Bob Hope Airport (BUR)

Overview

Originally built as Angeles Mesa Drive Airport in 1928, Bob Hope Airport (BUR) had a dozen different names before 2003 (including Hollywood-Burbank Airport and Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport) - before, finally, it was named after the famous comedian. Serving the greater Los Angeles area, including Glendale and the San Fernando Valley, the airport is actually closer to famous attractions like Hollywood and Griffiths Park than Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is, and offers far shorter queues and generally less hassle than the gigantic Los Angeles International. As small and personal as the other is big and sprawling, Bob Hope Airport is a great alternative for avoiding the congestion at the giant LAX; and with direct rail connections to downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego, nothing could be more convenient. The only catch is that flights to Bob Hope Airport are only available from western US states and New York, and sometimes can be a little pricier than flights into Los Angeles International. If you have some time to kill at the airport, check out the Lockheed Stealth Aircraft exhibition in the departures terminal.

Location

The airport is situated three miles (5km) from Burbank and 12 miles (20km) north of Los Angeles.

Getting to the city

The Metrolink and Amtrak train station is linked to the main terminal by a free shuttle service, but is only a short walk away, and serves downtown Los Angeles as well as other destinations. The airport is also on the MTA and Burbank Bus routes, which go to Burbank as well as downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. Taxis are available in front of the airport and car hire counters are located in Terminal B. The LA city centre is about 12 miles (20km) from the airport.

Time

GMT –8 (GMT –7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).

Contacts

Tel: +1 818 840 8840.

Car rental

Car hire counters are available in Terminal B and include Alamo, Avis, Hertz and National.

Airport Taxis

Taxis available on the islands in front of the airport terminal include City Cab (818 848 1000), United Taxi (800 892 8294) and Yellow or Checker cabs (800 750 4400). It costs about US$70 for the 12-mile (20km) trip to the LA city centre.

Facilities

Facilities include a bank, ATMs, restaurants, wireless Internet access, shops and an information desk in Terminal A.

Parking

There are several parking options available at the airport. The parking structures are well-marked and easy to locate. Short-term parking is $3 for 30 minutes, $5 for an hour, and $13 for two hours. Long-term parking in economy lots A, B and C is $3 for one hour and $5 for two hours; with a daily maximum of $10.

Departure Tax

None.

Website

www.burbankairport.com

Airlines

You can get flights to Bob Hope Airport on national carriers like Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United Express, US Airways and Horizon Air. Direct flights are available from Seattle, Portland, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Denver, San Francisco, Phoenix and New York City.

Internet

There is free wi-fi internet access available throughout the airport - just open your browser and surf to your heart's content.

Business Lounges

There are no currently no business lounges or meeting facilities at the airport.

Bob Hope Airport Taxis: the taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.