LaGuardia airport opens untouched new collection, kicking off the big reno
If you spend a lot of time traveling, you've probably developed a list of your most and least favorite flights.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, right and Rick Cotton, left, managing director of the port authority, holds a press release at the new terminal B in LaGuardia Airport on November 29, 2018, in New York. (Photo: Bebeto Matthews, AP)
LaGuardia Airport's new collection is open.
Nearly a dozen ports opened Saturday at terminal B as part of the airport's plan to renovate the dated facility. The modernized concourse offers additional dining and shopping for travelers.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was on Thursday for a ceremony opening with local officials in Queens. He said that the improvements will transform the airport into a plant that is "worthy of New York."
"This was a embarrassment," said Cuomo of LaGuardia, adding that the changes are proof that the government is able to undertake infrastructure projects.
"New York again shows the way of this nation. If we can do this and see the example, you will see the nation follow," he said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center flanked by Rick Cotton, left, managing director of Port Authority, and Melinda Katz, right, Queens, NY borough president, cut a band to open Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport on November 29, 2018. (Photo: Bebeto Matthews, AP) [19659015] He added on Twitter Sunday that travelers should "love the new LaGuardia airport."
The improvements are part of a $ 8 billion blueprint to revolutionize LaGuardia, including an additional 2.7 million square feet to make six new concourses, 72 gates and two new a entrance and departure halls.
Other renovations include rail service between LaGuardia and midtown Manhattan and 14 miles of new roads connecting motorists to the facility.
LaGuardia ranked as the world's worst airport in the country, according to a survey of the popular Frequent- Flyer website The Points Guy. New York's John F. Kennedy International and New Jersey's Newark Liberty International rounded out the bottom.
"Newark, Kennedy and LaGuardia managed to do it at the bottom 5. This is a combination of late departures, dated facilities – especially in the case of LaGuardia – and other criteria they said, said Julian Mark Kheel, editor at The Points Guy.
LaGuardia services around 30 million passengers every year.
Contributing: Associated Press, Arizona Republic's Melissa Yeager
Related: Phoenix Sky Harbor has been named the best American airport for the second time
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