LaGuardia Airport, an old airport that was one of the country's most maligned airports, has turned over a new leaf after receiving $8 billion in renovations.
A new Airports Service Quality survey from the Airports Council International revealed that the renovated LaGuardia Airport had been given an overall satisfaction score of 4.25 out of 5. This marks a 20% jump from 2018 when many passengers regarded it as the worst airport in North America.
What Led to LaGuardia Airport's Renovations?
For decades, LaGuardia Airport was known for its leaky ceilings, cramped hallways and corridors, regular rodent sightings, and broken escalators. The airport also suffered constant flight delays, complaints about lost baggage, and poor customer service.
The old airport was so decrepit that in 2014, Joe Biden-who was the vice president at the time-called the airport that of a "third-world country."
"If I blindfolded someone and took him at 2 o'clock in the morning into the airport in Hong Kong and said, 'Where do you think you are?' He'd say, 'This must be America. It's a modern airport.' [But] if I took you and blindfolded you and took you to LaGuardia Airport in New York, you'd think, 'I must be in some third-world country,'" Biden said. "I'm not joking. It's embarrassing, and it's stupid. It's stupid."
Plans for renovations began in 2014 and construction began two years after. Among other things, the renovations included Terminals B and C, a new 3,100-space parking garage, and a better roadway system. In 2023, passengers were able to go through the new Central Terminal Building and concourses inspired by New York City's parks.
In addition, the new renovations reduced airport-wide delays at LaGuardia from 26.62% to 20.75%, per Architectural Record, citing data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Terminal B also became the first in North America to receive five stars from airline- and airport-rating service Skytrax.
However, despite the multi-billion dollar renovations, some passengers still pointed out LaGuardia's lack of facilities. The airport currently has no subway or commuter rail lines and only relies on buses for mass transit.
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