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LAX’s long-delayed airport train was 97% complete in May 2024.
Some of those revelations about the chaos behind the scenes were uncovered by a YouTuber who investigated the project’s troubled history.
“The sheer cynicism on display by LINXS is breathtaking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this degree of shameless behavior from a contractor before,” Nick Andert told The Hollywood Reporter.
Andert, a freelance editor, who moonlights on YouTube, started investigating the contract with LAX, arguing that it allowed the builder to halt work during engineering disputes while leveraging penalty clauses against the city.
In July 2026, LINXS sued the city over unresolved contract and delay disputes.
The resulting legal standoff led to a $880 million settlement and allowed construction to resume.
Despite the drama, the project is now physically nearing the finish line.
Officials are now aiming to have the system operating ahead of Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after blowing past the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
But even the latest target isn’t considered a lock.
Industry experts and local transit advocates have warned the opening could slip again.
Train cars have been conducting trial runs on the tracks, while crews work on final station details including lighting, screens and platform testing.
Once open, the fully electric system will run 24/7, connecting six stations across the airport.
Its mission is to eliminate LAX’s notorious terminal traffic “horseshoe,” removing up to 3,200 shuttle trips from the central terminal area every day.
The LAX Automated People Mover, also known as SkyLink will also connect LAX directly to the city’s Metro rail system for the first time and bring all rental-car companies together at a single giant off-site facility.
But Los Angeles World Airports is paying a hefty price for the transformation.
LAWA is covering the project using its own proprietary revenues.
Another $1.6 billion is budgeted to operate and maintain the people mover for 30 years.
The project has now spent seven years under construction, turning what was supposed to be a roughly $1.9 billion construction project into a $3.3 billion megaproject.
The YouTube investigation also sparked furious reactions online.
One commenter wrote: ‘The entire Lynxs management team as well as the project “neutral” need to go to prison for a long time for fraud.”
English (US)