A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about plans to elevate poor New York Laguardia from third world status to an airport that more closely reflects the distinguished city it serves.  Subsequent to that post, I booked a trip on Delta Air Lines to Toronto, Canada that connected in LGA.  The layover was a great chance to get a first-hand look at the most recent and long overdue improvements.

Delta Air Lines is contributing $3.3 billion and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is adding $600 million to construct a new Terminal C that will house 37 gates for use by Delta and a few other carriers.   The new Delta complex will encompass 1.3 million square feet.

On November 4, 2019, the first phase opened to much fanfare including appearances and speeches from New York Governor Cuomo, Delta CEO, Ed Bastian, and even Mets star pitcher Noah Syndergaard.  It contains seven gates and just over 100,000 square feet of space.

Yesterday, I passed through LGA on Delta.  Here are the photos from my first look on November 20, 2019.

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Diagram of LGA Terminal C once completed. The first project, Gates 92 – 98 on the far right, opened on November 4, 2019.

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The concourse includes amenities such as a nursing room and pet relief areas.
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Gate agents have updated work stations.

 

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Gates in the new terminal will be bigger. So far Gates 92 – 98 are being used for Delta shuttle flights to Boston, Washington, DC, and Chicago where larger gates aren’t required.
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A station where agents assist Delta passengers with delayed or cancelled flights.
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A window wall in the new concourse provides views of Citi Field, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (home of the U. S. Open), and a portion of Flushing Bay.
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From the outside the new concourse is not particularly aesthetically pleasing. It looks like a warehouse or movie studio more so than an airport terminal.

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The new concourse has few restaurants. There will be man more in other locations in the new terminal.

 

Overall Impression

The solitary Delta seven-gate concourse is a good start.  I can’t wait until 2026 or so when Laguardia will look like this.

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