If you happen to occur to be touring to or from Los Angeles (LAX) on American, JetBlue or Spirit within the close to future, prepare for one thing totally different. LAX will probably be shutting down Terminal 5 to knock it down and rebuild the factor, and meaning momentary relocations are required. The truth that LAX can truly shut down a complete terminal and take up the capability is fairly exceptional in its personal proper. Let’s discuss how that is going to occur.
When the jet age central terminal space at LAX opened within the early Sixties, there have been six terminals. Right here’s a view wanting towards the west:
TWA’s Terminal 3 and American’s Terminal 4 have been the primary to open in 1961. In 1962, the Worldwide Terminal 2 opened as did United’s Terminal 7 and Concourse 8 in addition to Western’s Terminal 5. Terminal 6 opened in 1963 and served a number of airways together with Continental and PSA. All of those have been constructed as satellite tv for pc buildings with underground walkways from the ticketing areas.
Each single one among these terminals has undergone some type of transformation since that point.
Terminal 2 was razed when the Bradley Terminal opened for the 1984 Olympics, and it was then rebuilt for Air Canada, Hawaiian, Northwest, and Pan Am (most likely others I’m forgetting)
Terminal 3 was prettied up in the course of the transient lifetime of Virgin America, however it was lastly crushed in the course of the pandemic when Delta rebuilt it
Terminal 4 is simply ending up an entire rebuild that was accomplished in phases
Terminal 5 was rebuilt in phases within the mid-Eighties, opening up in its present type in 1988
Terminal 6 simply completed an enormous mission to enhance the terminal, however the unique nonetheless exists in there someplace
Terminal 7 and eight have been expanded and constructed upon many occasions, however the unique type nonetheless exists inside
This doesn’t even embrace the development of Terminal 1 and the Tom Bradley Terminal in time for the 1984 Olympics. Actually, it was the opening of Bradley that enabled the airport to raze Terminal 2 and begin over. However even then, I recall a short lived bubble constructing getting used to course of worldwide vacationers in the course of the transition.
For an airport the dimensions of LAX, it’s almost inconceivable to simply fully shut down a terminal. There simply isn’t sufficient slack within the system. However every now and then, one thing alongside the traces of that new Bradley terminal opening creates a pocket of extra capability. And that’s precisely what’s occurring proper now, together with another useful developments.
At the moment, the three airways in Terminal 5 begin transferring out, and so they’ll be accomplished in every week. The terminal will probably be knocked down fully throughout November and rebuilt from the bottom up by 2028. How are they managing this feat?
1) Southwest Welcomes JetBlue
First, JetBlue will transfer its operation from Terminal 5 to Terminal 1 which has been the house of Southwest and Southwest alone for a number of years.
Terminal 1 was initially constructed for PSA in time for the 1984 Olympics, and when USAir purchased the airline, it moved in. Each America West and Southwest additionally made themselves at residence there. When America West and US Airways ultimately ended up as a part of American, they clearly moved out. Southwest had large ideas, even having plans prepared for a Concourse 0 that will give it extra gates and worldwide functionality. That has now been shelved indefinitely, and Southwest hasn’t appeared too fascinated about rising LAX. It could’t even fill its 13 present gates.
Southwest LAX Departures by Month
Information through Cirium
Even taking a look at subsequent July when there’s a slight uptick, Southwest will function about 6 departures per gate per day. That’s not a lot. On the identical time, JetBlue has deserted its focus metropolis at LAX, so it has far fewer departures than it used to have.
JetBlue LAX Departures by Month
Information through Cirium
Only a couple years in the past, JetBlue had about 38 each day departures. Subsequent July it’s at 25 as of now, and that could be overly beneficiant. It technically operates off of 5 gates at this time in Terminal 5, however it might match most of its schedule on three of the 13 gates in Terminal 1 with some overflow. Downside solved.
2) MSC South Welcomes Spirit
At the moment when the airways begin leaving Terminal 5, the brand new Midfield Satellite tv for pc Concourse opens its eight new gates. The MSC sits west of the Bradley Terminal and is the house of a number of worldwide carriers together with Air France/KLM. However these southern eight gates, which I took a photograph of when flying on this summer time, are constructed for narrowbody plane.
Spirit will shift to Terminal 2 only for check-in and baggage. The flights themselves will function on the market on the MSC South.
It definitely helps that Spirit has been struggling mightily and shrinking rapidly.
Spirit LAX Departures by Month
Information through Cirium
In July of 2024, Spirit had 38 each day departures, about the identical as JetBlue. By July 2025 it was slightly below 20 each day. The January 2026 schedule at present exhibits simply over 15 each day. If Spirit survives, it gained’t be large in LA, so it must cope with the much less handy passenger expertise and spiraling prices… or it’ll have to simply stroll away.
3) American Will get Extra Bradley
The final tenant in Terminal 5 at this time is American which is unfold throughout 4 totally different terminals. It has been rebuilding Terminal 4 slowly, and the tip of that course of is close to. It has had 5 gates in Terminal 5, although it appears like it could solely be utilizing 4 now since there are development closures. It additionally has the distant “Eagle’s Nest” for regional flying which requires busing. And it has had some gates in Bradley.
With the T4 mission ending up and the MSC South opening, American will be capable of put extra flights in Bradley.
Inside every week, Terminal 5 will probably be closed. However why are they bothering? This can be a terminal that was constructed for Western, and it was rebuilt totally for Western in phases starting within the mid-Eighties. You may see that in one among my previous timetables:
When the terminal was completed in 1988, Delta had taken over Western… and the terminal. It grew to become the Oasis, and it was superb, however it was nonetheless a frankensteined mess beneath. Simply take a look at this overhead view the place you may nonetheless see the unique satellite tv for pc buried in there:
Inside, it’s an entire mess. This image exhibits why:
The terminal was constructed with a bizarre meals idea that noticed it go right down to a decrease stage within the center. The gates on either side sat greater. And lots of of these gates had nearly no room. Contemplating most of those flights are on jam-packed airplanes with 160 seats or extra, it’s not unusual to see this:
The brand new terminal will nonetheless have the identical 15 gates that exist at this time, however it is going to be way more useful. There may even be an entire improve of the underlying methods, plumbing, and many others that energy the terminal. And there’ll now be straightforward connections to each Terminals 4 and 6 above floor from the safety checkpoints as a substitute of getting to descend into the darkish bowels of the basement into slender tunnels as folks do at this time.
When the brand new terminal opens in time for the 2028 Olympics, I’ve heard rumblings — however haven’t had them confirmed by LAX — that American will management 10 gates. That could be an enormous improve, however I consider that can permit the airport to close down the Eagle’s Nest for good. Presumably JetBlue will transfer again if it nonetheless exists as an unbiased entity by then. And Spirit? Properly, it’s not prone to exist by then. Come on.
When it’s accomplished, this will probably be an enormous win for vacationers at LAX, and within the meantime, it’s a very minor inconvenience because of some fortunate circumstances that made this plan attainable.
