8 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 18, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Photo by Todd Maisel
New LaGuardia Terminal B opens for business
BY TODD MAISEL
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
“We didn’t build it for now, we built it
for the future,” said Governor Andrew
Cuomo while cutting the ribbon this
aft ernoon on the new spacious Terminal
B, part of the $8 billion dollar facelift of
LaGuardia Airport in Queens. Th e airport
was once famously called that “of a thirdworld
nation” by then-Vice President Joe
Biden, and Governor Cuomo said he was
correct.
Th e dark and winding corridors of the
airport, built in the 1950s, were cramped
and antiquated, he said. But the rebuild
was said by many to be impossible and
even implausible, he noted.
“We needed to see possibility, we needed
New York to stand up and shine, we
needed to remember how great a place
this is,” Cuomo said as he inaugurated the
shining terminal. “We’ve gone through a
rough 101 days,” Cuomo said, referring to
the virtual shutdown of the airline industry
due to COVID-19, “but you ain’t seen
nothing yet.”
Th e opening of Terminal B followed
the much-vaunted completion of Delta’s
new concourse and gates in October of
2019. Th e new terminal is not only of
sleek design and aesthetics but features
advanced security protocols in a massive
modern bag screening area to protect
against terrorism and new precautions to
stop the spread of COVID-19 that had
shut down most of the airline industry for
the past 100 days.
Th e terminal also features world-class
concessions including New York Favorites
Brooklyn Diner, Junior’s Cheesecake,
Hill Country BBQ, Th ink Coff ee, Eli’s
Essentials with Off erings from Eli Zabar
and new Mulberry Street Restaurant by
Chef Marc Forgione. Some of the permanent
artworks are by world-renowned
artists Jeppe Hein, Sabine Hornig, Laura
Owens and Sarah Sze.
Th e main concourse is also adorned
with tile work that depicts various parts
of New York City including Stonewall,
Grand Central and the Cyclone Roller
Coaster of Coney Island. Th e LaGuardia
rebuild will comprise 2.7 million square
feet; 72 new gates across six concourses;
two expansive terminal arrivals and
departure halls connected by a central
hall and a planned AirTrain; and 13.7
miles of new roadway network that winds
from the Grand Central Parkway and the
adjoining 92nd Street.
Th e 850,000-square-foot Terminal B
includes a four-story arrivals and departures
hall. Th ere are numerous local concessions,
large, modern restrooms and
a New York-inspired shopping district.
Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey,
led members of the media on a tour of
the facility, taking pride in its design and
functionality. He showed off a roof deck
that will sport a restaurant and lounge.
He marveled at a fountain in the middle
of the course, the water shooting outshined
in multi-colors. And he toured
the skybridge that leads to gates, where
planes will taxi beneath it in a wondrous
spectacle.
“Th e opening of the fi rst new arrivals
and departure hall is a major milestone
in delivering on Governor Cuomo’s vision
for a brand-new, world-class, 21st-century
LaGuardia Airport that the region
deserves,” said Cotton, complimenting
construction crews for fi nishing on budget
and on time. “Today’s opening should be a
shining symbol of the region’s potential for
a strong economic recovery with the vitality
of New York before COVID-19.”
“Th is is the fi rst new airport built in
25 years in America, just think of that,”
Cuomo noted. “Th e last one built was in
Denver in 1995. Th is nation hasn’t fi gured
out how to build an airport. People
would say, ‘It’s too big, too complicated,
too confusing,’ so we just didn’t do it.
Meanwhile countries around the world
did it. You fl y into other nations’ airports
with entertainment, business centers and
then you fl y into our airports and it was
so apparent how other nations were outpacing
us. Who is going to lead — New
York and that is what LaGuardia Airport
is all about.”
Th ere was nothing easy about this construction
either, Cuomo remarked, “We
had to build a new airport while operating
the old airport. You know how many
people said it couldn’t be done – dozens.
You know who said it could be done?
LaGuardia Partners and Rick Cotton.”
Th e new Terminal B opened to the
public on Saturday, June 13, and will
serve American Airlines, United Airlines,
Southwest Airlines and Air Canada. By
virtue of its size, the terminal presents
greater opportunities to move passengers
more safely and effi ciently with improved
distancing during and aft er the COVID-
19 pandemic, including more space for
check-in, security and baggage claim,
along with new innovations in contactless
technology and an increased focus on
cleanliness and disinfection.
Overall, the LaGuardia project is
expected to generate $10 billion in economic
activity and $2.5 billion in wages
over the life of the project, Cuomo said.
In addition, the airport will support up
to 7,000 jobs, with most of those coming
from surrounding communities, he
added.
Th e landmarked American Airline terminal,
dating back to 1939, will remain
and be restored, offi cials say.
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