New York City's LaGuardia Airport will debut a new-look Terminal B on Saturday.
LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP)-comprised of Vantage Airport Group, Skanska, Meridiam and JLC Infrastructure-have announced plans to open the first 11 gates located in the terminal's eastern concourse just in time for the busy holiday travel period.
Highlights of the new concourse will include upgraded retail and food options, innovative design, family-friendly spaces and modern amenities. Beginning this weekend, passengers will also notice plentiful gate seating featuring convenient charging stations, a nursing room and enhanced restrooms including spacious stalls and above sink shelves.
New retail options include New York toy store FAO Schwarz and SoHo-based independent bookseller McNally Jackson, among others. Meanwhile, previously-announced food and beverage offerings include Shake Shack, Irving Farm Coffee Roasters, Osteria Fusco, La Chula Bar & Taqueria, Kingside Bar & Restaurant and Five Boroughs Market.
Traveling families will benefit from an airport-themed children's play area featuring a 16-foot interactive display allowing kids to design their own aircraft on a tablet and watch it take off from LaGuardia's runway on a giant digital wall.
There's also a beautiful indoor green space modeled after New York City's parks. The relaxing space boasts greenery, benches and lots of natural light to help put travelers at ease ahead of their flights.
Air Canada, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines will operate flights from the new concourse while United Airlines will join in 2019. The eastern concourse features Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge with the United Club set to debut next year.
"The opening of the new eastern concourse at Terminal B is just the first step in our mission to provide a top-class visitor experience at LaGuardia, worthy of the greatest city in the world," said Stewart Steeves, Chief Executive Officer of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, in a statement. "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."
Once fully completed, Terminal B will boast world-first dual pedestrian bridges spanning active aircraft taxi lanes connecting the main part of the terminal to two island concourses, allowing passengers to walk above planes while at the same time increasing the taxi-way space for aircraft.
"We're building a completely new, unified airport that will be a leader in innovation and a model for redevelopment projects across the country," added Jane Garvey, Chairman of Meridiam North America, in a statement. "From advancements in technology to iconic NY shops and restaurants, the new LaGuardia is delivering for New York. Meridiam is proud to join today with LaGuardia Gateway Partners and Governor Cuomo to celebrate our continued progress at Terminal B and create an exciting future for the city."
The 1.3-million square foot redevelopment of Terminal B is one of the largest public-private partnerships in American history and the largest in U.S. aviation, according to LGP.
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