LaGuardia Airport, recently derided as "Third World" by Vice President Joe Biden, is on the verge of a $3.6 billion makeover that includes a gleaming new central terminal.
The three-level, 1.3-million-square-foot terminal would be about one-third larger than the existing 50-year-old facility, the Port Authority said in a draft environmental assessment released last week.
The seven-year project also would create additional shops and parking, according to the plan.
The number of gates at the terminal would remain at 35, but they would be spread out to accommodate bigger airplanes.
Thomas Bosco, the authority's aviation director, said the project will turn LaGuardia into a "world-class facility that will service New York City and the region's growing aviation needs well into the 21st century."
Bosco said the project also will be a "financial boon" for the metropolitan area, creating nearly 15,000 jobs and roughly $4.5 billion in economic activity.