A slew of infrastructure upgrades will soon come to the Long Beach Airport.
The $37 million modernization, which will include various projects, aims to enhance the airport’s passenger experience, according to a Friday, Nov. 7, news release, ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
Dubbed the Passenger Concourse Enhancement Project, improvements will include updates to queuing and seating configurations, upgraded seating with electrical chargers and a new open-air garden on the outside of the north concourse. The improvements will also include:
Updated restrooms, air conditioning, and other mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades.
New wayfinding signage and flight information displays.
New flooring and gate podiums.
A service animal relief area.
LED lighting conversions and other sustainability upgrades.
“This refresh is not just aesthetic — it’s about expanding LGB’s reputation as a premier airport that offers travelers an experience that is distinctly Long Beach,” Fifth District Councilmember Megan Kerr said in the news release. “After more than a century of service, this project ensures LGB keeps soaring as one of Southern California’s most welcoming gateways.”
A rendering of upgrades to the Long Beach Airport’s passenger concourse, which are expected to be completed before the 2028 Olympic Games. (Rendering courtesy of Long Beach Airport).
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A rendering of upgrades to the Long Beach Airport’s passenger concourse, which are expected to be completed before the 2028 Olympic Games. (Rendering courtesy of Long Beach Airport).
Construction on the $37 million project is set to begin later this year, the city said, and is expected to be completed in 2027.
It will be funded in large part by a $24 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, which the city announced it had received in August. The remaining cost will be paid for with airport revenue, the city said, “with no local tax dollars utilized.”
PCL Construction Services, Inc., will oversee construction, the city said.
“We’re grateful to the FAA for this significant investment,” LGB Director Cynthia Guidry said in the announcement. “This project ensures our award-winning indoor/outdoor concourse remains a premier travel destination and gateway to Southern California with enhanced passenger comfort, sustainability and operational efficiency.”
The project is expected to create 190 construction jobs, the city added.
LGB has had several other infrastructure improvement projects in recent years. Most recently, the airport added a new security screening lane and announced plans to enhance both pre- and post-security concessions for travelers.
The airport also completed its Terminal Roadway Improvements Project — a $16 million effort to improve vehicular and passenger flow along the Donald Douglas Drive loop and provide additional enhancements for those with mobility challenges — in April, and unveiled a new online flight planning tool in March.
Last year, LGB reopened its Historical Terminal after a $17.8 million preservation and modernization project — which uncovered and brought back to life the terminal’s World War II-era mosaic artwork and other historic elements.