Because I like to live on the edge and get to the airport with just enough time to spare so that I am slipping through the cracks of the closing airplane door, airport aesthetics don’t typically consume me. But when I think back to all the times I’ve been stuck at an airport due to delays and long layovers, I can confidently say a bougie airport makes all the difference.
Recently, Skytrax released its annual awards for the top airports and terminals in the world. The highly-reputable airline and airport review and ranking site is taken seriously in the industry, so you know its 2023 list pulls some weight. While some of the awards went to big hitters like Tokyo, Doha, and Paris, along with the world’s number one, Singapore Changi Airport, there’s one name on the list that many might be scratching their heads over.
LaGuardia Airport has often received negative reviews from travelers for its outdated facilities such as terminals and parking garages; poor design and layout, with terminals spread out across different areas and difficult-to-navigate roads and walkways; and limited amenities like underwhelming dining and shopping options compared to other major airports. President Joe Biden even compared it to a “third-world” country.
The best new terminal of 2023
But in recent months, LaGuardia Airport has received a much-needed facelift—specifically the 1.3 million–square–foot Terminal B. The new terminal has been awarded the best new airport terminal globally. It even garnered a five-star Skytrax rating—an accolade given to a select few airports of more than the 550 reviewed annually.
Terminal B now proudly boasts amazing public art displayed by the Public Art Fund of New York and the Queens Museum, buzz-worthy restaurants, and high-grade security and ticketing technology.
by travelers, for travelers.
