Once called a “third world” airport by Vice President Joe Biden, New York’s LaGuardia International will now get a $4 billion redesign that will double the current operational space, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled this week.
The comprehensive redesign will transform the airport from its current layout of multiple, fragmented terminals, into a single, structurally unified main terminal with expanded transportation access, significantly increased taxi-way area and best-in-class passenger amenities, including new and expanded retail space.
“We are transforming LaGuardia into a globally-renowned, 21st century airport that is worthy of the city and state of New York,” says Cuomo.
Construction on the first half of the new unified terminal will be managed by LaGuardia Gateway Partners, a new public private partnership chosen by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to build the project.
The new design is expected to break ground in the first part of 2016 and open in 2019. It calls for demolishing the existing Terminal B building and replacing it with a larger structure, located closer to the Grand Central Parkway, the major road adjacent to the airport. This western half will include new terminal space and a new Central Arrivals and Departures Hall, and will link to Delta’s Terminals C and D.
The eastern half of the new unified terminal will be constructed on a parallel track by Delta Air Lines redeveloping its existing Terminals and connecting them to the new Central Arrivals and Departures Hall.
LaGuardia served a record high 26.9 million passengers last year. It is one of Delta’s hub airports.
