Hollywood Burbank Airport, formerly known (and still referred to by yours truly) as Bob Hope, is a gem among US airports. Built for a bygone era, its single greatest strength is that it is uncomplicated, easy and very small. It’s also convenient to quite a bit of the greater Los Angeles area, so next time you default to typing “LAX” into the flight search, spare a thought for this lovely little airfield and be sure to check whether it might be your better option.
Here’s what not to expect: modern architecture, extensive food options, big open spaces or any kind of amenities really. It is decidedly dated. But none of that matters because it’s a place you don’t have to linger long. Show up half an hour before your flight (if not checking bags) and you’ll easily make your flight. Finding your gate will never be confusing. In some cases there really isn’t enough space at the boarding areas to accommodate multiple aircraft departing at the same time, but honestly it’s not a big deal – you’re there to board and get going quickly.
As a small airport, service to Burbank is relatively limited. Don’t expect to find the kinds of frequencies and choice of destinations you’d get at nearby LAX. However Burbank can get you just about anywhere you need to go domestically if you’re willing to take a connection – and there’s nonstop service to many cities in the western US (plus some further afield) as well.
Burbank’s layout is very easy to figure out as the entire place has a total of 14 gates. Despite that it does have two terminals, A and B, though they’re in the same building.
Terminal A is superior to Terminal B for overall experience because it’s laid out better, and that’s where you’ll find Southwest, American, jetBlue and Delta. Terminal B is where you’ll check in for Alaska, United, Spirit and Avelo.
Keep in mind that JSX, the semi-private airline (and one I highly recommend) also has quite a good list of destinations from Oakland, and that they operate out of a private terminal across the airfield which offers even less hassle than the already easy main terminals.
The bigger airlines all offer service to a selection of their hubs out of Burbank. With American Airlines that means Dallas and Phoenix. Delta will take you to Salt Lake City or Atlanta. And on United: Denver and San Francisco. A predictable list.
Spirit will take you to Las Vegas or Oakland. And with Alaska Airlines it gets a little more interesting as they offer service to the likes of Boise, Portland and even Santa Rosa. jetBlue has a very convenient once-daily red-eye to New York JFK (the longest scheduled flight out of Burbank at present).
But the majority of destinations offered are flown by Southwest and relative newcomer Avelo Airlines. The list is long but they include quite a few places including smaller and underserved destinations, such cities as Albuquerque, St Louis, Bozeman and Colorado Springs.
If your goal is LA’s west side (Santa Monica, for example) there’s no denying LAX is very convenient. But for those headed to points further east like West Hollywood, Silverlake, Pasadena or downtown LA, Burbank starts looking a lot more convenient. And it’s ideal for the Valley, where Burbank is located, and all the population centers that radiate out from there. It’s worth checking driving times because it may be closer to where you’re headed than you think.
LA is car mecca so it’ll come as no surprise Burbank is well set up to handle those. But you may be surprised to hear there’s actually a decent list of public transport options too. Considering that traffic can be bad throughout the day and night in LA, you might consider skipping the rental car counter and instead head over to the train. Efficient intermodal connections in Southern California are not very common so this is something to celebrate. And I really recommend giving the train a try – it is surprisingly pleasant.
Burbank Airport is a standout among area airports for its direct connection to rail services via the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center, which also houses rental cars, parking and buses.
The Burbank Airport South train station is at most a ten minute walk from the terminals and offers Metrolink service to downtown LA (with connections across Los Angeles) as well as Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains which can take you as far north as San Luis Obispo and as far south as San Diego. If you’re unable to walk it there’s also a complimentary shuttle service.
While the train is great, the car is going to be the most common way to get to and from BUR, and here the airport has you well covered. There’s parking directly on-site, next to the transport center. The best option though? Burbank Airport offers valet parking for only a small additional fee beyond regular parking and if you have an EV they’ll charge it up for you while you’re traveling. Talk about taking the stress out of airport arrival.
There’s quite a lot coming in the near future to Burbank Airport, including a completely new terminal. The good news? It’s not going to be that much bigger. It’ll still have just 14 gates, but they’ll be improving every other aspect of the experience, offering more space in public and boarding areas, a nicer environment to check in and some additional amenities. Might this make it a super-airport, a perfect blend of convenience, compactness and comfort? Quite possibly. It’s an exciting prospect. This is currently slated to be ready in 2026.
Plans for the California High Speed Rail project call for an underground station serving Bob Hope Airport located directly beneath the planned replacement terminal. So although we don’t know when or really if all that will become a reality (the high speed rail project has faced a number of setbacks and delays), it’s going to be a truly incredible thing if and when it does.
If you’re headed to Los Angeles there are quite a few airports to choose from and depending on your ultimate destination Burbank may not be your best option. That’s why when comparing fares to all LA area airports it’s a really good idea to compare transit times from airport to where you’re staying as well. In any case, these are your main alternatives
– LAX. The biggest and most well-known airport, it can be chaotic and messy, but it has a lot of flights and it’s very centrally located, especially if you’re headed to the west side (nearer to the coast).
– Long Beach. This is another great airport to consider because it’s small and it’s not THAT far from the action in LA, but it’s really best suited to those of you headed to points further south and east such as Anaheim, Orange County or Long Beach itself.
– Ontario. The one many people forget is another smaller airport mainly service the so-called Inland Empire to the east of downtown LA. If you’re headed to Santa Monica this one is best avoided, but for San Bernardino or further east to the desert, it can be ideal.
There are no lounges at Burbank Airport. Remember that thing about this not being a place to linger, but rather to breeze through. My suggestion: head to Jones Coffee Roasters (there are actually two) if you have a few minutes to kill.
While it’s pretty unlikely you’ll find yourself laying over at Burbank, in case you are there and at loose ends (maybe your flight got cancelled, for example) it’s good to know what’s around. Here are two options:
If you have 2+ hours: Go to the nearby Mystic Museum, a 5-minute Uber ride away. It’s a quirky place full of oddities.
If you have 5+ hours: Join a Warner Brothers Studio Tour. The lot is just 10 minutes away by car so it’s a perfect opportunity to do the touristy thing. Tours usually take an hour but there’s lots more to see after the guided part so I’d try and have some time available.
There are a handful of hotels around Burbank Airport, the usual chains with few surprises and not much to recommend them. However I would pick the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank simply because it’s the most convenient, located directly across the street from the airport grounds.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
IATA Code | BUR |
---|---|
Serves | Burbank |
Terminals | A, B |
Hub for | Japan Airlines, Icelandair, Delta |