SkyLink is the new name for the LAX Automated People Mover (APM), a forthcoming electric train on a 2.25-mile elevated guideway. Its six stations will connect the terminal area with economy parking and pickup/drop-off facilities, the LAX/Metro Transit Center and the LAX Rental Car Center.

Is the LAX People Mover open now?

No. As of September 25, 2026, Los Angeles World Airports describes SkyLink as forthcoming and says it will provide airport connections. Until LAX announces passenger service, travelers should continue using the airport's current shuttle and ground-transportation instructions.

When is the LAX People Mover projected to open?

Based on LAWA's official project page, SkyLink is still listed as forthcoming without a confirmed opening date. LAWA originally targeted 2023, then January 2026. According to a September 16, 2026 disclosure filing by lead contractor LINXS, construction completion is now set for December 8, 2026, after which the train must undergo 30 days of mandatory operational testing plus independent oversight assessment and a finalized utility agreement. That pushes expected passenger service to January 2027, though the contractor noted there are no assurances the date will not be further delayed. LAWA has stated it will not open the train until all safety testing is complete.

Do I still have to go to LAX-it for a pickup?

Not with a pre-arranged chauffeured car service. LAX-it is the shuttle-served lot for app rideshare and taxis. TCP-licensed, pre-arranged services like ours pick you up at the arrivals-level curb directly outside your terminal, or inside baggage claim with meet & greet — no shuttle, no queue, and no People Mover ride required to reach your car.

Where do I get dropped off at LAX for a departure?

Chauffeured cars drop off at the departures (upper) level curb directly outside your terminal — the same as always. Your driver confirms the correct terminal and door from your flight number, so the People Mover does not change your departure drop-off at all.

Where do I pick up a rental car at LAX while SkyLink is not open?

LAX's Rental Car Center is open east of the terminals and consolidates the airport's on-airport rental car operations. SkyLink will eventually serve it as the easternmost station, but the train is not yet carrying passengers. Follow your rental company's current instructions and official LAX ground-transportation signs for the available shuttle connection.

Is the LAX People Mover free to ride?

When SkyLink opens, LAWA says it will operate 24/7 and be free for ticketed passengers, airport employees, and people picking up or dropping off travelers. It is not yet open for passenger service.

Is a rental car or a car service better for a first visit to L.A.?

If you are landing at LAX for the first time and heading to one or two destinations, a flat-rate car service is usually simpler: no shuttle or train with luggage, no counter line, no insurance decisions at the desk, and no navigating an unfamiliar freeway system jet-lagged. Renting makes sense for multi-day, multi-stop itineraries; for airport-to-hotel, meetings or events, a chauffeur is door-to-door with the rate locked in before you land.

How much free wait time do I get with a car service pickup at LAX?

Domestic arrivals include 30 minutes of free wait time from actual touchdown, and international arrivals include 60 minutes for customs and baggage. After that, wait time is $1.00 per minute and can only be applied by a dispatcher — never automatically. We track your flight, so delays and early landings shift your pickup time at no charge.

LAX SkyLink · current status · station guide

LAX SkyLink People Mover: what is open now and what is coming

LAX has renamed its Automated People Mover “SkyLink.” The elevated electric train is designed to connect the terminals with parking, pickup and drop-off facilities, Metro and the Rental Car Center — but it is not yet open for passenger service. Here is the current official airport information and what travelers should do today.

Status verified September 25, 2026

Los Angeles World Airports currently calls SkyLink a “forthcoming” train and has not announced passenger service on its official project page. Per a September 16, 2026 contractor disclosure, construction completion is now set for December 8, 2026, followed by 30 days of mandatory testing — pushing projected passenger service to January 2027. LAWA has stated it will not open the train until all safety testing is complete.

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When is SkyLink projected to open?

LAWA's official project page still lists SkyLink as forthcoming and does not post a confirmed passenger-service date. The schedule has moved several times: the train was originally targeted for 2023, then January 2026, and the latest contractor filing pushes it again.

Original target

2023

The 2.25-mile elevated train was first scheduled to open in 2023 as part of LAX's $5.5-billion Landside Access Modernization Program.

Revised target

January 2026

A July 2024 LAWA agreement set a construction completion date of December 8, 2025, with full operations beginning January 2026.

Current projection

January 2027

A September 16, 2026 LINXS disclosure moved construction completion to December 8, 2026. After 30 days of mandatory testing, independent assessment, and a finalized utility agreement, passenger service is expected in January 2027 — though the contractor noted there are no assurances the date will not slip further.

Source: LAWA SkyLink project page and LAWA news releases. LAWA has stated it will not open the train until rigorous testing of all tracks, signaling systems and vehicles is complete.

What SkyLink is — and where it will go

SkyLink, formerly the Automated People Mover, is a forthcoming electric train on a 2.25-mile elevated guideway. LAWA says it will operate 24/7 with six stations: three in the Central Terminal Area and three outside it.

ConRAC — rental car center

The open LAX Rental Car Center is SkyLink's easternmost planned stop. Until train service begins, follow current rental-company and airport shuttle instructions.

Metro LAX/Transit Center

This station will connect SkyLink with LA Metro light rail, municipal buses and the airport's own Transit Center.

Economy parking

A station will serve LAX Economy Parking and the adjacent Ground Transport Center. Official LAX parking currently lists a free terminal shuttle operating about every 15 minutes.

Planned service at a glance

Six stations across a 2.25-mile elevated route, including three stations inside the terminal area.
Free, 24-hour service is planned for ticketed passengers, airport employees, and people picking up or dropping off travelers.
During peak hours, LAWA plans trains every two minutes and an end-to-end trip of about 10 minutes.
Each four-car train set is designed for up to 200 passengers and luggage, with level boarding and wide doors.

Where you get picked up and dropped off

Departures: chauffeured cars drop you at the departures-level curb outside your terminal — unchanged by the People Mover.
Arrivals (car service): pre-arranged, TCP-licensed chauffeurs pick up at the arrivals curb outside your terminal, or inside baggage claim with meet & greet.
App rideshare & taxis: passengers are directed to LAX-it, the shuttle-served pickup lot, with access fees reflected in the fare.
Today: SkyLink is not part of the pickup journey because passenger service has not started.

Rental cars today: use current airport instructions

The LAX Rental Car Center is open east of the terminal area and consolidates the airport's on-airport rental car operations. It is SkyLink's planned easternmost station, but the train is not yet available to take passengers there.

Before traveling, check your rental company's pickup instructions and follow the current airport signs. LAX continues to publish temporary shuttle and loading information while construction changes where some ground transportation operates.

If your trip is airport-to-hotel, a meeting or an event, compare the all-in cost honestly: rental rate + insurance + fuel + parking at your destination, versus a flat, flight-tracked car service rate with airport fees and wait time already included. For many short L.A. visits, the chauffeur is the simpler — and often comparable — option.

Official LAX sources

Opening dates and airport transportation instructions can change. These official pages are the sources used for this guide and should be checked before travel.

LAWA SkyLink project page LAWA Rental Car Center Current LAX ground transportation

People Mover & LAX access questions

What is LAX SkyLink?: SkyLink is the new name for the LAX Automated People Mover (APM), a forthcoming electric train on a 2.25-mile elevated guideway. Its six stations will connect the terminal area with economy parking and pickup/drop-off facilities, the LAX/Metro Transit Center and the LAX Rental Car Center.
Is the LAX People Mover open now?: No. As of September 25, 2026, Los Angeles World Airports describes SkyLink as forthcoming and says it will provide airport connections. Until LAX announces passenger service, travelers should continue using the airport's current shuttle and ground-transportation instructions.
When is the LAX People Mover projected to open?: Based on LAWA's official project page, SkyLink is still listed as forthcoming without a confirmed opening date. LAWA originally targeted 2023, then January 2026. According to a September 16, 2026 disclosure filing by lead contractor LINXS, construction completion is now set for December 8, 2026, after which the train must undergo 30 days of mandatory operational testing plus independent oversight assessment and a finalized utility agreement. That pushes expected passenger service to January 2027, though the contractor noted there are no assurances the date will not be further delayed. LAWA has stated it will not open the train until all safety testing is complete.
Do I still have to go to LAX-it for a pickup?: Not with a pre-arranged chauffeured car service. LAX-it is the shuttle-served lot for app rideshare and taxis. TCP-licensed, pre-arranged services like ours pick you up at the arrivals-level curb directly outside your terminal, or inside baggage claim with meet & greet — no shuttle, no queue, and no People Mover ride required to reach your car.
Where do I get dropped off at LAX for a departure?: Chauffeured cars drop off at the departures (upper) level curb directly outside your terminal — the same as always. Your driver confirms the correct terminal and door from your flight number, so the People Mover does not change your departure drop-off at all.
Where do I pick up a rental car at LAX while SkyLink is not open?: LAX's Rental Car Center is open east of the terminals and consolidates the airport's on-airport rental car operations. SkyLink will eventually serve it as the easternmost station, but the train is not yet carrying passengers. Follow your rental company's current instructions and official LAX ground-transportation signs for the available shuttle connection.
Is the LAX People Mover free to ride?: When SkyLink opens, LAWA says it will operate 24/7 and be free for ticketed passengers, airport employees, and people picking up or dropping off travelers. It is not yet open for passenger service.
Is a rental car or a car service better for a first visit to L.A.?: If you are landing at LAX for the first time and heading to one or two destinations, a flat-rate car service is usually simpler: no shuttle or train with luggage, no counter line, no insurance decisions at the desk, and no navigating an unfamiliar freeway system jet-lagged. Renting makes sense for multi-day, multi-stop itineraries; for airport-to-hotel, meetings or events, a chauffeur is door-to-door with the rate locked in before you land.
How much free wait time do I get with a car service pickup at LAX?: Domestic arrivals include 30 minutes of free wait time from actual touchdown, and international arrivals include 60 minutes for customs and baggage. After that, wait time is $1.00 per minute and can only be applied by a dispatcher — never automatically. We track your flight, so delays and early landings shift your pickup time at no charge.

Skip the rental shuttle and counter line

Your chauffeur meets you at the terminal curb with flight tracking, free wait time and a flat rate that already includes LAX access fees. Text confirmation with your chauffeur's name, vehicle and plate included.