La Guardia Airport February 25th, 2009
While it is the smallest of New York City’s three airports, La Guardia holds the distinction of being the most popular NYC airport for domestic flights as well as for Caribbean, Canadian, and US transfers. It is also the oldest of the three airports, tracing its history back to 1929 when it was a private airfield.
Located in the borough of Queens, La Guardia sits on Flushing Bay and is the closest airport to midtown Manhattan. Since it is located on Long Island, it’s easy to find a New York airport hotel near La Guardia that is close to the the neighborhoods and attractions of Queens and Brooklyn as well as Manhattan.
Originally the site of the Gala Amusement Park, the airport was first named after aviator Glenn H. Curtiss and then became known as North Beach Airport. Mayor Fiorella La Guardia campaigned for a commercial airport in the city after Newark opened their airport.
Dedicated as the New York Municipal Airport when it opened as a commercial field in late 1939, the airport was later renamed to honor the mayor who was instrumental in its development. In 1960 LaGuardia was voted “the greatest airport in the world.” Recent renovations to the Central Terminal Building and the layout of the airfield have smoothed operations. In 2006 work began on a new tower to replace the existing tower which has been in operation since 1962.
Over 25 milion passengers traveled through LaGuardia in 2007. The airport has four terminals, the largest of which is the Central Terminal Building, with 38 gates on four individual concourses.
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- Posted by Cliff
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