LOS ANGELES — A $4.9 billion contract to design, build and operate an automated people mover at Los Angeles International Airport has been approved by the City Council. It is expected to be operational in 2023 and have a capacity of 10,000 people an hour.

The elevated 2 1/4-mile system will have driverless electric trains that carry airline passengers between terminals, a transportation centre and the Metro light-rail system, reducing the number of vehicles that use the airport’s central loop roads.

The contract voted on Wednesday goes to a consortium called LAX Integrated Express Solutions, known as LINXS.

Bombardier Transportation will provide the operating system, including all vehicles.