Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport is now complete.
The opening of LaGuardia Terminal B’s western skybridge, and the opening in December of Terminal B’s second concourse, means that every arriving and departing passenger at Terminal B will experience newly built facilities from gate to curb thanks to a $4 billion transformation.
Ground was first broken on the project in 2016.
All of the terminal’s temporary walkways will now be taken out of service. With the completion of the second pedestrian bridge, which will span an active aircraft taxiway, Terminal B also becomes the world’s first airport with dual pedestrian skybridges.
“The transformation of 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 Kathy Hochul said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. “The completion of this project will help provide a brand new passenger experience for everyone traveling through Terminal B, easing connections and creating lasting impressions.”
Terminal B was awarded UNESCO’s Prix Versailles in December as “Best New Airport in the World” by a panel of international architects assembled by the United Nations agency.
The new terminal features 35 gates, a 3,000-car parking garage, and new covered, convenient pickup facilities for both taxis and ride-sharing vehicles.
The terminal offers best-in-class retail, vast dining experiences, stunning art and amenities that provide customers with a world-class 21st century travel experience.
With the interior work at Terminal B now complete, the remaining small portion of the old Central Terminal has been removed from service and will be torn down, with demolition expected to be completed by spring of this year.
“From a passenger point of view, the old LaGuardia is no more,” said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority. “We have gone from worst to best, something no one thought was possible when this project began.”
As one of Terminal B’s most distinct architectural elements, the pair of skybridges span active aircraft taxi lanes, connecting the new, light-filled arrivals and departures hall to the terminal’s two island concourses.
The construction of both skybridges has enabled more than two additional miles of taxiway space to be built, reducing delays for arrivals and departures and will help ease customers’ ability to travel seamlessly to their gates.
The dual bridges are impressive architecturally, but also assure that aircraft that are taxiing have two ways to enter or exit their gates.
Previously, aircraft movements could be blocked because there was only one way into the gates and one way out.
In other work at the airport, Delta’s new arrivals and departures hall at Terminal C is scheduled to open in spring 2022.
“It’s time to get New York City moving again, and a world-class airport here in Queens will help us do that,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “This is a whole new LaGuardia.”
