Construction on Delta Air Lines’ new facilities at LaGuardia (LGA) began Tuesday after the the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey signed a new long-term lease with Delta, putting in place the final step for a complete rebuild of the airport.
“Together with our private sector partners, we are making progress to create the world-class gateway to the Empire State that New Yorkers deserve,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Delta is investing $3.4 billion to construct the eastern half of the new LGA. The western half, as well as the roadways, are already under construction following a groundbreaking in June 2016. The first new gates are scheduled to open next year, and the new airport is on track to be fully completed by 2021. The new LGA is an overall $8 billion project, nearly three-quarters of which is privately funded. The goal is to transform LGA into a single unified facility with expanded transportation access, significantly increased taxiway space and best-in-class passenger amenities.
Delta’s investment in the new facility is the airline’s largest investment in its history and is one of the largest private investments in a public asset in New York state. This project builds on Delta’s past investments in New York’s airports, including more than $2 billion at John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) over the past decade.
The port authority is committing $600 million to leverage Delta’s $3.4 billion investment to rebuild its terminal and gate facilities at LaGuardia. The port authority’s commitment includes $200 million towards the new Delta facilities, including the construction of new concourses and ramps; $185 million for a new electrical substation to support the power requirements of the new building, plus an expansion of the East Garage and temporary parking during construction; and $215 million for new roadway and additional supporting infrastructure that is typically the responsibility of the port authority in new terminal developments.
