Mayor LaGuardia Demands NYC Have Its Own Airport
The saga of LaGuardia Airport began when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia struck a blow for all proud New Yorkers when he refused to call Newark Airport New York. LaGuardia was flying on a TWA flight which arrived into Newark, and pointing out his ticket said New York, refused to leave the plane until he was flown there. TWA ended up flying him to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. On the flight over, LaGuardia staged a press conference where he urged a new airport for New York City that actually was in New York.
LaGuardia Airport Is Born
American Airlines accepted an offer to try scheduled service to Floyd Bennett Field, but the program failed. The city was already working on a plan for an alternate airport. New York Municipal Airport opened in December of 1939. During the ceremony, a banner was flown from the back of a plane, with the words, “Name it LaGuardia.” It was done in 1947, when the Port Authority took control of the airport. Although it was a very large airport when opened, it is now painfully small for the amount of traffic it handles. In 1984, a perimeter rule banning flights in excess of 1500 miles(except on Saturdays), was imposed.
Original Terminal Is Now The Marine Air Terminal
LaGuardia consists of 680 acres, and about 72 aircraft gates. The Marine Air Terminal, once known as the Overseas Terminal, was the original airport terminal building. It served international flights on flying boats through the 1940s. Delta began using the Terminal for Shuttle Operations in September of 1991.
The first Pan Am Yankee Clipper departed LaGuardia airport on March 31, 1940 for Lisbon. The terminal, now a historic landmark, has a round shape with a large central hall and a circular aviation mural, “Flight” by James Brooks, which has been restored. The last Clipper flight left in February of 1952, bound for Bermuda. The circular counter at the center of the central hall has been removed, replaced by a stone bust of Fiorello LaGuardia. Most people bypass the entrance hall and enter the building through the addition, which leads directly to the check-in desks, baggage claim, and security checkpoint.
US Airways Shuttle Almost Takes Over LGA’s Marine Air Terminal
As mentioned, Delta had the Marine Air Terminal for its Shuttle service beginning in 1991, and in 2010, they planned to swappethe space with the US Airways Shuttle, which began operating out of the iconic Marine Air Terminal. When we first discussed this as a pending change in 2009, we suggested that “we’d love to see a guild of smaller carriers take over the building and put US Airways in the Central Terminal.”
The Terminal Today
Delta ended up staying another 7 years, until they consolidated their service. When LaGuardia started to completely replace the other terminals, JetBlue and Alaska took over the terminal. Alaska left, but JetBlue renovated the terminal. Spirit joined JetBlue, JetBlue moved to the new Central Terminal, and as of today, Spirit remains the only airline in the terminal.
The Shuttle- An Air Travel Product Now Sorely Missed
The US Airways Shuttle was a direct descendant of the Eastern Airlines Shuttle. when it was started, it was considered highly innovative, as it required no reservations and guaranteed a seat. The airline had backup planes standing by and promised to put one into service on any flight, even if it meant carrying only one passenger. Those days are long gone, alas. Eastern sold it to Donald Trump(yes, that Donald Trump) in 1989, who later had US Airways operate it until they took it over outright. Delta’s Shuttle was once the Pan Am Shuttle, which Delta bought and still operates. We miss the old shuttle service and remember fondly buying student ticket books three decades ago, carbon paper-like, 4 for $240 that would let you go on either shuttle between Boston and LGA, on the hour or the half-hour. Delta would have lines past the amazing murals and out the door of the Marine Air Terminal on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as hundreds of students attempting to get back for Monday’s classes showed up for the hope of a seat. The shuttle was a luxury product, free magazines and newspapers, free alcoholic beverages and other nice amenities. It is a product that the market sorely lacks today.
LaGuardia’s Marine Air Terminal, the oldest American airport terminal still in use is a throwback to a time of elegance that we wish would return to air travel.
- Delta and US Airways Swap for Fun and Profit (flightwisdom.com)