LAX Automated People Mover Enters Final Operational Readiness Testing Ahead of 2027 Passenger Launch

30-Day Consecutive Readiness Testing Begins on 2.25-Mile Elevated Guideway

LOS ANGELES, California — Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and primary contracting consortium LINXS have officially transitioned the transformative $3.34 billion Automated People Mover (APM) into its critical 30-day consecutive operational readiness and burn-in testing phase at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Operating along a 2.25-mile elevated guideway, the automated train network is being rigorously evaluated under continuous multi-vehicle simulated scheduling to demonstrate end-to-end reliability ahead of projected commercial passenger opening in early January 2027.

Engineered to eliminate chronic traffic gridlock within the airport's Central Terminal Area (CTA) roadway horseshoe, the zero-emission electric rail spine will deliver rapid, dependable connections across six elevated stations, directly linking terminal departure concourses with regional parking structures, ground transportation centres, and the consolidated rental car facility.

Utility Integration with LADWP and Architectural Concourse Bridges

A pivotal milestone toward passenger certification is the completion of power and utility integration between project contractors and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Engineering crews are finalizing high-capacity redundant electrical feeder loops and dedicated traction power substations to guarantee uninterrupted power for autonomous fleet operations around the clock.

Concurrently, construction teams are placing the final architectural finishes on station boarding platforms and moving walkway skybridges. Each station incorporates universal step-free access, high-efficiency glass elevators, panoramic escalators, and fully climate-controlled pedestrian passageways connecting directly into terminal ticketing levels, ensuring a seamless, barrier-free experience for travelers with luggage.

Seamless Multimodal Integration with LA Metro C and K Lines

A generational breakthrough of the APM infrastructure is its direct integration with the regional transit grid at the new LAX/Metro Transit Center Station at 96th Street and Aviation Boulevard. For the first time in Los Angeles history, airline passengers and airport workers can transfer directly between airport terminals and LA Metro's C and K Lines without navigating congested surface roadways or waiting for intermittent curbside shuttle buses.

The APM fleet will operate with peak headways of just two minutes, whisking passengers across the entire 2.25-mile corridor in under ten minutes and moving up to 30,000 travelers daily with precision punctuality.

Independent Safety Audits Preparing for Early 2027 Launch

Airport and city leadership underscored that while technical physical completion is targeted for December 2026, LAWA and LINXS are prioritizing exhaustive third-party safety audits, emergency response simulations with the Los Angeles Fire Department, and extensive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) customer walkthroughs.

Serving as the operational centerpiece of LAX’s broader $30 billion capital transformation, the Automated People Mover provides world-class transit capacity, removing millions of vehicle miles annually from local highways and establishing a modern transit gateway ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.