The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the operator and owner of LaGuardia Airport in New York, has officially approved a new project in partnership with airline operator Delta Air Lines to replace terminals C and D at the airport.
The deal is part of a new lease agreement to be negotiated between PANYNJ and Delta, which will run until 2050. As part of the deal, PANYNJ has agreed to contribute US$600m toward the construction of the terminals and other supporting infrastructure.
Last year, Joe Biden, vice president of the US government, and Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York, unveiled plans for the construction of a new US$4bn central terminal building and a grand central hall unifying the airport’s terminals.
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta, said, “Today marks another proud moment in Delta’s ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional experience for New Yorkers. Our participation in this historic project builds on the more than US$2bn Delta has invested in New York over the past seven years. We are honored to be a part of Governor Cuomo’s and PANYNJ’s comprehensive vision for a 21st-century LaGuardia Airport, and we look forward to many exciting milestones to come.”
Delta’s new terminal will consist of 37 gates located on four concourses connected by a centralized check-in lobby, security checkpoint, and baggage claim. Of the 37 gates, 33 will have access to dual taxi lanes, which will greatly improve airfield efficiency, resulting in reduced taxi time to and from the gate before take off and after landing. The construction will commence as soon as possible, following regulatory approvals and final lease negotiations.
The terminal will feature a new, larger Delta Sky Club lounge with a Sky Deck, wider concourses, larger gate holdrooms and more seating, as well as 30% more concessions space than the existing terminals C and D. The facility will also offer direct access between the parking garage and terminal, improved roadways and drop-off/pick-up areas, and a curbside check-in bypass leading directly into the security checkpoint. The design of the new terminal will integrate sustainable technologies and improvements in energy efficiency.
Henry Kuykendall, vice president – New York, Delta, said, “On behalf of the more than 10,000 New York-based employees who are part of the fabric of this community, we take great pride in Delta’s role in rebuilding one of the world’s busiest and best-known airports in the city that we all call home.”