Two separate projects totaling nearly $980 million, including the complete modernization of Terminal 1 and an extension of the building that will provide future connection to the Automated People Mover (APM) train system and Terminal 2 behind security, have completely revamped Terminal 1. Now home to Allegiant, Southwest, Sun Country and Viva Aerobus, Terminal 1 gives visitors the first view of a fully transformed Central Terminal Area (CTA).

Terminal 1 Extension (2021)

Most recently, the $477.5 extension of Terminal 1 was opened to operations in May 2021. This facility includes the first of seven terminal vertical cores, which will connect the APM system to the terminal via an elevated pedestrian bridge, to open at LAX. The Terminal 1 core will connect travelers to the Center CTA station in the future and provides for vertical circulation of passengers via elevators and escalators.

The building also includes two new baggage carousels on the Lower/Arrivals Level, additional ticket counters on the Upper/Departures Level and a six-lane Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint with Automated Screening Lane (ASL) technology on the Concourse Level. The new portion of the ticketing lobby includes self-service check-in kiosks with biometric and touch-free capabilities from Materna IPS (Intelligent Passenger Solutions).

The 283,000-square-foot extension of Terminal 1 also connects to Terminal 2 behind security via a bridge that allows passengers to move between the two buildings without having to be re-screened, while providing another access point for greater flexibility.

Southwest Airlines gained a third baggage carousel and three additional ticket counters in the new portion of the building, as well as space on the fourth floor for offices. The airline's crew base is also housed in the new facility. The building also includes additional restrooms on all three levels and an indoor service-animal relief area on the Lower/Arrivals Level near baggage claim.

The extension to Terminal 1 is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Among the green building features of the facility:

• A new recycled water system that is being installed around the airport campus, which will work in concert with low-flow faucets and flush valves that will result in a dramatic reduction in the amount of potable water used by the building.
• A new stormwater collection and management system collects all rainwater runoff, which is filtered and reclaimed at an off-site treatment facility. This system ensures that this rainwater will be treated and reused as opposed to being directly drained into the Pacific Ocean.
• An advanced lighting control system that is programed to automatically increase or decrease the amount of artificial light within the building depending on both the time of day and number of occupants within the building.
• Advanced, energy efficient air handling units to ensure occupant comfort is maintained within the building by accurately monitoring and regulating temperature, humidity and air quality. The units use fan wall arrays and can function in full 100-percent outside air mode to take advantage of LAX’s cool coastal climate. In addition to Merv14 filtration, the new air handlers use both bi-polar ionization and ultra-violet germicidal irradiation as a means to provide the healthiest indoor air quality possible.

The project also achieved an exemplary performance credit in its LEED score for its use and incorporation of recycled materials throughout the building, along with the contractor’s ability to recycle a large amount of waste material that was generated during construction. The building includes 35 percent recycled materials and 78 percent of construction waste was recycled.

Hensel Phelps constructed the Terminal 1 extension, with PGAL designing the facility.

Terminal 1 Modernization (2018)

The $507 million modernization of Terminal 1, also performed by Hensel Phelps with design work by PGAL, was completed in 2018, with improvements to the interior space, the outdoor aircraft parking ramp area and the traffic flow around the Central Terminal Area (CTA). The terminal was 30 years old when work began and building systems were nearing the end of their useful life in the space, so the renovation replaced them with more efficient, environmentally-friendly equipment.

The interior upgrades included:

• New, state-of-the-art, consolidated TSA screening checkpoint in the east end of the building, eliminating a bottleneck in the middle of the building
• New ticketing lobby
• Fully automated checked baggage inspection and sorting system
• Integrated passenger waiting room/concessions program
• Refurbished arrival/baggage claim area
• Replacement of the passenger boarding bridges
• Renovations to airline support office space
• Relocation of the main entrances towards the west end of the building to ease traffic congestion

Improvements to the ramp area included:

• Accommodation of 13 Boeing 737-sized aircraft
• Pavement replacement
• Modernized hydrant fuel system
• Electric vehicle chargers to support an electric ground service equipment program