Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has been undergoing a modernization for… well, seemingly forever. As one of the biggest phases of that in terms of the impact on passenger experience, we’re now seeing one terminal close entirely, and it won’t fully reopen for more than a couple of years…
LAX Terminal 5 being redeveloped, forcing airlines to move
Terminal 5 at LAX will be closing completely, and it’s expected to be demolished and rebuilt, with a full reopening planned ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics (though a possible partial reopening could happen as of mid-2027).
The terminal has started to be vacated as of October 21, 2025, and will be fully vacated within a week. Terminal 5 is used by American, JetBlue, and Spirit, so those airlines will be relocating:
- JetBlue will operate out of Terminal 1 as of October 21, 2025
- Spirit will operate out of Terminal 2 as of October 22, 2025
- American will operate out of Terminal 4 as of October 28, 2025
One thing that stands out to me is that American has an Admirals Club in Terminal 5, so that will obviously be closed. With all American operations moving to Terminal 4, that also means that lounge capacity will be reduced considerably, so expect American lounges in Terminal 4 (the Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge) to be a bit more crowded than usual.
The airport is gaining extra capacity to allow for this terminal closure thanks to the timing coinciding with the opening of the new Midfield Satellite Concourse South, which is an extension of the west gates at Tom Bradly International Terminal (TBIT). This adds eight gates to the airport.
What exactly is changing with LAX Terminal 5?
LAX Terminal 5 is undergoing a $1.7 billion redevelopment. Interestingly, the terminal will maintain 15 gates, so it’s not actually getting bigger, but it’s just supposed to get nicer.
Upgrades to the terminal will include replacing all systems (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), upgrading ticketing, security, baggage claim, and concessions, improving airside connectivity with other terminals, and more.
The project is described as a demolition, so the terminal will largely be torn down and rebuilt. So this sounds like it’ll be more than just a cosmetic refresh. There are a limited number of renderings of the new terminal so far, though it doesn’t look like it’s going to be anything revolutionary.
Bottom line
LAX Terminal 5 is closing, as it’s expected to be demolished and then rebuilt. This is part of the big infrastructure investments we’re seeing at LAX. When the terminal fully reopens in 2028, it’s expected to have the same number of gates that it currently has, though with upgraded facilities. In the meantime, expect some American flights, plus all JetBlue and Spirit flights, to operate from other terminals.
What do you make of these LAX Terminal 5 changes?
