A few days ago, public transit sleuth @numble pretty much shocked local travelers when sharing a set of official documents pertaining to the possible renaming of LAX’s terminals, gates and other facilities.
The gist: As part of a wayfinding improvement project that goes hand-in-hand with the airport’s increasingly delayed automated people mover, the airport is proposing that most number terminals be combined with their neighbors and for gates to be assigned letters in front of them.
Although many people on social media praised the would-be changes, they simultaneously expressed surprise and confusion at the process: What were the new monikers going to be? Will they be less confusing than what’s currently in use? In order to calm everyone’s nerves and make sense of it all, we’ve penned this handy little guide dissecting the sorts of updates we could expect to see.
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Why is LAX changing the name of its terminals and gates?
According to official planning documents, the developments are part of a larger “LAX Wayfinding Enhancement Program” that seeks to change the on-site standard “to a world-class system and provide a user centered approach to achieving a clear, consistent” network that will “enhance guest experience.”
Basically, the idea is to help travelers move around the growing airport more seamlessly.
What will the new terminal names be?
The following changes can be seen in the proposed plans that were just released:
- Terminal 1 and the planned Concourse 0 will all become part of a single Terminal 1
- Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 will be part of a new Terminal 2
- Terminal B (the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the Midfield Satellite Concourse) will become Tom Bradley Terminal 3
- Terminals 4, 5 and 6 will remain unchanged
- Terminal 7 and Terminal 8 will be part of a new Terminal 7
- Terminal 9, which still needs to be built, will become Terminal 8
What will the new gate names be?
LAist also reports on a new gate number system. Essentially, each terminal building will be assigned a letter that would be attached to its numbered gates. (Somewhat confusingly, the people mover—now delayed until December 2025—would also use letter names for its stations.) Here are the proposed changes:
- Terminal 1 will include A and B gates
- Terminal 2 will include C and D gates
- Tom Bradley Terminal 3 will include E and F gates
- Terminal 4 will G gates
- Terminal 5 will include H gates
- Terminal 6 will include J gates
- Terminal 7 will include K and L gates