From soaring ceilings to artwork — a room for those with sensory issues and beautiful restaurants with choices ranging from Greek to French, even a steakhouse.
It’s no wonder Terminal C is winning passengers over, especially with memories of the old LaGuardia Airport.
On Tuesday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey accepted the award for best airport in the nation from the Forbes Travel Guide based on a survey of the magazines’ 5,000 most traveled fliers and hospitality experts.
What You Need To Know
- While there are high ceilings, many windows, beautiful restaurants and even a room for those with sensory issues, Delta Airlines first focused on expanding the airfield and gate capacity of the 1.3 million-square-foot Terminal C in LaGuardia Airport
- Terminal B first opened in 2020 and won awards right away, while Terminal C opened in 2022 but the last gates were completed late last year
- Officials at Delta say operations are better with the wider airfield and gates able to handle the airline's full fleet of planes, while passengers have continually given the terminal high ratings
“I think I came here a couple of years ago and do I remember it and I remember coming to the airport in New York and it not being the cleanest,” Arschi Sajid from Des Moines, Iowa, said. “But I love this airport, bright, airy, sunny.”
“This terminal as well as Terminal B, where they had the waterworks and they had the Subway and Juniors is over there,” Sonya Johnson said. “I’m a Brooklyn native, so this is like a field trip. It’s awesome.”
Between Terminal B, which has been open for about four years, and the final gates opening at Terminal C late last year — together they’re racking up awards.
“Our airports have become more than just transit hubs, more than something to be endured as part of a trip,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “They have become destinations. They are part of the journey. They bring memories, positive memories.”
While there has been a lot of focus on the aesthetics, design and amenities of Terminal C, those at Delta say what was most important was the design of the gates and beyond.
“When we first started the design of this new terminal, we focused on the airfield because LaGuardia was notorious for the delays getting on and off the runway,” Ryan Marzullo, managing director of corporate real estate for Delta, said. “So you can’t have a beautiful new building without with an efficient operation and so we focused on making sure we can get aircraft on and off the gate as quickly as possible.”
People will be able to watch those airplanes get off the ground from an outdoor terrace that will open next week. Between the 38 gates and 1.3 million square feet of terminal, the difference is noticeable to passengers.
“I was a consultant before and then just flying out of LaGuardia was just a nightmare,” Ernesto Davila, who lives in Manhattan, said. “So this is just great improvement.”
