9
History
At the turn of the 20th century, the airport site, then commonly known
as North Beach, was occupied by the Gala Amusement Park.
In 1929, the 105-acre site was purchased by the Curtiss-Wright Co.
and developed into a private flying field. Originally called the Glenn H.
Curtiss Airport, it later became known as Curtiss-Wright Field.
The City of New York purchased Curtiss-Wright Field in 1935 and
renamed it North Beach Airport. On September 9, 1937, ground was
broken for a new airport, which, on October 15, 1939, was dedicated
as New York City Municipal Airport.
Eighteen days later, on November 2, 1939, the airport was renamed
New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field to honor New York City’s
Mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia.
On December 2, 1939, the airport opened to commercial traffic. It
soon became known simply as LaGuardia Airport.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey began operating
LaGuardia Airport in 1947.
Size and Location
LaGuardia Airport covers 680 acres. It borders Flushing and Bowery
bays in the northwestern section of Queens County, New York City,
about eight miles by highway from midtown Manhattan.
Aviation Role
LaGuardia Airport is one of the nation’s leading domestic gateways
for business and leisure travel, and is the primary business/short-haul
airport for New York City. LaGuardia Airport served a record 31.1 million
passengers in 2019. Ten airlines offer a total of about 75 nonstop
destinations at LaGuardia Airport, which relative to its size, holds the
distinction of being the most efficient airport in the world, handling
more passengers per acre per year than any other airport.
Employment and Economic Impact
LaGuardia Airport employs nearly 15,000 people, and plays a critical
role in addressing the region’s transportation needs, as well as fueling
the economy. The airport contributes more than $19.7 billion in
economic activity to the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region,
generating more than 120,000 total jobs and more than $6.8 billion in
annual wages.
Investment
Original construction by the City of New York cost $40 million. The Port
Authority’s total capital investment in the airport to date is more than
$4.5 billion.
Redevelopment
Opened in September 1992 and costing $200 million, Terminal
C comprises approximately 300,000 square feet of space with
21 aircraft contact gates. Operated by Delta Air Lines, the terminal
features an innovative mix of food, retail, and concessions integrated
into the gate holdroom areas and a Welcome Center on the arrivals
level. Spirit Airlines (Departures) and Frontier Airways (Departures) are
now based in the terminal.
In 2017, Delta Air Lines started construction of a new Terminal C
that will replace the current Terminal C & D. The purpose of the new
Terminal C is to improve aircraft operations & reduce delays to enable
airlines to safely & effectively meet passenger demand at acceptable
levels of service. The terminal will have improved passenger processing,
concessions and retail options, and sufficient electrical capacity to
provide reliable service. The terminal is scheduled for completion in
2026.
Terminal D, which consists of 10 gates, opened at the east end of
the airport in June 1983. It is operated by Delta Air Lines and hosts
Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines (Arrivals), Spirit Airlines (Arrivals) and
WestJet. In 2010, Delta enhanced and expanded the terminal’s food,
retail, and concessions options, and the Port Authority opened a
Welcome Center on the arrivals level. Delta expanded its operations
into Terminal C following its takeover of the US Airways lease of
Terminal C in 2011 and invested nearly $100 million in its terminal
complex to improve customer access, speed baggage handling, and
improve the concessions and customer service experience. In 2012,
Delta opened a 600-foot-long enclosed walkway connecting Terminals
C and D.
Parking
LaGuardia Airport offers about 4,000 public parking spaces with, E-Z
Pass Plus and Express Pay machines in all parking garages. In 2018,
a new 3,100-space Terminal B Parking Garage opened for use. The
seven-level garage connects directly with Terminal B. The garage also
is used to stage and pick up passengers using for-hire vehicles from
Terminal B. When the garage opened, the airport also launched a first-
of-its-kind parking pre-booking website that allows customers to reserve
a guaranteed, discounted garage parking space.
LaGuardia Airport
28.9
31.1
373,356
6,376
2.2
MILLION
MILLION
FLIGHTS
TONS OF CARGO
MILLION
Domestic
Total Annual Passengers
International
RECORD TRAFFIC AT A GLANCE
LaGuardia Airport Fact Sheet