LaGuardia wins worst-airport prize again

Travelers faced delays more frequently coming into LaGuardia Airport than at any other airport in the nation last year, an advocacy group found. According to the Global Gateway Alliance's crunch of federal transportation data, the Queens airport ranked last...

27 February 2017 Monday 15:52
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LaGuardia wins worst-airport prize again

Travelers faced delays more frequently coming into LaGuardia Airport than at any other airport in the nation last year, an advocacy group found.

According to the Global Gateway Alliance's crunch of federal transportation data, the Queens airport ranked last out of 29 major airports for the percentage of on-time arrivals. LaGuardia was last in 2015 as well.

The sluggish airport hurts city business, said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, which represents the city's largest employers.

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"The cost to the New York economy is in the billions, particularly since a survey by PwC has shown that many business travelers actually avoid coming to New York City because of the uncertainty associated with flights in and out of LaGuardia," she said. "Hopefully the airport redevelopment that the governor has prioritized will improve this situation, along with a modernized flight control system that seems to be emerging as a priority for the president's infrastructure initiative."

In addition to planning a $4 billion redesign of the airport, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he was "very intrigued" by a proposal to convert Rikers Island into an extension of the airport. 

Newark Airport had the most frequently delayed takeoffs, according to the group, which is led by New York-based developer Joe Sitt.

Travelers faced delays more frequently coming into LaGuardia Airport than at any other airport in the nation last year, an advocacy group found.

According to the Global Gateway Alliance's crunch of federal transportation data, the Queens airport ranked last out of 29 major airports for the percentage of on-time arrivals. LaGuardia was last in 2015 as well.

The sluggish airport hurts city business, said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, which represents the city's largest employers.

"The cost to the New York economy is in the billions, particularly since a survey by PwC has shown that many business travelers actually avoid coming to New York City because of the uncertainty associated with flights in and out of LaGuardia," she said. "Hopefully the airport redevelopment that the governor has prioritized will improve this situation, along with a modernized flight control system that seems to be emerging as a priority for the president's infrastructure initiative."

In addition to planning a $4 billion redesign of the airport, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he was "very intrigued" by a proposal to convert Rikers Island into an extension of the airport. 

Newark Airport had the most frequently delayed takeoffs, according to the group, which is led by New York-based developer Joe Sitt.

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