Personally chosen by passengers, World’s Best Terminal announced

Terminal B becomes first terminal in North America to earn the highest global five star rating from Skytrax

In a rags-to-riches story, what was once considered the world’s worst terminal is now heralded for its smooth check-in, exciting retail culture and relaxed ambiance. The New LaGuardia Airport Terminal B has been named the world’s best new terminal and has achieved the highest, global 5-Star Airport Terminal Rating from Skytrax. 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the manager and developer of Terminal B, made the announcement today and is based on feedback from customers around the world. Consumers were surveyed on factors including:

• check-in
• shopping
• security
• comfort
• ambience
• and choice of restaurants and bars. 

The 1.3 million-square-foot LaGuardia Terminal B, which was opened in phases beginning in 2018 and completed in 2022, provides customers with a world-class experience that includes spacious interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, a 3,000-car parking garage, new covered and convenient pickup facilities for both taxis and ride-sharing vehicles and dual skybridges above active taxiways. The terminal offers best-in-class retail, vast dining experiences, stunning art and amenities, and a water feature that is unique to any airport in the world. From curb to gate, customers truly enjoy a world-class 21st century travel experience.

The Terminal is also the first airline terminal in North America to achieve the highest global 5-Star Airport Terminal Rating from Skytrax.

Referred to as the Oscars of the airport industry, the World Airport Awards from Skytrax are regarded as a quality benchmark for the world airport industry, assessing customer service and facilities across more than 550 airports. There is no entry fee or any type of payment by an airport to participate in the survey or awards, with the entire survey and awards process funded by Skytrax.

Presentations for a range of honours, including world’s best airport as well as best terminal, were announced at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Amsterdam.

Separately, the 5-Star Rating from Skytrax is its most prestigious and unique mark of Quality Achievement and a global benchmark of Airport Excellence. The rating is awarded following detailed audit analysis and assessment of an airport’s product and front-line service standards. The World Airport Star Rating was introduced by Skytrax in 1999 and is a premier evaluation system grading airports on their quality standards.

In awarding the 5-Star rating, Skytrax recognises those airport terminals that are providing exceptional standards of facilities and staff service to customers across all front-line areas of the airport environment. To achieve the top 5-Star Airport Terminal rating, the staff service or product standards must be meeting or setting global best practice for the items under evaluation.

The award for world’s best new terminal and the coveted five-star rating recognises that
LaGuardia Airport has been successfully transformed from what was once among the nation’s worst airports to what is now one of the world’s best airports. Completed in January 2022,LaGuardia Terminal B is among just 22 airports and terminals worldwide to have earned five stars from Skytrax for global best practices.

Skytrax applies ratings for up to 800 customer-facing areas of airport product and service, and this spans numerous customer contact points. The Star Rating methodology is unified and consistent for the industry, and all airports from the largest hubs to small regional facilities are assessed using the same base rating criteria which covers the front-line customer experience on the end-to-end journey through an airport.

“Our goal at the Port Authority was to completely transform the customer experience at
LaGuardia, from curb to gate, by building a brand-new, world-class airport,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.

“Winning this prestigious award and becoming the first North American airport terminal to receive a five-star rating from Skytrax proves that we have accomplished what many once said was impossible: elevate LaGuardia from worst to best. This award and five-star rating are an affirmation of the work of the Port Authority and our partners to reimagine what LaGuardia could be,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “With a sleek and modern design, world-class amenities and engaging public art, LaGuardia is now setting a new global standard for air travel each and every day.”

Stewart Steeves, Chief Operating Officer of Vantage Airport Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, said, “Together with our partners, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, we have transformed LaGuardia Terminal B into an award-winning terminal with best-in-class operations and an exceptional guest experience. We are grateful to Skytrax for recognising this shared accomplishment and ongoing commitment with today’s announcement.”

Magnus Eriksson, Managing Director of Skanska Asset Management and member of the Board of Directors of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, said, “Not only was Terminal B named the best new airport terminal in the world by Skytrax, but also received the first five-star rating of an airport terminal in North America. These significant achievements are a result of both the innovative design of the terminal and the excellence of the facility management. We’re forever grateful to everyone who played a role in the redevelopment and those focused on terminal operation.”

Jane Garvey, Global Chairman of Meridiam and member of the Board of Directors of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, said, “The Skytrax designation of the world’s best new airport terminal along with a five-star rating of the terminal represent huge milestones in the transformation of LaGuardia Terminal B. We’re proud to share these accolades with our terminal community and all of the guests traveling through Terminal B.”

“We’re thrilled that Terminal B was named the best new airport terminal in the world and received the first five-star rating for an airport terminal in North America by Skytrax, the leading authority in airport experience,” said Frank Scremin, Chief Executive Officer of LaGuardia Gateway Partners. “This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the LaGuardia Gateway Partners team as well as the entire Terminal B community – the more than 5,000 individuals who come together to provide the best experience for our terminal guests.”

“This 5-Star Airport Terminal Rating is a fabulous achievement for Terminal B LaGuardia Airport, being just one of 22 airports and terminals worldwide to achieve our highest 5-Star Rating,” said Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted. “This terminal provides an excellent range of passenger facilities, and particular standouts include very good standards of wayfinding and signage, high standards of staff service and some very nice design and art features. An important requirement that Terminal B fulfils to an excellent standard, is that the terminal has an easy and intuitive layout that offers true convenience to customers.”

In addition to the 5-Star rating, LaGuardia Airport, and Terminal B individually, have received multiple awards for excellence, including UNESCO’s Prix Versailles, Airports, in 2021, as the best new airport in the world; the National Academy of Construction’s Special Achievement Award; NYC & Company Foundation’s “Visionaries and Voices” award; and awards from the Urban Land Institute New York and the Design-Build Institute of America, among others.