15 replies to this topic

[Skycap]

The "What if" section has been sleepy for a while so, here we go!

LGA was basically built because Mayor LaGuardia wanted an airport IN NYC, not nearby (EWR). Obviously, the area would still have needed JFK, eventually, but I wonder if EWR would have become more of a massive airport if LGA weren't there to take some of the burden as air travel in the US began to expand.

[ithboy]

Well I can tell you LGA won't grow anymore so expect EWR and JFK to get bigger, I mean a lot bigger.

Which airport is closer to the city, JFK or EWR?

[Skycap]

Well, LGA is the closest but as you said, they can't really grow anymore. JFK would be next and they are undergoing a massive development, from what I understand.

Interesting side note: ALL of LaGuardia would fit inside the terminal oval at JFK! OUCH! But that's nothing compared to Denver - all of the city of Boston would fit within it's layout! Now that's a big airport!

[Scalpel4]

If LGA was never built, overall passenger happiness would be 3 times what is is now. I hate that airport like I hate lima beans.

[AirKevin]

If LaGuardia was never built, I wouldn't be able to see planes landing there every time I went into New York.

[Atlantic_Air]

Originally posted by ithboy
Well I can tell you LGA won't grow anymore so expect EWR and JFK to get bigger, I mean a lot bigger.


Which airport is closer to the city, JFK or EWR?

Uhm...depends which city we're talking about...EWR is defenintly closer to Newark, while JFK is closer to Manhattan and new york.

[ealvarez]

LGA is a mess during the winter, worst time to use that airport.

if LGA wasnt built, i think itd be alot less stressful for ATC. lol

i used to work at EWR on the ramp. deffinitely still has room to grow, but not by much before intruding on its neighbors. if they were to do a boston type dig to put the turnpike underground they would deffinitely have alot more room without having to move any factories.

whos the big airline at LGA, cant remember off the top of my head. if its continental, then if LGA wasnt there, theyd almost completely own EWR. lol theyre already all over the airport.

i have heard a few rumors that LGA might not have much time left tho. they might close it sometime in the future to make room for something else. but thats not going to happen until they figure out what to do with those passengers at EWR or JFK. not to mention the extra traffic on the roads towards those airports. if they were to close it now, the roads would be just as bad as boston or even L.A.

[Chicken]

Outstanding question, and I think you folks are not giving it proper consideration. Please note that Newark was closed for about 9 months in 1952 following some crashes

http://www.house.gov...9/bollwage.html

Had LGA not been built, then in 1952 New York would have been left with only one airport at that time (Idlewyld - later renamed JFK). Quite possible that without LGA, Newark would look very different than it does today - maybe permanently closed in 1952 - and New York would be left with one super airport in JFK. The fact that New York had 3 airports provided a mindset that many were needed. Remove one (LGA), close one (EWR), and the mindset changes, and a completely different conclusion could be reached.

Now ... if LGA was never built and EWR was not reopened in 1952, then things like PeoplExpress might have not happened, and the entire LCC concept would have been delayed about 5 years. Check out http://www.airliners...read.main?id=68

[AirKevin]

If LGA was never built, then this would never happen.

[ealvarez]

? lol

[AirKevin]

Click on the word "this" in my above post.

[miller22 (inactive)]

JFK, EWR, or LGA can't grow that much more. Look at the on-time statistics for Jetblue. Second to last due to JFK. Airplanes are constantly ground-stopped for EWR, and don't get me started about LGA. Look for airports such as Islip, Newburgh, etc to pick up some of the slack.

[AirKevin]

Thanks for the info.

[Skycap]

US Airways is, I believe, the largest carrier at KLGA - and that is primarily the Shuttle to BOS and DCA along with the express carriers.

[wdleiser]

Originally posted by ithboy
Well I can tell you LGA won't grow anymore so expect EWR and JFK to get bigger, I mean a lot bigger.

Which airport is closer to the city, JFK or EWR?

It depends what part of the city you are talking about. Newark it is quite easy to get to NYC by driving or by train, generally quicker too than from JFK... and I do believe milage wise it is closer. Only like 5 miles or something from Midtown.

[TWA17]

Although USAirways seems bigger, i think AA might have majority of arrivals and departures i dont see to many US flights leave LGA between 530-8AM

since AA took over gates C1-C11 in Uniteds concourse AA has increased Eagle and mainline flights out of LGA. I know Eagle sometimes uses B but rarely have i seen that