Delta Sky Way at LAX Ahead of Schedule
COVID-19-related drop in passenger numbers allow LAX to accelerate terminal transformation
At the topping out ceremony for the $1.86 billion Delta Sky Way at Los Angeles International Airport Nov. 12, officials from the city, Delta Air Lines and Los Angeles World Airports announced that work on the project will now be completed 18 months ahead of schedule.
Construction on the Sky Way, which began in April 2019, was originally slated to be completed in late 2024. However, the carrier said that due to the COVID-19-related drop in passenger numbers at LAX, Terminal 3 has temporarily been closed allowing the construction schedule to be accelerated.
The first phase of the new facility is now set to open in the first quarter of 2022, according to the airline, with completion scheduled for mid-2023. Mark Pearson, Delta vice president – corporate real estate, called the news “a silver lining to fewer people flying right now.”
The Sky Way project will include Delta’s largest Sky Club with year-round outdoor Sky Deck, as well as more security screening capacity, automated security lanes and more gate-area seating. The facility will also provide connectivity beyond security between Terminals 2 and 3, currently only possible via shuttle bus. The project will provide access to the LAX Automated People Mover, opening in 2023.
There will also be a secure connection between Terminals 2 and 3, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which Delta says will cut down connection times by up to 20 minutes.
