Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Governor
Delta’s New Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport opened last week.
By Forum Staff
Governor Kathy Hochul, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton and Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian recently announced the opening of Delta’s new Terminal C, which marks the substantial completion of the $8 billion whole new LaGuardia Airport just six years after beginning construction. The opening of Terminal C on June 4, combined with the completion of the new Terminal B earlier this year, means every passenger, except those traveling through the landmarked Marine Air Terminal, will experience new, world-class airport facilities when departing from or arriving to the airport. At a cost of $4 billion – including a $500 million investment by the Port Authority for new roadways and supporting infrastructure — Terminal C represents Delta’s largest ever investment in an airport facility. With today’s milestone, coming mere months after the Governor celebrated the completion of the airport’s new Terminal B in January, a Whole New LaGuardia Airport becomes the nation’s first major new airport in more than 25 years.
At 1.3 million square feet, the new, state-of-the-art Terminal C will be 85 percent larger than the two terminals it is replacing – consolidating access to 37 gates through a single 21st century arrivals and departures hall. Throughout the terminal, soaring floor-to-ceiling windows ensure it is filled with natural light by day. Terminal C has been designed for optimal efficiency and speed, allowing travelers to navigate to and from their gates quickly and intuitively, utilizing the latest technologies such as hands-free bag drop and Digital ID screening capabilities. A curbside check-in building will allow passengers who are already checked-in to get to the security screening area more quickly. The departures hall features 36 full-service check-in counters, 49 self-service kiosks and 16 bag-drop counters. A larger and consolidated security area will feature 11 screening lanes with room for five additional lanes in the future, featuring state-of-the art technology to expedite screening while prioritizing the safety of passengers. Dynamic signage in the TSA queue will display passenger wait times and will allow queuing zones to be adjusted based on passenger demand. On the arrivals level, passengers will be able to retrieve their luggage from one of five baggage carousels. There are 13 restrooms within the new terminal, all featuring touch-free entry, sinks and hand dryers.
Inspiring public art curated by the Queens Museum to reflect the cultural diversity of Queens will greet passengers as they move through the airport. The six art works are the creations of artists Mariam Ghani, Rashid Johnson, Aliza Nisenbaum, Virginia Overton, Ronny Quevedo, and Fred Wilson. Works include sculptures and painted ceramic murals, that span the building’s multi-floor light-filled entry space, as well as baggage claim and other areas throughout the terminal. Each art work tells a compelling story about the city’s immigrant history, its people, and the importance of celebrating diversity throughout the region.
“Beyond the stark beauty of the new LaGuardia Airport, this redevelopment project has been community-focused every step of the way to the tune of $800 million in contracts for Queens businesses and I am grateful to all our partners who helped make it so. Queens comeback is well underway, and LaGuardia is living proof,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr.
