Guess which airport terminal has just been awarded the title of best in the world!

Singapore Changi Airport. Doha Hamad International Airport. Could it be LaGuardia Airport Terminal B?

Every year, the aviation rankings organization Skytrax presents its accolades for the finest airports and terminals globally. In 2023, one passenger facility stands out more than the rest, especially for those who haven’t visited recently.

LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, covering an impressive 1.3 million square feet, has been honored as the top new airport terminal worldwide. It also achieved a coveted five-star rating from Skytrax, placing it alongside esteemed airports like Doha Hamad International and Singapore Changi.

Skytrax bestows a five-star rating only on a select few airports each year from over 550 assessed. In 2023, 22 airports and terminals were recognized, with LaGuardia Terminal B included. Singapore Changi was named the world’s best airport, boasting a wide range of dining options and cutting-edge amenities, including the tallest indoor waterfall and the Jewel destination mall.

"Achieving this esteemed accolade and becoming the first North American airport terminal to attain a five-star rating from Skytrax demonstrates that we've fulfilled what many deemed unfeasible: transforming LaGuardia from the worst to the best," remarked Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority, which manages the airports in the New York area.

The journey of LaGuardia Airport to this point

In 2014, former vice president Joe Biden compared LaGuardia to a "third world" airport. Shortly thereafter, airport officials initiated a multi-year redevelopment plan, investing $4 billion specifically for Terminal B.

Finished in 2022 through multiple phases, Terminal B has undergone a complete transformation, evolving from a cramped space to a spacious one, and from dilapidated to truly stunning. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, highlights the terminal’s key features, such as "excellent wayfinding and signage, exceptional staff service, and appealing design and art elements."

Among the surprising artistic and functional additions are a central water feature and a variety of premium airport lounges, including those from American Express, Air Canada, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Furthermore, Capital One and Chase are set to launch their own exclusive lounge concepts in the coming years, enhancing the existing offerings.

Besides this Skytrax recognition and accolade, LaGuardia was also named the best new airport in the world at UNESCO’s Prix Versailles in 2021.

What lies ahead for LaGuardia?

Located a short distance from Terminal B, Delta’s Terminal C is set to complete its four-concourse terminal by the end of 2024, nearly two years ahead of the initial schedule. The bright central area and concourse of Terminal C are already operational, along with a Delta Sky Club that will span 34,000 square feet, making it the largest in Delta’s network once fully finished.

However, a previously planned addition—the AirTrain connector linking LaGuardia to public transit—will not proceed. Instead of a train service connecting the airport to the New York City subway, officials will allocate up to $500 million to enhance bus services between the airport and nearby stations.