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LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is located in the northern part of the New York City borough of Queens, in East Elmhurst. The airport, which first opened in 1939, is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City. LaGuardia is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay, and is one of the three airports that make up the largest airport system in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City |
| Address | Queens, NY, 11371 |
| Established | 1929 |
| Opened | 1939 |
| Size | 680 acres (280 hectares) |
| Previous Names | Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, North Beach Airport, New York Municipal Airport, LaGuardia Field |
| Current Name | Named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, former mayor of New York City |
| Airport Code | LGA |
| Primary Access Highway | Grand Central Parkway |
| Airlines | Hub for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines |
| Services | Domestic and limited international destinations |
| Ranking | Third-busiest airport in the New York metropolitan area |
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What You'll Learn
- LaGuardia Airport is located in Queens, New York City
- The airport opened in 1939
- It is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City
- LaGuardia is the third-busiest airport in the New York metropolitan area
- The airport has been criticised for its outdated facilities and poor customer service
LaGuardia Airport is located in Queens, New York City
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is located in Queens, New York City. It is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. The airport covers 680 acres (280 hectares) and is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City. LaGuardia Airport is easily accessible from the Grand Central Parkway, which is the airport's primary access highway.
The airport is located in the northern part of the New York City borough of Queens, in an area that was once part of the Steinway family estate. The current location was originally used as a private flying field by the Steinway family. Construction of the airport began in 1937 on the waterfront of Flushing and Bowery Bays in East Elmhurst, bordering the neighbourhoods of Astoria and Jackson Heights.
LaGuardia Airport first opened to the public in 1939 as the New York Municipal Airport. The airport was a huge financial success, with many people paying a small fee to watch the airliners landing and taking off. Within two years, income derived from parking and non-travel reached $935,000 per year. During World War II, the airport served as a training facility for aviation technicians and as a logistics field.
LaGuardia Airport has undergone various renovations and improvements over the years. In 2015, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced a multibillion-dollar reconstruction of the airport's passenger infrastructure, which was completed in January 2025. Despite these improvements, LaGuardia has been criticised for its outdated facilities, inefficient operations, and poor customer service.
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The airport opened in 1939
LaGuardia Airport, or LGA, is a civil airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. It is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. The airport was established in 1929 and opened to the public in 1939.
The airport's history is closely tied to Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City. La Guardia was a long-time aviation advocate who criticised the slow progress of establishing municipal airports in the city. He pushed for the development of a new airport in Queens, which could take advantage of the new Queens-Midtown Tunnel to Manhattan. The airport was initially named the Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, then the North Beach Airport, and was later transformed into a 550-acre state-of-the-art facility at a cost of $23 million.
The initiative to develop the airport for commercial flights began with a publicity stunt by Mayor La Guardia in 1934. Upon arriving at Newark Airport on a TWA flight, he refused to deplane, declaring that his ticket showed his destination as New York, not Newark. This stunt highlighted the need for a modern facility closer to Manhattan. Construction on the new airport began in 1937 with backing from the Works Progress Administration.
LaGuardia Airport officially opened on December 2, 1939, with the arrival of a TWA DC-3 flight from Chicago just after midnight. Within a year, it became the busiest airport in the world. The airport featured a skywalk observation deck, providing sweeping views of the airport ramp area and beyond for customers.
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It is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. The airport is named after Fiorello Henry La Guardia (born Fiorello Raffaele Enrico La Guardia), a former mayor of New York City. La Guardia was born in 1882 in New York City to a family of Italian immigrants and quickly became interested in politics at a young age. He served as a representative in the U.S. Congress, with his political career beginning as the deputy attorney of the state of New York in 1915. He was also president of New York's Board of Aldermen from 1919 to 1921.
La Guardia ran for mayor of New York City in 1933 and served three terms in that office from 1934 to 1945. He was known for his energetic and charismatic personality and his dedication to civic improvement. La Guardia was instrumental in the creation of the High School of Music & Art in 1936, now renamed the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. He was also known for his love of music and his support for the New Deal, bringing federal funds to New York City.
During his time as mayor, La Guardia also worked to improve the city's infrastructure. In 1937, construction began on a new airport in Queens, which would become LaGuardia Airport. The airport was built on the waterfront of Flushing and Bowery Bays in East Elmhurst, taking advantage of the new Queens-Midtown Tunnel to Manhattan. LaGuardia Airport officially began operating as a public airport in 1939 and has since become one of the busiest airports in the New York metropolitan area.
La Guardia's legacy extends beyond his political career. He was appointed director of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) after leaving the mayor's office. In 1972, the United States Postal Service honoured him with a 14-cent postage stamp. Various places in New York City, such as LaGuardia Community College, LaGuardia Place, and several parks and buildings, are named after him.
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LaGuardia is the third-busiest airport in the New York metropolitan area
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is a civil airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. Covering 680 acres, the airport was established in 1929 and opened to the public in 1939. LaGuardia is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City.
The airport has faced criticism for its outdated facilities, operational inefficiencies, and poor customer service. However, recent investments and renovations have aimed to address these issues, including a multibillion-dollar reconstruction of the passenger infrastructure completed in 2025.
LaGuardia has a fascinating history, initially known as the Glenn H. Curtiss Airport and later as the North Beach Airport. During World War II, it served as a training facility for aviation technicians and a logistics field. The airport has played a significant role in aviation, with commitments from major airlines even before its completion.
LaGuardia Airport, along with JFK International and Newark Liberty International, forms the largest airport system in the United States and the world in terms of total flight operations. Despite past criticisms, LaGuardia remains a crucial hub for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, contributing to the high volume of passenger traffic in the New York metropolitan area.
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The airport has been criticised for its outdated facilities and poor customer service
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. The airport, which opened in 1939, is located on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay.
LaGuardia Airport has been criticised for its outdated facilities and poor customer service. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the airport was lambasted for its outdated infrastructure, inefficient air operations, and subpar customer service metrics. In response to these criticisms, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced a multibillion-dollar reconstruction project in 2015, which was completed in January 2025.
The airport's transformation included the demolition of Terminal B and the rebuilding of Delta's Terminals C and D. The new design featured an island gate system, with passengers connecting between the terminal building and the gates via bridges. This allowed for additional space for aircraft taxiways and hold areas, reducing ground delays. The redevelopment also addressed the issue of magnetic interference on outgoing aircraft compasses caused by the metal reinforcing framework beneath the airport.
Despite these improvements, LaGuardia Airport continues to face challenges. With its busy status and millions of travellers booking flights, customers often experience crowds and long wait times. The airport's hours of operation, with check-in counters opening at 3:00 am and security checks starting at 5:00 am, can contribute to congestion during peak times. Additionally, the airport's location and access roads may impact traffic flow, and it serves as a hub for major airlines, adding to the overall volume of passengers.
To address these concerns, ongoing investments and renovations have been made to improve the airfield layout and operational efficiency. The FAA has approved new instrument departure procedures, and the Port Authority has worked to renovate the Central Terminal Building. These efforts aim to enhance the airport's functionality and customer experience.
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Frequently asked questions
LaGuardia Airport is located in the northern part of the New York City borough of Queens, in an area called East Elmhurst. It is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay.
The airport was established in 1929, but construction of the current airport began in 1937. It opened to the public in 1939 as the New York Municipal Airport.
The airport is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City.
