The eastern concourse features amenities including local New York-themed restaurants and retail shops, family-friendly spaces and an indoor park.LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the private entity operating and redeveloping LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, announced that it will open the first 11 gates located in the eastern concourse of the new state-of-the-art Terminal B on Dec. 1, 2018. Air Canada, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines will operate flights from the new concourse, with United Airlines joining in 2019.Designed by HOK, the new concourse brings to life the vision of LGP and Governor Andrew A. Cuomo to build a unified, 21st-century airport that is a leader in the passenger experience, innovation and sustainability.“The opening of the first new concourse and gates at Terminal B marks another significant milestone in the transformation of LaGuardia Airport into a modern, global gateway that is worthy of the State of New York,” said Governor Cuomo. The first new gates are another step forward in the complex, multi-phase construction plan designed to enable the 30-million passengers-a-year airport to remain fully operational while the entire airport is rebuilt. Under the plan, old facilities are demolished only as new facilities are completed, ensuring LaGuardia never loses capacity.The new concourse has soaring, 55-foot high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow ample natural light to fill the space, which includes an indoor park modeled after New York City’s parks. Charging stations are placed throughout the gate seating areas, with free, fast high-speed Wi-Fi.Family amenities include an airport-themed children’s play area, which includes a 16-foot interactive display. The display creates a multi-user experience that allows kids of all ages to design their own aircraft on a tablet and watch it come to life on a giant digital wall as it takes off from LaGuardia’s runway.More than a dozen concessions in the new concourse include appealing, New York-inspired food, beverage and retail options—with the ability for passengers to have food delivered directly to their gate. Restaurants include popular New York establishments such as Shake Shack, La Chula, Osteria Fusco, Kingside and Irving Farm Coffee. Retail venues include an FAO Schwarz toy store, McNally Jackson independent bookseller and District Market, which includes ‘Made in Queens’ products through a partnership with the Queens Economic Development Corp.“Our concourse’s innovative design, inclusive atmosphere, and choice food and retail options will bring LaGuardia into the 21st century, and we’re proud to work with both the Governor and the Port Authority to transform Terminal B into a gateway New Yorkers can be proud of,” said Stewart Steeves, CEO of LaGuardia Gateway Partners.When complete, Terminal B will completely redefine the guest experience at LaGuardia. Dual pedestrian bridges will span active aircraft taxi lanes–a first in any of the world’s airports–and connect the main part of the terminal to two island concourses. Passengers will walk above aircraft as they make their way to their gate, all while enjoying views of the iconic Manhattan skyline. In addition, the island and bridge design will increase the taxi-way space for aircraft. The gates in the concourse are “common use,” meaning that any Terminal B airline can use any gate.In July 2015, Governor Cuomo unveiled the vision for “a whole new Laguardia.” The 1.3-million square foot redevelopment of Terminal B (above), with a construction value of $4 billion, is one of the largest public-private partnerships in American history and the largest in U.S. aviation. The transformation includes a new 35-gate terminal, a parking garage, and a Central Hall that will unify the airport by connecting to Terminal C, which is also being redeveloped.
LaGuardia Airport to Open First Gates at New Terminal B – WebWire
