The opening of the Automated People Mover (APM), a key project in the modernization of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), is targeting June, but there are growing concerns that it could face yet another delay. The People Mover, expected to alleviate traffic congestion on LAX terminal access roads and transform the airport into a more user-friendly international hub, has largely completed construction and has been undergoing test operations since late 2024.

However, according to the Los Angeles Times and KTLA, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) revised its original January opening plan and set a new target of June—before the FIFA North American World Cup—but the schedule remains uncertain. Airport officials are reportedly preparing contingency measures, including deploying large-scale shuttle buses in case of further delays.

The People Mover is a 2.25-mile elevated automated train system that connects the Central Terminal Area with outlying transportation and parking facilities. It features six stations linking the nine terminals, the economy parking lot, the consolidated rental car center, and the LAX/Metro Transit Center, which opened in June last year. Once connected to the transit center, LAX will be integrated into the rail network for the first time since its opening, via Metro’s C and K lines. During peak hours (9 AM to 11 PM), nine trains—each consisting of four connected cars—will operate every two minutes in both directions.

Each car has 12 seats and can carry up to 50 passengers with luggage, allowing 200 passengers per train. The driverless system will reach speeds of 47 mph, with a 10-minute travel time from the first to the last station. The People Mover will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will be free for all airport users. The project was approved in 2018 and construction began in earnest in 2019, with an initial target completion date of early 2023. However, prolonged disputes between LAWA and contractor LINXS over schedule and costs led to multiple delays.

More than 80 claims were filed, and over $550 million in settlements were paid in 2024 alone. As a result, total project costs have ballooned from an estimated $2.9 billion to as much as $3.34 billion. The current progress rate is reportedly around 95%, but there has been no noticeable advancement in over a year, and specific reasons for the delays have not been disclosed. All 44 required train cars have already arrived on site.

The People Mover is seen as a fundamental solution to ease chronic traffic congestion caused by LAX’s infamous “horseshoe” terminal layout. Upon opening, it is projected to serve approximately 30 million passengers annually and reduce vehicle miles traveled by 42 million each year. With World Cup matches scheduled at SoFi Stadium in June, attention is focused on whether this automated train—likely to be many visitors’ first impression of the region—will begin operations on time.