LaGuardia Airport goes from ‘Third World’ to best airport: Study

Metro

by olivia land

From the “Third World” to the cutting edge.

LaGuardia Airport, once infamously likened to “some Third World country” by President Biden, is now one of the best airports in North America, according to an airport service quality study.

The flight hub was chosen along with Minneapolis/St. Paul. Paul International Airport was named the best mid-sized airport after announcing the completion of an $8 billion renovation last year.

The new LaGuardia Airport also had an overall satisfaction score of 4.25 out of 5, a 20% increase from 2018, when passengers called it the worst airport on the continent.

Just a few years ago, LaGuardia was plagued by delays, complaints about lost packages, and sloppy customer service.

However, some flyers were quick to point out that this flashy renovation still lacked a few things.

LGA has no subway or commuter rail, and the only public transportation to the airport is by bus, which can be a source of anxiety and confusion for out-of-towners and locals alike.

Some felt the upgrade was still far from world-class.

“Yes, the new LaGuardia Airport is better. But who planned a super long hike to a remote Terminal C gate using only one short moving walkway?” An X user wrote.

Some still had scars from past experiences. another social media user wrote “The new LaGuardia Airport is the only airport where I lost all of my luggage. So as far as I’m concerned, they’re still terrible.”

Then-Vice President Biden used airports as a punchline in 2014 to make a case for how the United States needed to update its infrastructure.

“I blindfolded someone and took them to the Hong Kong airport at 2 a.m. and I said, ‘Where do you think you are?’ He said, ‘This must be America.’ This is modern times. ,” he said in a speech.

“If I took you blindfolded and took you to LaGuardia Airport in New York, you would think, ‘I must be in a third-world country.'”

LaGuardia was so notoriously bad that it was skewered on “Saturday Night Live” in a famous skit about buying sushi at the airport.

But starting in 2023, passengers will be rewarded with the fruits of a multi-year renovation that will completely rebuild the facility, including a central terminal building and concourse inspired by New York City parks.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who first announced the renovations in 2014, on Tuesday celebrated LGA’s new status as the best of the best.

“LaGuardia’s rebuilding and re-envisioning took place in record time and under extremely difficult circumstances, demonstrating that bold achievements and ambitions can be realized by our government,” Cuomo wrote in X.

“[LGA] It was widely regarded as the worst airport in the country. It was an airport that everyone hated. But that is no longer the case,” added Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton in a statement regarding the findings.

“LaGuardia’s days as the punchline of late-night jokes are finally over.”