Roberta Aguirre
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is a civil airport in Queens, New York City. It is one of the two airports in New York City, the other being John F. Kennedy International (JFK), which is the largest and busiest of the two. LaGuardia Airport is the smallest of the two and has been criticised for its outdated facilities, poor customer service, and inefficient air operations. However, following an $8 billion transformation, it has improved significantly and is now considered one of the best airports in the US.
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What You'll Learn
- LaGuardia Airport is the smallest of the three airports in the NYC area
- The airport is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City
- LaGuardia was once considered one of the worst airports in the country
- The airport has undergone significant renovations, including the reconstruction of its passenger infrastructure
- LaGuardia is located in Queens, New York City, and covers 680 acres of land
LaGuardia Airport is the smallest of the three airports in the NYC area
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is the smallest of the three airports in the New York City area, the other two being John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). LaGuardia Airport is located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. The airport covers 680 acres as of January 1, 2025, and was established in 1929, beginning operations as a public airport in 1939.
LaGuardia Airport is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City and a long-time aviation advocate. LaGuardia played a crucial role in the development of the airport, pushing for the transformation of Governors Island into a combined airport and seaplane base. The airport is situated on the waterfront of Flushing and Bowery Bays, bordering the neighbourhoods of Astoria and Jackson Heights.
LaGuardia Airport primarily serves domestic destinations, with some limited international flights. It is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, and the only NYC-area stop for the Delta Shuttle, which runs to Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The airport served 30.6 million domestic passengers in 2023, and while it has been criticised for its outdated facilities, it has undergone significant renovations in recent years, including the reconstruction of Terminal B, which was named the best new airport terminal in the world at UNESCO's Prix Versailles awards.
LaGuardia Airport is accessible by subway, with the E, J, or Z train to Jamaica, followed by a transfer to the AirTrain, or the A train to Howard Beach, also followed by the AirTrain. Travelling from Manhattan to the airport by subway can take over an hour. Taxis and ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are also available, with designated pickup areas at each terminal.
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The airport is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City. Colloquially known as LaGuardia or simply LGA, the airport is located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. It is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. Covering 680 acres as of January 1, 2025, the facility was established in 1929 and began operating as a public airport in 1939.
The airport is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia due to his advocacy for aviation and his role in the development of New York City's airports. La Guardia was a long-time aviation advocate and criticized the slow progress of establishing municipal airports in the city while serving as a US representative of New York in 1927. After becoming mayor in 1934, he pushed for the transformation of Governors Island into a combined airport and seaplane base, envisioning it as a bustling transportation hub. Although this proposal was shut down due to military and shipping concerns, La Guardia continued to emphasize the need for a central "express" airport.
The construction of LaGuardia Airport began in 1937 on the waterfront of Flushing and Bowery Bays in East Elmhurst, with backing from the Works Progress Administration. The site presented challenges as it required moving landfill from Rikers Island, then a garbage dump, onto a metal reinforcing framework. Despite these obstacles, the airport opened to the public in 1939, becoming North America's first major commercial airport.
Today, LaGuardia Airport is one of the busiest airports in the New York metropolitan area, serving primarily domestic destinations with limited international flights. It has undergone significant renovations to improve its facilities and efficiency, including an $8 billion transformation completed in 2020. The airport has been recognized for its modern terminals, efficient operations, and enhanced passenger experience, receiving accolades as the best airport of its size in the United States.
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LaGuardia was once considered one of the worst airports in the country
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is a civil airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. It is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City and a long-time aviation advocate. LaGuardia Airport was once considered one of the worst airports in the country. It was mocked by now-President Joe Biden, who compared it to "some third-world country". The airport was also a common target for late-night comedy shows, including "Saturday Night Live", which featured a skit about buying sushi at LaGuardia.
However, following an $8 billion transformation, LaGuardia has undergone significant renovations and is now considered one of the best airports in the United States. The airport's terminals have been reconstructed, with improved lighting, wider concourses, and high ceilings, and modern amenities. The reconstruction also increased taxiway space, giving aircraft more room to maneuver. LaGuardia Airport now offers expanded dining, shopping, and lounge options across Terminals A, B, and C. Terminal B, in particular, has been praised for its new departure and arrival areas, including a new concessions level with shops and restaurants.
LaGuardia Airport is the smallest of the three airports in the New York City area, serving primarily domestic destinations with a limited number of international flights. It is the third-busiest airport in the New York metropolitan area and the 19th busiest in the United States by passenger volume, serving approximately 30.6 million domestic passengers in 2023. The airport is located directly to the north of the Grand Central Parkway, its primary access highway, and is about 8 miles from Manhattan.
LaGuardia Airport is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, with eight carriers offering direct flights across the United States, Canada, Aruba, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. The airport has unique regulations, including a curfew, a slot system, and a "perimeter rule" prohibiting most nonstop flights beyond 1,500 miles. These regulations have impacted its efficiency and customer service metrics in the past. However, recent investments and improvements in airfield layout and infrastructure have enhanced the airport's operations.
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The airport has undergone significant renovations, including the reconstruction of its passenger infrastructure
LaGuardia Airport, or LGA, is the smallest of the three airports in the NYC area. It is located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, and covers 680 acres as of January 1, 2025. The airport was established in 1929 and began operating as a public airport in 1939.
LaGuardia Airport has undergone significant renovations in recent years, including a $4-5.3 billion reconstruction of its passenger infrastructure, completed in January 2025. The project was overseen by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and was first announced in 2015. The transformation included the demolition of the old Terminal B, which was replaced by a new, spacious, and bright terminal building. This new terminal features common-use jetways and 57% more space for passengers, as well as an additional two miles of taxiways, helping to improve the efficiency of airport operations. The Delta-led Terminal C has also been praised for its design, technology, and passenger experience.
The redevelopment has also improved roadways, with the addition of a new 3,000-car parking garage and new pickup facilities for taxis and ride-sharing vehicles. The project has replaced ageing infrastructure with modern, light-filled terminals, featuring local concessions, public art, and upgraded amenities. The airport has received awards for its design, unique amenities, sustainability, and customer service.
The reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport has been a complex undertaking, with construction taking place in front of, behind, and over existing roadways, all while the airport remained operational, serving approximately 45,000 daily passengers. The project has been a success, with improved efficiency and a reduction in flight delays, and has set a new standard for airport redevelopment.
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LaGuardia is located in Queens, New York City, and covers 680 acres of land
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is located in Queens, New York City, and covers 680 acres of land. It is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. The airport is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City and a long-time aviation advocate. LaGuardia is one of two airports located in New York City, the other being John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), with a third airport, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), located nearby in New Jersey.
LaGuardia Airport is the smallest of the three airports in the New York City area. It primarily serves domestic destinations, with a limited number of international flights. The airport has undergone significant renovations in recent years, including the reconstruction of its passenger infrastructure and the redevelopment of Terminals A, B, and C. These renovations have transformed LaGuardia's previously outdated facilities, improving the overall passenger experience.
LaGuardia Airport is easily accessible from Manhattan by subway, taxi, or ridesharing services. The E, J, or Z train can be taken to Jamaica, followed by a transfer to the AirTrain. Alternatively, the A train can be taken to Howard Beach, from where passengers can catch the AirTrain as well. Traveling by subway from Manhattan to LaGuardia Airport takes over an hour. Taking a taxi between LaGuardia and Manhattan costs around $30 to $45, excluding tolls and tips, and can take 45 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic.
LaGuardia Airport is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. It served around 15 million passengers per year before the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the third-busiest airport in the New York metropolitan area and the 19th-busiest in the United States by passenger volume. The airport has a longstanding maximum flight radius of up to 1,500 miles for flights, excluding Saturday flights to Denver (DEN). LaGuardia's Terminal B offers a seamless travel experience with quick security checks, efficient connections, and a variety of dining and shopping options.
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Frequently asked questions
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the smallest of the three airports in the NYC area. It covers 680 acres of land and is located in Queens, New York City.
LaGuardia Airport has three terminals: A, B, and C. Terminal B, which underwent a major redevelopment, is located in the central area of the airport and has 2 concourses.
LaGuardia Airport offers expanded dining options across Terminals A, B, and C, including Shake Shack, Bubby's, Dos Toros Taqueria, and Talde.
LaGuardia Airport offers various amenities, including a meditation room, a nursing room, and a pet relief area. The airport also has shopping and lounge options.
You can take a taxi, which costs around $30 to $45, or use a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft, which has designated pickup areas at each terminal. Alternatively, you can take the subway for $2.90, but it will take over an hour.
