Governor Kathy Hochul, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton and Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian have announced the opening of Delta's new Terminal C, which marks the substantial completion of the $8 billion whole new LaGuardia Airport just six years after beginning construction. The opening of Terminal C on June 4, combined with the completion of the new Terminal B earlier this year, means every passenger, except those traveling through the landmarked Marine Air Terminal, will experience new, world-class airport facilities when departing from or arriving to the airport. At a cost of $4 billion - including a $500 million investment by the Port Authority for new roadways and supporting infrastructure -- Terminal C represents Delta's largest ever investment in an airport facility. With today's milestone, coming mere months after the Governor celebrated the completion of the airport's new Terminal B in January, a Whole New LaGuardia Airport becomes the nation's first major new airport in more than 25 years.
"The transformation of a LaGuardia Airport into a world-class destination that is internationally recognized for its beauty is an integral part of our bold vision for a new era in New York," Governor Hochul said. "The opening of Delta's $4 billion Terminal C will help provide a state-of-the-art passenger experience, easing connections and creating lasting impressions. Congratulations to all who made today's milestone possible as we finish creating a whole new LaGuardia Airport worthy of New York. "
A New Terminal C Experience That Sets the Standard for Modern Air Travel
At 1.3 million square feet, the new, state-of-the-art Terminal C will be 85 percent larger than the two terminals it is replacing - consolidating access to 37 gates through a single 21st century arrivals and departures hall. Throughout the terminal, soaring floor-to-ceiling windows ensure it is filled with natural light by day. Terminal C has been designed for optimal efficiency and speed, allowing travelers to navigate to and from their gates quickly and intuitively, utilizing the latest technologies such as hands-free bag drop and Digital ID screening capabilities. A curbside check-in building will allow passengers who are already checked-in to get to the security screening area more quickly. The departures hall features 36 full-service check-in counters, 49 self-service kiosks and 16 bag-drop counters. A larger and consolidated security area will feature 11 screening lanes with room for five additional lanes in the future, featuring state-of-the art technology to expedite screening while prioritizing the safety of passengers. Dynamic signage in the TSA queue will display passenger wait times and will allow queuing zones to be adjusted based on passenger demand. On the arrivals level, passengers will be able to retrieve their luggage from one of five baggage carousels. There are 13 restrooms within the new terminal, all featuring touch-free entry, sinks and hand dryers.
A Whole New LGA Nears Completion Six Years After First Breaking Ground
The total $8 billion transformation of LaGuardia Airport makes it is the first new major airport built in the United States in the last 25 years. In 2015, a comprehensive plan to construct a whole new LaGuardia Airport was unveiled with the goal of creating a world-class, 21st century passenger experience featuring brand new terminals and gates, two stunning new arrivals and departures halls, modern customer amenities, state-of-the-art architecture, more spacious gate areas and a unified terminal system. The $8 billion project, two-thirds of which is funded through private financing and existing passenger fees, broke ground in 2016.
Construction of a new LaGuardia Airport generated a record-setting $2 billion in contracts awarded to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, the largest participation by MWBE firms at any public-private partnership project in New York State history. The project has also demonstrated a significant focus on working with locally-based contractors; to date, $800 million in contracts have been awarded to Queens-based local business enterprises.
The new airport has been built in phases to ensure that it remained fully operational and never lost capacity throughout construction. Every existing passenger facility, with the exception of the historic Marine Air Terminal, has been or will be demolished and replaced with new 21st century, world class facilities.
In February 2018, the new Terminal B parking garage opened with over 3,000 spaces and a dedicated level for Uber, Lyft and other for-hire car services. In December 2018, the first of 18 new gates and the first new concourse in Terminal B opened. In November 2019, Delta opened its first new concourse and seven new gates at Terminal C. In June 2020, the light-filled new Arrivals and Departures Hall at Terminal B opened amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. With Terminal C's opening, the airport's new roadway network is being completed with 8.4 miles of new roads and 24 new bridges. In January 2022, the airport celebrated the completion of Terminal B's passenger facilities including its second pedestrian skybridge as one of the airport's signature architectural features.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state agency that builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. For over a century, the agency's network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities has been among the busiest in the country, supporting more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generating more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center campus, which hosts millions of annual visitors and tens of thousands of office workers. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the states of New York or New Jersey or from the city of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit.