Following the recent opening of the new LaGuardia Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall, LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LPG) announced a donation of hundreds of pieces of luggage to area nonprofits.
In preparation for the terminal opening, LGP conducted thorough testing of its massive Baggage Handling System, which included running luggage through from end to end to ensure its proper functioning. LGP, the private entity managing and redeveloping LaGuardia’s Terminal B, purchased hundreds of new pieces of luggage for this test and did not want them to go to wastes after the opening.
The 300 pieces of luggage, valued at $15,000, were distributed to: Forestdale, the child welfare agency headquartered in Forest Hills; The Landing Shelter in East Elmhurst; Hour Children, the Long Island City-based provider of prison- and community-based family services; and Care for the Homeless.
“We are proud to be able to give back to the local Queens community in an impactful way with this donation of over 300 pieces of luggage,” LaGuardia Gateway Partners CEO Stewart Steeves said. “With the redevelopment of the new Terminal B, we want to not only create a world-class passenger experience for our travelers but also ensure that we’re using sustainable practices in every step of the process. We are pleased to pass these pieces of luggage on to members of the local Queens community who can really use them.”
In July 2015, Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the vision for a comprehensive redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport, which included the new 1.3 million square foot Terminal B. With a construction value of $4 billion, the Terminal B project is one of the largest public-private partnerships in American history and the largest in U.S. aviation. Earlier this month, the Western Concourse in the new terminal opened seven gates to travelers.
