Thanksgiving Is Burbank's First Holiday Rush Through the New Airport Terminal. Here's What Changed.

On the morning of October 13, a Southwest flight from Sacramento pulled up to Hollywood Burbank Airport's new terminal at 7:31. Its pilot told the Los Angeles Times that even the taxi off the runway felt different: "Instead of turning right, you turn left." At the old terminal, now idle, airport staff were sending travelers on to the new building. Some of those travelers had driven to the airport they had always used. The Burbank Leader reported passengers being dropped off at the old Thornton Avenue terminal and walking over once someone pointed the way.

That morning shows where the change actually is. The new building fixes most of what made the old terminal hard to love: crowded seating, outdoor baggage carousels, a structure built when Herbert Hoover was president. The new rules are in the last mile. Thanksgiving falls on November 26, and it will be the first holiday rush through this terminal. For anyone in Burbank who has flown out of BUR for years, the trip to relearn runs from the front door to the curb. The walk to the gate is the easy part now.

The Approach Moved

The address is now 2627 N. Hollywood Way. The Daily News reported that airport officials directed drivers to the new main entrance at Hollywood Way and Winona Avenue and asked them to allow extra time for drop-off and pickup during the transition. The 2016 Measure B agreement put the replacement terminal in the airport's northeast quadrant, and the building now sits farther from the runways.

Taxis, parking shuttles and other shuttle services also use the ground-transportation islands in front of the terminal. If a ride is coming for you, look for the island, not the curb.

Picking Someone Up Now Starts in the Garage

The biggest change in a family's routine is at pickup. The airport's FAQ says no waiting is allowed at the curb. If your party isn't outside yet, the airport directs you to park in the Short-Term Parking Structure or to wait in Baggage Claim, where posted parking rates apply. The airport's current instructions don't list a cell-phone waiting lot. Waiting for an arrival means paying for a garage space.

The short-term rates set the cost of that wait. The Terminal Garage self-park charges $9 for the first hour, $5 for each additional 30 minutes, and $49 maximum per day. A delayed Thanksgiving arrival that keeps you in the garage for 90 minutes costs $14. Most people won't mind that, but it's worth knowing before you pull in. Because baggage claim is now indoors, the wait happens inside the building.

Parking for the Long Weekend Is Drive-Up Only

A Thanksgiving trip usually means a car parked for four or five days. The airport's parking page says pre-booking is unavailable while the Airport Authority changes parking operators. It says updates will be posted on the website and that drive-up parking is available in every airport lot. Until the airport posts an update, you can't lock in a space ahead of the holiday.

Here are the current options, from most to least expensive per day:

1. Terminal Garage valet: $59 maximum per day, with optional car wash and EV charging. EV charging carries a $20 handling fee per session.
2. Terminal Garage self-park: $49 maximum per day.
3. Lot F: $5 for the first hour, $3 for each additional 30 minutes, $28 daily maximum, with shuttle service.
4. Lot G: the same hourly structure with a $24 daily maximum, also served by shuttle.

Over a five-day trip, Lot G instead of the Terminal Garage comes to $120 against $245. The Los Angeles Times reported that the new structure has about 2,000 spaces and 310 EV charging ports, while the airport's total of 6,637 spaces is unchanged. All airport lots run 24 hours a day with a 30-day maximum stay. The lot-conditions hotline is 818.729.2245.

One deadline matters to anyone who left a car at the old terminal before October 13. Those vehicles can be picked up from the old parking structure and valet center for 30 days after that date, which means through November 12. That falls two weeks before Thanksgiving.

The Train Still Works, With One More Step

Burbank has two Metrolink stations with "Airport" in the name, and neither stops at the new terminal's door. Metrolink's airport guide lists Burbank Airport–North on the Antelope Valley Line and Burbank Airport–South on the Ventura County Line. From North, the terminal is about a half-mile walk via Cohasset Street, or you can request the free on-demand shuttle. From South, you cross Empire Avenue to the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center and board the free airport shuttle, which doesn't require a call.

The posted shuttle hours don't match. Metrolink lists 4:45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. for both stations, with service running until 45 minutes after the last flight when operations are delayed. The airport's buses and trains page lists 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for South and 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. for North. If you're flying out early or landing late, check with the airport before you count on the later times. BurbankBus also runs from the RITC to Downtown Burbank and North Hollywood on weekdays, though the long holiday weekend falls mostly outside that schedule.

Inside, the Building Earns Its Reputation

Once you're through the door, the new terminal makes up for the changes outside. The walk from the entrance to the farthest gate is now 1,285 feet, down from 1,600. The eight TSA lanes replace five, and every seat has access to power, mostly USB-C. There are still 14 gates. The extra space lets airlines bring in larger aircraft with more seats, so more passengers can move through the same number of gates.

Past the checkpoint, Glenn Kaino's suspended installation "When We Reflect" hangs overhead. According to myBurbank, it draws on the camouflage nets once used to hide the Burbank airport and nearby Lockheed operations during World War II.

Dinner Past Security Is Still a Maybe

The planned food lineup is distinctly local. Poquito Mas plans to make tortillas from scratch every day, and owner Kevin McCarney told myBurbank the location is a meaningful next chapter after 34 years in Burbank. Pete's Pub is named for the father of concessions operator Steve Mora. His father ran the airport barbershop starting in 1977 and was known around town as "The Cookie Man," and the pub is meant to carry on his jumbo chocolate chip cookies. The official directory also lists Perry's Joint, Jones Coffee, Guy Fieri's Flavortown, Massis Kabob, Diane's Italian Market, Border Grill, Jet Tila's, Starbucks and West Cost Smash Burgers, along with shops including Tansy and Pasadena Mercantile.

When the Los Angeles Times reported on opening day, none of the 13 food concessions was fully operating, and two were offering grab-and-go. The airport's dining directory still marks every food listing "Coming Soon," with no dates. For an evening flight on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, check that page the day you leave, and pack a snack in case.

A Holiday Departure, Built Backward From the Gate

The airport's usual advice is to arrive at least an hour before departure. During peak holiday travel, the airlines recommend at least two hours. Here's how that time works out at the new terminal:

1. Choose your parking the night before. No reservations means a Lot F or G space depends on availability when you get there, and the hotline gives lot conditions.
2. Enter at Hollywood Way and Winona Avenue, not Thornton Avenue.
3. If you're using a shuttle lot or Metrolink, add time for the shuttle, especially for departures outside the hours both sources agree on.
4. Once inside, the eight lanes and the shorter walk give some of that time back.
5. For the return trip, tell whoever is picking you up to park in the Short-Term Parking Structure or meet you in Baggage Claim, not to circle the curb.

The old terminal won't be part of the route for long. The City of Burbank's project timeline calls for demolition within 12 months of the new terminal's opening.

At Petro Real Estate Group, we follow the Burbank changes that reshape a resident's week, and a new airport front door is one of the biggest in years. If you're curious how the new terminal and the traffic on Hollywood Way fit into your own plans in Burbank, schedule a consultation with Andrew and Stacy.