LaGuardia International Airport

LaGuardia International Airport Aims to Recover its Glorious Past

Would you believe LaGuardia International Airport used to be known as the best airport in the world within the global aviation industry? This was back in 1960, but sadly nowadays its ranking is so much lower than that of other top airports. It is now known officially as LaGuardia Airport and is being operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It serves New York City from its Queens, New York location.

Despite being the smallest among the main commercial airports of New York, LaGuardia International Airport nevertheless is a popular destination among air travelers because it is so near to Manhattan. However, wide-body aircraft rarely use the airport now even if it is a focus city of US Airways, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Flights from LaGuardia International Airport generally head for US and Canadian destinations, but may also serve passengers going to Bermuda, the Bahamas, or Aruba. International and transcontinental flights are usually diverted to two other New York airports - Newark and JFK.

As of 2005, LaGuardia International Airport served 26 million air travelers out of the estimated 100 million who relied on the New York airport system that year. Capacity at LaGuardia International Airport The reason LaGuardia International Airport is not used for most international and transcontinental flights is because air traffic has surpassed the capacity of the airport. At the time it was built, it was considered a rather large airport but nowadays it cannot accommodate the level of air traffic that other international airports can handle.

LaGuardia International Airport officials aim to improve the efficiency and capacity of the airport by making the airfield layout more conducive to aircrafts, and upgrade the Central Terminal Building. These should help the airport avoid delays due to overcrowding which used to take up to over an hour.

The US Airways Terminal

This terminal is believed to serve about 50% of regional carrier traffic at the airport. It was built with funding of $250 million and formally opened in 1992. Different aircraft that belong to the US Airways system (such as US Airways Shuttle, and US Airways Express) use this terminal regularly.

Transportation from the airport

If you are planning to use the New York City Subway, you can rely on certain city buses originating from the airport to bring you there. You can take advantage of the free transfers given when you shift to the subway. Disabled passengers can also use these buses. Private buses can also bring you to Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and Manhattan as well.

If you want a cab to bring you to New York City proper, use the metered cabs that are registered with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. You can ask for assistance from Uniformed Taxi Dispatchers if you find it hard to get a ride.

The same Commission regulates limousine services from the airport. A limousine service can run you $40 to $150 if you head for Manhattan, for instance, a ride which may last up to 25 minutes (depending on the hour you asked for the service.)

Hopefully, LaGuardia International Airport will be able to find a way to compete actively with the top airports of the world and regain its former glory.

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