Long Beach Airport broke ground this spring on a roughly $37 million overhaul of its post-security passenger concourse, a staged refresh city leaders say will keep the airport's breezy indoor-outdoor feel while finally upgrading aging systems. The work will remodel eleven gate areas, refresh restrooms, and add open-air garden spaces, plus more seating, charging stations, and a dedicated service-animal relief area. Officials expect construction to be completed by summer 2027 and say gates will stay in service during the work.
"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 press release via Long Beach Airport. The release notes that the City Council approved the construction contract in October 2025 and that PCL Construction Services was selected as the prime contractor for the work.
What’s changing inside the concourse
According to Passenger Terminal Today, the Passenger Concourse Enhancement Project includes mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades, new gate podiums and flooring, improved wayfinding and flight-information displays, and energy-efficient lighting. The work also calls for redesigned seating and queuing layouts and the creation of open-air garden areas at both the north and south concourses to reinforce the airport’s relaxed Southern California identity. Airport officials say these changes are meant to reduce crowding and speed passenger circulation while keeping the concourse’s award-winning atmosphere intact.
Money, contractor, and schedule
The project carries an estimated cost of $37 million and is being financed with more than $24 million Airport Infrastructure Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and airport revenue, city officials told NBC Los Angeles. The airport's own news release adds that the work is expected to create about 190 construction jobs and that a $28 million construction contract was awarded to PCL Construction Services after City Council approval last October (Long Beach Airport). City leaders emphasized that no local tax dollars are being used and that commercial flight operations should continue without interruption throughout the build.
Why it matters for Long Beach
Architectural firm PGAL, which led the concourse design work, framed the upgrades as a way to welcome increased passenger volumes while keeping LGB’s signature indoor-outdoor character, according to PGAL. The airport complex already supports roughly $9 billion in annual economic activity and about 42,000 jobs, figures highlighted in coverage by Passenger Terminal Today. City officials say the work is modest in scope compared with full terminal overhauls but strategic for hosting visitors during the 2028 Games and beyond.
What comes next
Hoodline first reported the $37 million plan when the city announced it late last year, and today's groundbreaking marks the shift from planning to construction for the project reported in the $37 million upgrade. Airport officials say they will post regular construction updates on the LGB website and that travelers should continue to check airline notices for any short-term gate adjustments during the work.
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