At long last, the Arrivals and Departures Hall at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B is reopening.
Starting Saturday, traveler’s will be able to use the newly updated, 850,000-square-foot, four-story Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall at LaGuardia Airport, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a press release on Wednesday.
“The opening of the new Arrivals and Departures Hall at Terminal B is the biggest milestone to date in the transformation of LaGuardia Airport into a world-class transportation hub that is worthy of New York State,” Gov. Cuomo said. “As we continue to upgrade and modernize this airport for the 21st century, this new state-of-the-art hall will offer passengers a unique travel experience with new concessions, traveler amenities and art installations by four of the world’s leading artists, while increasing space for passengers to move more safely and efficiently during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Cuomo said.
The unveiling of the recently finished hall is the latest step in the ongoing $8 billion overhaul of LaGuardia Airport and happened despite the ongoing pandemic the release said.
“We thank the contractors, subcontractors, and union construction workers who worked through the pandemic to deliver this extraordinary building on time and on budget,” said Rick Cotton, the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “Today’s opening should be a shining symbol of the region’s potential for a strong economic recovery with the vitality of New York before COVID-19.”
The project is one of the largest public private partnerships in aviation history. It will demolish and rebuild every terminal and concourse except for the Marine Air Terminal which is a historical landmark.
The reopening of the updated Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall follows the February 2018 reopening of the new Terminal B parking garage, the December 2018 reopening of the first new gates and concourse in Terminal B, and the October 2019 reopening of the first new gates and concourse in Terminal C.
“The completion of the Arrivals and Departures Hall brings us closer to a brand new Terminal B that will provide passengers with a premier travel experience that is smooth and efficient – one that highlights the best of what New York has to offer.,” said Jane Garvey, the Chairman of Meridiam North America and Chairman of the Board of LaGuardia Gateway Partners.
The new hall features 75 individual check-in kiosks and a central oversize bag check-in station, 16 designated security lanes with three times more space than before, 17 bathrooms with touch free sinks. Travelers will be able to purchase food from vendors like Junior’s Cheesecake, Brooklyn Diner, Think Coffee and will enjoy public art installations by artists Jeppe Hein, Sabine Hornig, Laura Owens, and Sarah Sze.
