New $8B Delta terminal opens at LaGuardia

A sprawling new terminal for Delta Air Lines officially opened at LaGuardia Airport Wednesday, capping the yearslong $8 billion reconstruction of the airport terminals that President Biden once compared to a “third world country.”

Gov. Hochul cut the ribbon on the airport’s new Terminal C, which combines the former C and D terminals into a massive new space with 37 gates and four concourses. The new Delta terminal, which cost $4 billion, opened in phases, with the first of its concourses opening in 2019.

The governor called the redeveloped airport a “masterpiece.”

“Just notice how bright it feels,” said Hochul. “I believe that all of our transportation centers should have the same experience.”

In a rare move during her 10 months in office, Hochul credited former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as the “genesis” of LaGuardia’s redevelopment. “I want to give credit where it is due,” she said.

Her acknowledgement came a day after the expiration of a state deadline for Cuomo to get on the ballot in this year’s gubernatorial election. He won’t be running this year, but his representatives on Wednesday issued a statement taking credit for the project.

“They said it couldn’t be done,” said Cuomo’s statement. “The airport went from the worst to the first. It’s a testament to government competence and its capacity to actually make change.”

Cuomo ordered a panel look into new designs for the airport in 2014 after then-Vice President Biden compared it to a third world country. Cuomo’s resignation in 2021 came as the new LaGuardia terminals were still under construction.

A key part of Cuomo’s vision for the airport remains unfinished, and may not be built as he planned.

Hochul in October directed the Port Authority to reexamine Cuomo’s planned AirTrain to LaGuardia that would have forced subway riders to take the No. 7 train east of the airport to a new station at Willets Point before paying a second fare to double back to the airport.

Port Authority officials are reviewing 14 alternatives to bring a transit connection to LaGuardia, including a subway extension.

LaGuardia’s new central $3.9 billion Terminal B opened in January, with Hochul and Mayor Adams cutting the ribbon.

The landmarked Marine Air Terminal on the airport’s western end remains in place.

Terminal C is a hub for Delta, which helped pay for the reconstruction project.