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LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is a civil airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, located on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. The airport is one of three major airports in the New York metropolitan area, located about seven miles from Midtown Manhattan. LaGuardia Airport is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | LaGuardia Airport |
| Acronym | LGA |
| Location | East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, United States |
| Address | NY 11371 |
| Size | 680 acres (as of 2025) |
| Year of Establishment | 1929 |
| Opening Year | 1939 |
| Namesake | Fiorello H. La Guardia |
| Purpose | Domestic and limited international flights |
| Traffic Rank (New York metropolitan area) | 3rd |
| Traffic Rank (United States) | 19th |
| Primary Access Highway | Grand Central Parkway |
| Number of Terminals | 4 |
| Terminals | A, B, C, and D |
| Services | Restaurants, cafeterias, shops, duty-free, charging areas, ATMs, currency exchange, MetroCard machines, pet relief areas, spa, Wi-Fi, lost and found, special-needs services, designated children's areas |
| Transportation Options | Bus, taxi, private car services (Lyft, Uber, Revel), rental car |
| Yearly Passenger Volume (2023) | 32,372,260 |
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What You'll Learn
LaGuardia Airport is in Queens, New York City
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is a civil airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. Colloquially known as LaGuardia or simply LGA, the airport is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. Covering 680 acres (280 hectares) as of January 1, 2025, the facility was established in 1929 and opened to the public in 1939. It is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City and a long-time aviation advocate.
LaGuardia Airport is located directly to the north of the Grand Central Parkway, its primary access highway. The airport is known for its four busy terminals, stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, and convenient accessibility to Manhattan through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. The airport is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, accommodating both domestic and limited international destinations.
The history of LaGuardia Airport dates back to the 1920s when the site was a private flying field owned by the Steinway family. In 1929, the 200-acre facility was used for the first time, with a 2-acre concrete plateau connected to water by a 400-foot amphibious aircraft ramp. The site was later renamed Glenn H. Curtiss Airport in honour of the New York aviation pioneer. In 1934, the election of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia brought a new era of public investment in New York City's airports. Despite some opposition, La Guardia pushed for the development of a new airport in Queens, taking advantage of its convenient location.
Construction of LaGuardia Airport began in 1937 on the waterfront of Flushing and Bowery Bays in East Elmhurst, bordering the neighbourhoods of Astoria and Jackson Heights. The transformation of the modest North Beach Airport into a state-of-the-art facility cost $23 million to New York City. The airport opened on December 2, 1939, as the New York Municipal Airport, captivating the public with the concept of air travel. Within two years, the airport became a financial success, generating significant income from parking and non-travel-related sources.
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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 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 was established in 1929 and began operating as a public airport in 1939.
Fiorello La Guardia was a long-time aviation advocate. In 1927, while serving as a US representative of New York, he criticised the slow progress of the federal and state governments in establishing municipal airports in the city. La Guardia's election as mayor in 1934 brought about a new era of public investment in New York City's airports. He pushed for the transformation of Governors Island into a combined airport and seaplane base, envisioning it as a bustling transportation hub at the city's centre. Although this proposal was shut down due to military and shipping concerns, La Guardia played a pivotal role in the development of LaGuardia Airport.
LaGuardia Airport was originally known as Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, named after the New York aviation pioneer. It was later renamed North Beach Airport. However, recognising the need for a central "express" airport, La Guardia, along with industry leaders, championed the transformation of this modest airport into a state-of-the-art facility. Despite some considering it a waste of money, the airport became a financial success, captivating the public with the concept of air travel.
In 1953, the airport was renamed LaGuardia Airport in honour of former mayor Fiorello La Guardia. Today, LaGuardia Airport remains a vital transportation hub for the New York City area, serving primarily domestic destinations and limited international flights. It is known for its four busy terminals and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.
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The airport opened in 1939
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: 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 for public use in 1939.
The airport was initially called the New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field when it opened on December 2, 1939. It was dedicated on October 15, 1939, and was renamed LaGuardia Airport in 1953, after Fiorello H. La Guardia, the former mayor of New York City. La Guardia was a strong advocate of aviation and had pushed for the development of municipal airports in the city.
The construction of LaGuardia Airport began in 1937 on the waterfront of Flushing and Bowery Bays in East Elmhurst. The site was chosen for its convenient access to Manhattan through the newly built Queens-Midtown Tunnel. The airport replaced the North Beach Airport, which was transformed into a 550-acre, state-of-the-art facility at a cost of $23 million to New York City. Despite some criticism of the project as a waste of money, the airport soon became a financial success, generating significant income from parking and non-travel-related sources.
LaGuardia Airport has undergone several expansions and improvements over the years. In 1964, a new Central Terminal Building replaced the outdated main terminal building, and in 2015, a multibillion-dollar reconstruction project was announced to modernise the airport's passenger infrastructure. The airport remains a significant hub for aviation in the New York metropolitan area, accommodating both domestic and limited international flights.
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It is one of the busiest airports in the New York metropolitan area
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is one of the busiest airports in the New York metropolitan area. Located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, the airport covers 680 acres of land. It is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City and a long-time aviation advocate. LaGuardia Airport is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. It is easily accessible via the Grand Central Parkway, which is the airport's primary access highway.
The airport has a long history dating back to the 1920s. It was originally known as Glenn H. Curtiss Airport and later renamed North Beach Airport. In 1935, the airport was leased by the city of New York for $1 per year and became Municipal Airport 2. The current location was once a private flying field owned by the Steinway family. With the election of Fiorello La Guardia as mayor in 1934, there was a renewed focus on developing New York City's airports. LaGuardia played a key role in pushing for the transformation of Governors Island into a combined airport and seaplane base.
Construction of the new airport in Queens began in 1937 with backing from the Works Progress Administration. The airport opened on December 2, 1939, as the New York Municipal Airport, and soon became a financial success. Over the years, the airport has undergone renovations and expansions to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. Today, LaGuardia Airport is a major transportation hub, serving primarily domestic destinations, with some limited international flights.
LaGuardia Airport is known for its four busy terminals (A, B, C, and D), offering various passenger services and amenities. Terminal B is the largest and busiest, with 35 gates. The airport provides stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and is conveniently located near the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, providing easy access to Manhattan. LaGuardia Airport is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, contributing significantly to the economic activity of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region.
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LaGuardia Airport has four terminals
LaGuardia Airport (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 began operating as a public airport in 1939. It is named after Fiorello H. La Guardia, a former mayor of New York City, and is colloquially referred to as LaGuardia or simply LGA.
The Central Terminal Building (CTB), which was replaced by Terminal B, was originally six blocks long and consisted of a four-story central section, two three-story wings, and four concourses (A, B, C, and D) with 40 aircraft gates. It was designed by Harrison and Abramovitz and dedicated on April 17, 1964. Delta and US Airways left the CTB in 1983 and 1992, respectively, for their own dedicated terminals. The original Terminal C, which opened in September 1992, was a 300,000 sq ft facility designed by William Nicholas Bodouva + Associates Architects and Planners.
LaGuardia Airport has undergone significant renovations and expansions over the years, with improvements made to its terminals and infrastructure. The airport offers domestic flights to the East Coast and central areas of North America, with a maximum flight radius of up to 1,500 miles for LGA flights, excluding Denver (DEN) and Saturday flights. It is the busiest U.S. airport in terms of passenger numbers without a direct route to Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA, FAA LID: LGA) is located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City.
The address is Queens, NY 11371, and it is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, directly north of the Grand Central Parkway.
The airport was originally called Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, named after the New York aviation pioneer. It was then renamed North Beach Airport. After New York City redesigned the airport, it was called New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field. Finally, in 1953, it was renamed LaGuardia Airport after the former mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia.
LaGuardia Airport is an important transportation hub for the New York metropolitan area. It is ranked third in terms of passenger traffic in the region. The airport accommodates primarily domestic flights, with some limited international destinations.
LaGuardia Airport features four terminals (A, B, C, and D) with various passenger services, including restaurants, shops, duty-free, charging areas, ATMs, currency exchange, and special-needs services.
