American Airlines Reveals Its $1.6 Billion LAX Renovation
American Airlines revealed details of the "largest individual investment at an airport in its 92-year history" at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday morning. In a ceremonial groundbreaking with dignitaries from Los Angeles World Airport management and LA's city government, including the mayor, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker demolished a check-in counter to mark the beginning of the 10-year, $1.6 billion project to modernize AA's presence at LAX.
This project will "re-imagine" AA's Terminals 4 and 5, which LA City Council member Joe Buscaino described during the ceremony as an "aging relic of a terminal." Indeed, Terminal 4 is one of the original terminals at LAX. While there have been multiple additions and renovations since, the underlying building is from TK.
The first step of this construction is to build a new "Terminal Core" between Terminals 4/5, with the eventual opening of a unified departures hall. Currently, AA has separate check-in areas at each terminal, meaning passengers need to know which terminal they'll depart from or have to transfer terminals curbside before checking in, or via the underground walkway after. This new joint check-in area is designed to simplify the process for AA's 16 million annual LAX passengers.
Once the LAX people mover is complete in 2023, the Terminal Core will be connected via an elevated walkway expected to open in 2024:
The Terminal Core will eventually house 16 lanes of security, feeding passengers to AA's 28 gates in Terminal 4 and 5, as well as American Eagle gates in the so-called "Eagle's Nest." Passengers will also be able to transfer between the two terminals airside without having to use the current underground passageway.
If construction at LAX sounds familiar, you're right. LA mayor Eric Garcetti pointed out that the airport is "in the midst of a $14 billion re-imagination." In addition to this $1.6 billion project by American Airlines, Delta has already begun its $1.9 billion project and then there's the $4.9 billion people mover.
The big goal is completing work by the 2028 Summer Olympics, to be held in Los Angeles.
In an interview after the ceremony, Parker assured that American Airlines would have access to the same number of gates during construction that it's currently using -- meaning that AA won't have a reduction in the number of flights it currently operates from its West Coast hub.
Parker also said that this 10-year construction project won't stunt AA's growth at "one of [its] most important markets." Pointing out that AA is investing in renovating airports across the US, Parker said that the airline "knows that the way to deliver the customer service that we want to deliver into the future is [by] modernizing these airports."
The construction project is expected to create approximately 6,000 new jobs in the Los Angeles area.
At the ceremony, American Airlines and its construction partners unveiled the renderings of the new terminal project. In addition to the images above, here are the other renderings of the project:
The view of the Terminal Core from airside:
And interior renderings of the new terminal:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees