American Airlines unveiled plans for a $1.6 billion investment program at Los Angeles International Airport.

The airline created the framework for negotiation of a new 15-year lease agreement with planned improvement works to include the unification of passenger check-in and baggage claim areas, improvement of check-in facilities at Terminal 5, a new vertical circulation core connecting to the landside Automated People Movers rail system, the centralization of Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 security screening checkpoint at the APM level and the connection of Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 both landside and airside, including an above-ground connection from Terminal 4/BIT Connector to Terminal 5 airside.

“The investment will not only improve the customer experience, but it will also give our employees a better place to work every day while allowing us to continue to grow in the marketplace,” said Doug Parker, chief executive officer, American Airlines. “It’s an exciting time for the U.S. airline industry and for American in particular. Today, U.S. airlines are healthy and investing back into their businesses and the communities they serve. What we are doing here today is a great example of that.”

The investment program will be carried out over the next 7–10 years by tearing down the lobby areas of Terminal 4 and 5 one section at a time. A new state-of-the-art facility will be built while the airport remains open. The agreement paves the way for American Airlines to receive additional gates as the carrier continues to grow its destinations.