Burbank Airport turns to Jay Leno for help finishing construction of new terminal

The legendary “Tonight Show” host and world-class car nut, Jay Leno, is the new face of Hollywood Burbank Airport, appearing in a slick video pitch to convince investors that the airport’s new terminal is a sure bet.

Leno, whose famous “Big Dog Garage” is located a not far from the runways, is in the promotional clip touting the construction of a 355,000-square-foot replacement terminal.

A plane takes off from Hollywood Burbank Airport REUTERS

“Those of you who don’t know Burbank, here’s its big advantage: it’s not Los Angeles,” Leno says in the video. Leno referred to the airport as an “oasis in the middle of a crazy city with homelessness and crime and taxes.”

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority is hoping Leno’s star power will help sell $379 million in airport revenue bonds to finance the terminal relocation project.

Jay Leno attends “The Cars That Drove Us” release party at Petersen Automotive Museum on April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

The cash will go toward finishing the reportedly $1.3 billion “Elevate BUR” project, which replaces the current 1930s-era terminal with a modern, 14-gate facility. With the Super Bowl coming to Los Angeles in 2027 and the Summer Olympics following in 2028, Burbank is positioning itself as the sane alternative to the gridlock of LAX, offering travelers a “sense of calm, sense of structure that really, really works.”

The upgraded terminal is already under construction, and is expected to open in the spring of next year.

“This is being built by a union crew on time and on budget,” Leno said in the video. “When does that ever happen?”

Despite the flashy delivery, the video includes a disclaimer reminding viewers that Leno’s comments are for information purposes only and not financial advice.