Following its previous negative reputation, LaGuardia Airport has undergone a remarkable transformation and has now been recognized as the top airport in its category according to a new passenger survey.
In 2023, LaGuardia was recognized as the top airport for 25 to 40 million passengers in North America by the Airport Service Quality (ASQ).
LaGuardia Airport Ranked Best Midsize Airport in US
This achievement highlights the successful multibillion-dollar transformation of the airport in Queens, elevating it from the bottom to the top within just five years.
Airports Council International bestowed the coveted award of Airport Service Quality on the Queens-based airport after it ranked first in overall customer satisfaction at departure sights that saw 25 to 40 million passengers per year for 2023, according to the council.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport also received the recognition. However, the impressive resurgence of LGA came at a high cost. The significant airport disruption was accompanied by an estimated $8 billion cost.
"Taking LaGuardia Airport from worst to best is now more than just an aspiration, it's an accomplishment that passengers have now resoundingly recognized," Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said in a statement. "When we started out on our $8 billion transformation of LaGuardia, few believed we could create the world-class airport our region deserves. But the ASQ award proves that seeing is believing."
Chief Executive Officer of LaGuardia Gateway Partners Suzette Noble added, "LaGuardia's journey from the bottom to the top spot underscores the transformative power of vision, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to guest experience. The ASQ award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of not only those who designed and built the new airport, but to those providing exceptional service each and every day."
"We're immensely proud of this milestone and remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering a world-class travel experience for all who pass through our terminal," said Noble.
Before it's massive makeover, President Joe Biden previously likened LaGuardia to a third-world country, when he was second in command.
"If I took you and blindfolded you and took you to LaGuardia Airport in New York, you'd think, 'I must be in some third-world country,'" then-VP Biden said during a 2014 speech on infrastructure, according to The Verge.
To which he added, "I'm not joking. Just in the last decade, the United States has fallen 20 spots when it comes to the quality of infrastructure. It's embarrassing, and it's stupid."
