The Long Beach Airport is officially due for some upgrades, with airport officials celebrating the start of construction on a $37 million project to enhance the airport’s concourse and other passenger areas over the next year.
Several elected officials, airport leaders, and other community members gathered at LGB on Friday, April 24, to celebrate the groundbreaking on the project, which is expected to be completed next summer in preparation for the influx of travelers anticipated to visit the region during the 2028 Summer Olympics.
“This project represents an important investment in Long Beach’s future and the millions of travelers who choose our award-winning airport each year,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a news release. “As we prepare to welcome the world for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are ensuring LGB continues to deliver a modern, comfortable and uniquely Southern California travel experience.”
Long Beach Airport initially announced the $37 million modernization project in November 2025. The project will be paid primarily with a $24 million Federal Aviation Administration grant, the city said, which was secured in part with advocacy from Rep. Robert Garcia, Long Beach’s former mayor and current representative for the state’s 42nd Congressional District.
“As the former mayor of Long Beach, I know firsthand how important our airport is to the city and our local economy. This federal investment is going to make our world-class airport even better,” Garcia said. “These funds will deliver critical upgrades, support local jobs, and create a better experience for every traveler passing through. Long Beach Airport is one of the best in the country, and we’re making sure it stays that way.”
The remaining cost of the project will be paid for with airport revenue “with no local tax dollars utilized,” the city said.
The project is being overseen by PCL Construction Services Inc., and is expected to create 190 construction jobs, the city said.
The airport will get several upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and other enhancements as part of the project, including improved passenger circulation through updated queuing and seating configurations; upgraded seating with electrical charging options; and expanded wayfinding signage and flight information displays.
Other changes will include:
- Upgrades to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure including new air conditioning components and updated restrooms;
- The creation of an open-air garden outside the north concourse;
- New flooring and gate podiums; and
- A new Service Animal Relief Area
- Various energy-efficiency upgrades, including a new back-up generator and LED lighting.
The project is not expected to impact any commercial flights, the city said, and gate access will be available during construction.
““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,” said Fifth District Councilmember Megan Kerr. “After more than a century of service, this project ensures LGB keeps soaring as one of Southern California’s most welcoming gateways.”
LGB, meanwhile, has completed 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.
In 2024, 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.