The legal gloves are off over LAX’s never-ending people mover fiasco.
The company behind LAX’s long-delayed $3.3 billion SkyLink train is suing the City of Los Angeles and accusing airport officials of covering up the real reasons the mega-project keeps going off the rails.
The lawsuit is the latest black eye for the troubled transit project, which was billed as a game-changing way to get travelers around Los Angeles International Airport but has instead become a symbol of missed deadlines and mounting legal battles.
LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS) filed the complaint last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), alleging the agency concealed facts surrounding project delays, altered drawings that changed the scope of work, and created obstacles that prevented construction from moving forward.
The automated people mover was originally expected to open in 2024.
Airport officials later hoped it would be running before the FIFA World Cup to give the system a critical test ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
Instead, passengers are still waiting, with the train stuck in testing and no opening date in sight.
LINXS said it spent two years trying to resolve the dispute before taking legal action.
“After extensive good faith efforts over the past two years failed to resolve these issues directly and amicably with LAWA, the applicable statute of limitations required LINXS to file this complaint to preserve its legal rights,” the company said in a statement.
“LINXS remains committed to working with LAWA to successfully deliver the Automated People Mover (APM) and provide a world-class transportation system for the Los Angeles region.”
According to the complaint, the lawsuit had to be filed before an October deadline to complete the project or risk lenders demanding repayment from LINXS.
The contractor says LAWA, not LINXS, is responsible for major delays.
Among the examples cited is a 2025 power outage that allegedly halted work for 141 days.
LINXS claims the outage was caused by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power but says LAWA still blamed the contractor “even though LAWA knew that it and LADWP were responsible.”
The lawsuit also alleges LAWA changed roadway drawings “so that LAWA could attempt to declare (wrongfully) that developer’s work in certain areas is complete, such that LAWA’s other contractors could work in those areas.”
The latest courtroom clash piles onto years of turmoil surrounding what is supposed to be the crown jewel of LAX’s $30 billion overhaul.
Despite regular meetings between LAWA Chief Executive John Ackerman and leaders of the public-private LINXS partnership, the project has remained mired in disputes that have already cost LAWA hundreds of millions of dollars in claim settlements.
LAWA said Tuesday it is reviewing the lawsuit but insisted its focus remains on getting the train into service.
“Delivering SkyLink is critical to transforming the passenger experience at LAX and ensuring our region is fully prepared to welcome visitors in the years to come. LAWA remains fully committed to a collaborative, constructive path forward with LINXS to achieve Passenger Service Availability (PSA) as soon as possible,” the agency said in a statement. “While we do not comment on pending litigation, delivering a safe, durable, and reliable SkyLink system to Los Angeles is our highest priority.”
Mayor Karen Bass’ office defended the effort, telling the Los Angeles Times she “has made significant investments into making LAX a world class travel experience,” including “ensuring the safe and dependable delivery of the SkyLink train system which will be a transformative infrastructure improvement for Los Angeles.”
Whenever it finally arrives, the 2.25-mile electric train is expected to connect LAX directly to Metro rail service and reduce the gridlock choking the airport’s horseshoe roadway at 1 World Way, a long-promised fix that has remained out of reach as the delays keep piling up.
