The opening of Los Angeles International Airport’s automated People Mover has slipped once more, with contractor LAX Integrated Express Solutions now targeting January instead of October.
LINXS, the consortium building the 2.25-mile SkyLink train, disclosed in September that unfinished tasks would likely push past the December completion deadline, according to the Los Angeles Times. The contractor floated January 6 as a possible start date but warned that even that remained uncertain.
“There can be no assurances that achievement of the Passenger Service Availability Date will not be delayed further,” the contractor said in its filing.
The automated train system, designed to shuttle passengers between terminals, economy parking, the rental car center and the LAX Metro Transit Center, was originally scheduled to open in 2023. Construction began in 2019 with an initial budget of $1.9 billion. After years of delays and contract disputes, the project cost has swelled to $3.34 billion, including $1.34 billion in additional city payouts.
The train still requires 30 consecutive days of successful testing before it can carry passengers. It also needs an independent review, an assessment by Los Angeles World Airports, and a utility agreement with the city Department of Water and Power. Officials have stated the project is more than 99 percent complete.
Los Angeles World Airports told the Times it will not rush the remaining safety checks.
“We will not compromise on these stringent safety protocols, as delivering a system that safely, dependably and durably serves Los Angeles and our upcoming global events is our primary focus,” it said in a statement.
The legal battle surrounding the project intensified in July when LINXS sued the city over unresolved contract and delay disputes. The lawsuit followed an additional $880 million payment to the contractor consortium.
If the January target holds, the People Mover would debut just weeks before Super Bowl LXI at nearby SoFi Stadium in February. The train already missed its chance to serve travelers during the 2026 World Cup matches held in the region.
Travelers interviewed by KTLA expressed weary resignation at the latest postponement.
“Like anything with construction, probably there’s going to be more delays,” traveler Robin Metz said.
The repeated setbacks have turned the SkyLink into a symbol of troubled infrastructure development in California, where the per-mile cost has drawn scrutiny from fiscal watchdogs. The 2.25-mile automated system now ranks among the most expensive transit projects of its kind in the nation.