The LAX people mover now has a contractor forecast of Feb. 5, 2027, according to a report published Oct. 22, 2026. That is about a month later than the early-January target officials gave in September.
The date is not official. The Westside Current calls it a contractor forecast, not an opening date from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). For travelers, that means the airport’s $3.3 billion train will not carry passengers this year. Related roadwork is in our LAX Century Boulevard closures story and the Los Angeles and California guide.
Why the LAX people mover slipped again
The Westside Current reports that three incidents on the guideway in late September damaged the power rail and a guide beam. The cause is under investigation. Crews have repaired the guide beam, but they are still reassembling the power rail, and no completion date is confirmed.
Before the incident, the contractor, LINXS, had told bondholders it would finish construction by Dec. 8. Spectrum News reported on Sept. 24 that LAWA expected passenger service in early January. The same filing warned there were “no assurances” of no further delay.
What has to happen before anyone rides
Finishing construction is only the first step. After that, the train must pass 30 consecutive days of testing and an independent review. LAWA must then give final safety approval. LAWA has said it will not open the system without those checks.
A utility agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also has to be finalized. As a result, even a December finish leaves little room for error.
The 2.25-mile line has a price tag of about $3.34 billion. It was first meant to open in 2023. A 2024 agreement gave LINXS another $550 million for extra work and more time. In July, LINXS sued the city, saying LAWA wrongly denied it more time and money. That case is unresolved, and LAWA has not commented in the sources we reviewed.
What travelers can do now
Until the train opens, riders should keep using the shuttles and pickup areas LAWA already runs. Check the LAX website for current terminal access. A City Council motion by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Traci Park, asks LAWA to explain the delays. Meanwhile, the next milestone is the Dec. 8 construction deadline.
This article is general information about a public project, not legal advice on the contract dispute.