however, has often put its leaders at odds with residents of surrounding suburban neighborhoods. Unlike LAX, which has no flight curfew, the Burbank airport has limited operating hours — 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Passengers disembark Southwest Flight 189 from Las Vegas just before 7:30 a.m. This was the first arrival into the new terminal at Hollywood Burbank Airport.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Before this week’s move, the aged Burbank facility didn’t meet current state seismic standards or Federal Aviation Administration design standards, which prompted repeated safety warnings. Airport officials said the new design also increases the distance between the terminal and the nearest runway, formerly as little as 257 feet, to about 880 feet — a change that brings the airport into compliance with FAA standards.

Voters approved the Burbank airport terminal replacement project in 2016. Construction began in 2024. The airport reported about 6.2 million arriving and departing passengers in 2025, flying to and from about 30 nonstop destinations.

“It’s a beautiful building, but buildings aren’t anything without people who fill them with dedication and service,” said Tyron Hampton, president of the Burbank-Glendale Airport Authority and City Councilmember in Pasadena. He predicted that the new facility would attract not only new passengers but new businesses to the commercial corridor along Burbank’s Winona Avenue.

As Burbank unveils its new terminal, the opening of LAX’s most high-profile project — the SkyLink automated people mover (a 2.25-mile electric train route linking terminals to rail service and rental cars) has been delayed by technical and legal issues until Jan. 6 at the earliest.

“I don’t like to compare,” said Hampton when asked about LAX. “We have 14 gates. LAX has 161.”

WHETHER you’re a plane enthusiast or simply like being in the heart of the action, at these airside cafes and pubs you can see it all.

Some visitors say you can feel rumbling beneath your feet and smell jet fuel in the air as they watch planes and helicopters take off in front of them.

The Aerodrome Café

At The Aerodrome Cafe in Elstree, you can sip on a coffee while watching planes take off in front of you.

The small cafe sits next to the Elstree Aerodrome which dates back to World War II and now serves light-aircraft and helicopters.

Inside the cafe, is a cosy log burner and as for the food, the kitchen is actually led by a Michelin-trained chef.

You can munch on all-day breakfasts and hot meals, including freshly made pizzas and Sunday roasts – or opt for an afternoon coffee with homemade cake.

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For those wanting to see the airfield, head outside for the best views where passengers say you can hear “plane noises” and actually see them land and take off.

The Airport Pub, Manchester

You’ll practically be on the runway at this pub (not really), but it’s only 50 feet away from where the planes take off at Manchester Airport.

Grab a pint, burger or pizza, take a pew and watch the jets take off. One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Kids loved watching the plane land and take off, even spotted a 787!”

Another said: “The location is great, right next to the runway which makes this pub excellent for plane spotting, if you’re an avid plane spotter or if you just want to watch planes take off or land while you’re having lunch.”

For kids, there’s even an airplane shaped playground with slides and monkey bars.

Quite often the pub holds events over bank holidays, and family fun events with face painting and glitter tattoos.

The Lookout, London

Aptly called The Lookout, this community cafe sits just outside of Biggin Hill Airport in London.

While you won’t see the landing of jumbo jets, the airfield is used for smaller planes and private charters.

In The Lookout Cafe, they serve up hot breakfasts – you can get pancakes or waffles with a choice of topping for £7.25.

For kids, there’s a Little Flyers menu which includes a lunchbox deal where you can get a sandwich, juice carton, small chocolate bar, a piece of fruit and packet of ‘Pombears’ crisps or popcorn for £5.45.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Be prepared for a whiff of aviation fuel and noise with your coffee but that’s part of the setting if you sit outside.

“Look out for the fancy jets, helicopters and, of course, the Spitfire – you can hear that coming before you see it.”

Hangar 9, Surrey

Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey has been a working airfield since the 1930s.

Its historic hangar was originally constructed and began operations in 1934 as part of the aerodrome – now inside it is Hangar 9 Cafe which serves breakfast and lunch.

Visitors have said not only does it serve up a tasty food, but it also has “brilliant views of the light planes and helicopters taking off on the field beyond”.

The airfield sees action with helicopter operations, charter services and even flight training schools.

The Apron Cafe and Bakery, Retford

Just outside of Retford, you can get a front row seat to see planes take off at Gamston Airport.

Rather than commercial planes, it’s an airfield for light private planes, flight training aircraft and small helicopters.

You can watch all the action next to the runway at The Apron Cafe and Bakery, which is open from 9am until 5pm every day for breakfast, and lunch from sandwiches to main meals.

On Sundays, you can even opt for roast dinners, and if you’re really hungry, enjoy the full three courses.

One visitor said: “The planes kept the children amused between courses.”

Another added: “Amazing breakfast. When you have the weather it’s nice to sit outside and watch the planes and helicopters.”

HEATHROW Airport bosses have warned plans for a third runway could be delayed by four years due to major planning rows.

The Government’s ambition had been to see flights take off from a new runway in London by 2035.

But airport bosses are believed to have told ministers that the deadline is not possible and won’t be ready until 2039, reports The Times.

The initial target had been set by then-Chancellor Rachel Reeves in January 2025 – but it was considered an ambitious goal at the time.

Ms Reeves used a major speech on infrastructure to announce the Government would be supporting the third runway project as a means of growing the economy, and also said it would create 100,000 jobs.

But London Heathrow has said they aim to “secure planning permission” by 2029 and “once achieved, the runway will be open within a decade”.

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Its bosses believe it could be delivered more quickly, but that this may require further regulatory red tape to be removed beyond reforms that the Government has already made to planning law.

A spokesperson said: “It’s right that ambitious targets were set; the sooner expansion begins, the sooner the whole UK will benefit. Our focus has always been to secure planning permission by 2029.

“Once achieved, the runway will be open within a decade – and the benefits of expansion can be felt from today. At least 108,000 new jobs and billions invested in supply chains in every part of the country.

“This is a national project, 100% privately financed, which will support growth today and secure the UK’s position in the global economy once the runway opens.”

Meanwhile, the Department for Transport said the timeline for the plans “has always been ambitious”.

Gary Smith, General Secretary of GMB, said: “This is a deliverable, workable and practical timeline for Heathrow expansion that unlocks over 100,000 jobs.

“We need to put an end to decades of talk and lost benefits for working people across the country and get cracking.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander insisted the project could go ahead in a way that would not fall foul of climate change commitments.

The Climate Change Committee, the expert panel that advises the Government, said earlier this month the expansion of Heathrow airport cannot go ahead unless the aviation industry is forced to clean up its emissions.

The cost of international flights might have to increase by hundreds of pounds by 2050 to pay for measures that will help the airline sector cut its carbon pollution to zero overall, known as net zero, the committee said.

Ms Alexander told the Daily Telegraph the committee had set out “one view” but there was “more than one pathway to meeting our climate mate change obligations”.

“We do remain committed to net zero, and we’re updating some of our wider decarbonisation plans in transport as well,” she said.

“But the UK’s climate change targets are ultimately economy-wide targets, and we really need to look holistically at how emissions are reduced across the economy as a whole.”

She said an expanded Heathrow could be “the country’s front door” to tourists from China and India.

The Heathrow proposals involve building a 3,500-metre runway and requires a new M25 tunnel and bridges to be built 130 metres west of the existing motorway.

It is estimated to cost £33 billion, including £1.5 billion on re-routing the motorway which would also see nearby villages demolished.

The government had previously rejected a proposal from Arora Group, led by hotel tycoon Surinder Arora, to build the third runway.

The Arora plan had proposed a shorter, 2,800-metre runway that would not require diverting the M25.

The new 3,500 metre runway will be in the northwest of the airport, and will eventually welcome up to 276,000 new flights a year.

This takes the annual flights from 480,000 to 756,000, with as many as 30 new flight routes a day.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “There is currently no live planning application for a third runway, and we cannot comment on ongoing consultation processes or prejudice them in a way that will only delay progress.

“The timeline has always been ambitious.