Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) has a brand-new terminal, opened on 13 October 2026, and one longtime local flyer — whose first flight in 1987 departed from the old building — has given it a thorough first look. The verdict: a genuine upgrade, with a few opening-week growing pains.
The old Burbank terminal was famously unglamorous but wonderfully simple. The replacement keeps the convenience while fixing the worst of the old layout. It is a 355,000-square-foot building in the northeast corner of the airport, with a new entrance off Hollywood Way and Winona Avenue. Instead of the old split-terminal arrangement, there is now one centralised ticketing hall and a single TSA checkpoint — and early reports say security was moving quickly.
Gate count stays at 14, matching the old setup, but the amenities finally catch up with the 21st century. Terminal A's outdoor baggage claim is gone: the new building has an indoor claim hall with three carousels. There is more room for seating, dining and shopping, with local food and drink options promised, plus space that could one day accommodate an airport lounge. Jones Coffee has carried over from the old terminal. The structure meets current earthquake and accessibility standards, and the new footprint puts more distance between the terminal and the runways, resolving a long-running safety concern.
Two quirks survived on purpose. Boarding and deplaning are still done outdoors, with no jetbridges — a nostalgic touch the reviewer loves. And a quirk emerged by accident: when two adjacent gates made announcements simultaneously, neither could be heard. The author hopes Burbank follows SFO's lead and stays a quiet airport rather than adding constant canned announcements.
Not everything is smooth yet. On an 8pm visit, every cafe, restaurant and shop was still shuttered — hardly ideal for evening departures. The driveway in from Hollywood Way is now roughly five times longer than before, adding a few minutes to what used to be a 15-minute ride. And parking in the new short-term structure next to the terminal has jumped to $49 a day — cheaper than LAX, but a steep rise for a convenience airport.
Still, the overall conclusion is positive: the new building is spacious, comfortable and handsome, and it preserves the old-school outdoor boarding that gives Burbank its character. For Los Angeles travellers who avoided LAX at all costs, the east-of-the-hills option just got a lot more civilised.
Why it matters: Burbank is the gateway for anyone heading to Hollywood, Studio City, Griffith Park or the San Fernando Valley without enduring LAX traffic. The new terminal means shorter walks, one security line, indoor baggage claim and modern facilities, while keeping the easy-in, easy-out feel that made the airport popular in the first place. Just budget for the new parking rates — or get dropped off.
