History

LaGuardia has a long and storied history. The airport site was first occupied by the Gala Amusement Park, a popular destination owned by the Steinway family. In 1929, the park was transformed into a 105-acre private flying field and first named Glenn H. Curtiss Airport after aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss, and then re-named North Beach Airport.

In 1937, New York City took over the airport and enlarged the grounds with the purchase of adjoining land and by filling in 357 acres of waterfront along the east side. In 1939, it re-opened with a new name, New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field. The airport was leased to the Port Authority in 1947.

Today, LaGuardia Airport is one of the busiest in the nation, handling more than 23 million passengers in 2008.

Facts & Information

Operated by the Port Authority
LaGuardia has been operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, under a lease with the City of New York, since June 1, 1947. In 2004, the Port Authority and the City of New York concluded an agreement that ensures the agency's continued operation of LaGuardia and JFK International through 2050.

Location
LaGuardia is located in the borough of Queens, New York City, bordering on Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay. The airport is 8 miles from midtown Manhattan.

Size
LaGuardia consists of 680 acres and can accommodate up to 76 aircraft gates.

Investment
LaGuardia was originally constructed by the city of New York at a cost of $40 million. The Port Authority's total capital investment in the airport to date is $1.4 billion.

Employment and Economic Impact
LaGuardia Airport employs about 8,000 people. The airport contributes more than $11.6 in economic activity to the NY/NY region, generating about 93,000 jobs and $4.2 billion in annual wages and salaries.

Terminals
LaGuardia has four main terminals.

• Central Terminal Building
  Central Terminal Building (CTB) was dedicated on April 17, 1964. This terminal serves most of the airport's scheduled domestic airlines. It is 1,300 feet long and 180 feet wide, with approximately 750,000 square feet of floor space. Originally constructed at a cost of $36 million, the six-block-long terminal consists of a four-story central section, two three-story wings and four concourses that can accommodate up to 40 aircraft gate positions.
• US Airways Terminal 
  Opened in September 1992 and costing $200 million, the US Airways Terminal comprises approximately 300,000 square feet of space which is shared between a 12-gate main section and a 8-gate shuttle section. The main section features a food, retail, and concessions court and a Welcome Center on the arrivals level. The shuttle section serves passengers on hourly flight to Boston and Washington , D.C.
• Delta Air Lines Terminal 
  Delta Air Lines Terminal was constructed by Delta Air Lines at the east end of the airport. The terminal opened in June 1983. It has 10 aircraft gate positions.
• Marine Air Terminal/Terminal A 
  Once called the Overseas Terminal, and then the Marine Air Terminal, Terminal A was the original airport terminal building, serving international flights on flying boats through the 1940s. In 1995, the Marine Air Terminal was designated a historic landmark. On September 1, 1991, Delta began shuttle operations to Boston and Washington, D.C. The terminal also houses a private weather service.

Parking
The airport provides more than 4.900 public parking spaces, including a 2,900 space, five-level parking garage; E-ZPass Plus in all parking lots; Express Pay machines in Lots 2, 4 and 5; and a 55-space metered lot. Additionally, approximately 1,700 parking spaces are available for airport employees in an employee parking lot.

Runways
There are two main runways, 4-22 and 13-31. Each is 7,000 feet long by 150 feet wide. In a $40 million project completed in 1967 by the Port Authority, both runways were extended over water to their present length and width. The runways have high-intensity runway edge lighting, centerline and taxiway exit lighting. Runways are grooved to improve skid resistance and minimize hydroplaning. Touch down zone lighting (TDZ) was added on Runway 13-31 in 2005 and on Runway 4-22 in 2009, both as part of the runways' rehabilitation programs.

LaGuardia Airport Statistics over the Years