Los Angeles International Airport’s long-delayed people mover is now not expected to carry passengers until January 2027, in a further setback for a project originally scheduled to open in 2023.
The automated train had most recently been projected to begin service in October. Contractors are now targeting an opening in early January, although further delays have not been ruled out.
The 2.25-mile system is intended to link LAX’s terminals with parking facilities, the consolidated rental-car centre, designated rideshare areas and the airport’s Metro station.
Construction began in 2019, when the train was expected to be completed within four years. Instead, the project remains in testing and its cost has risen by more than $1 billion above the original estimate.
Los Angeles World Airports said the train must complete extensive checks before it can open to the public, including testing of its tracks, signalling equipment and vehicles.
“The safety and absolute reliability of the SkyLink train are our highest priorities as we progress toward passenger service,” an airport spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the airport would not compromise on safety protocols designed to ensure the system operated “safely, dependably and durably” during upcoming major events.
The latest delay means the people mover has missed its opportunity to serve visitors attending this summer’s Fifa World Cup matches in the region. It is also now facing scrutiny over whether it will be ready for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Recent reports have said the system must complete a sustained period of successful testing, followed by independent reviews and an assessment by Los Angeles World Airports, before passenger service can begin.
The train is designed to run around the clock, with services arriving every two minutes during peak periods. It is expected to provide a ten-minute journey between the rental-car facility and the western terminal station, with travel free for passengers and airport employees.
At the airport this week, the system remained behind fencing, with no moving trains or construction workers visible. The continuing delay has prompted scepticism among travellers, one of whom said: “Beautiful. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Another traveller questioned whether the project would ever be completed, while Anil Bhandari said it would take “a miracle” for the train to be operational in time for the Olympics.
