Los Angeles International Airport’s planned SkyLink automated people mover has yet to begin passenger service more than three years after its original 2023 launch date, despite a surge in travelers arriving for the ongoing FIFA World Cup. The electric train, designed to connect airport terminals with a new transportation center, was intended to provide a faster, more efficient option for passengers navigating the airport’s busy traffic loop.
The $3.34 billion SkyLink project is part of a broader $30 billion initiative to modernize LAX infrastructure. However, technical challenges, ongoing testing requirements, and legal disputes between Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the system’s contractor, LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), have stalled its opening. LINXS has cited numerous obstacles imposed by LAWA, including delays related to landscaping work, project approvals, and impacts from concurrent construction activities. LAWA has denied compromising safety or timeline standards, emphasizing the need for rigorous testing to ensure the train’s reliability and security before public use.
According to a report from June 15, LINXS estimates that service will not begin until at least early October. The train must complete 30 consecutive days of successful testing without incident before it can carry passengers—a milestone that has yet to be achieved. Initial testing was scheduled to start in late April but has faced multiple delays.
Among the ongoing disputes is a $36 million claim filed by LINXS over repair work it contends falls outside its contractual responsibilities. LAWA, which oversees airport operations, has not publicly addressed this specific claim. Both entities remain engaged in negotiations while testing continues.
SkyLink’s 2.25-mile elevated track includes six stations: three within the airport terminals and three connecting passengers to Economy parking, the Ground Transportation Center, the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station, and the Rental Car Center. When operational, trains are expected to run every two minutes during peak hours, with an end-to-end journey lasting about 10 minutes.
Despite the delays, experts note the system offers a valuable alternative for travelers seeking to avoid surface traffic rather than a cure-all for the airport’s congestion. Jacob Wasserman, research program manager at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, described SkyLink as one option among several for improving airport access, highlighting that it may help reduce some traffic bottlenecks but will not eliminate them entirely.
The push to complete the SkyLink aligns with Los Angeles’s preparations for major upcoming events, including Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. The airport has historically undertaken significant infrastructure upgrades ahead of such gatherings, such as the addition of a second-level roadway for the 1984 Olympics. Observers point to these events as catalysts for expanded transit investments in the region, with the 1984 Games prompting initial voter support for rail funding in the city.
For now, LAX travelers must continue using existing transportation options while officials work to resolve contractual issues and complete the extensive testing needed to bring the SkyLink train into service.