Delta Boosts New York JFK, La Guardia with Major Upgrades

Upgrades at Delta’s two New York hubs will be near completion this year, with gates now open for travelers at JFK’s revamped Terminal 4 and more concourses to debut at LaGuardia’s new Terminal C.

First, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Delta’s transformation of Terminal 4 continues apace. The $1.5 billion project, which broke ground 13 months ago, will consolidate Delta’s operations in a single terminal, streamlining connections for travelers.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

As of January 14, Delta has officially moved out of Terminal 2 and centered its operations in Terminal 4. Ten new gates are open on Concourse A, with spacious seating areas and upgraded restrooms. Concessions will soon follow.

Terminal 4 also boasts updated check-in and baggage drop areas, with self-service kiosks and a digital back wall with live gate information. These upgrades will increase efficiency during busy times, the airline said.

Travelers can look out for more renovations over the next year. This summer, a new Delta Sky Club lounge will open in Concourse A, with nearly 14,000 square feet of space and seating for more than 200 guests. In the meantime, a Delta Sky Club Express location is serving guests in Concourse A, while the Delta’s lounge in Concourse B remains open.

Terminal 4’s Concourse B will be complete by the early fall and will offer 28 gates for various aircraft types, expanded security checkpoint and baggage claim areas, and new restrooms.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

Additionally, in early 2024, Delta will cut the ribbon on its first-ever Delta One Club at JFK. An exclusive lounge for passengers with tickets in Delta One suites, the Delta One Club will offer 36,000 square feet of space and a “personalized, dedicated level of service.” The lounge will be adjacent to the main security checkpoint in Terminal 4.

LaGuardia Gets Major Upgrades Too

Meanwhile, across town at LaGuardia Airport, construction continues at the new Terminal C. In the works since 2017, the state-of-the-art terminal officially opened last June, with two concourses currently operational. The remaining two concourses will be online by the end of 2024, although travelers may grab sneak peeks before then: the first four gates in the third new concourse opened to passengers in October, and the first four in the fourth and final concourse will be unveiled this fall.

Photos from the new terminal opening at LaGuardia International Airport on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines / Chris Rank, Rank Studios.

As construction wraps up, walkways connecting the arrivals and departures hall to the new concourses will open ahead of summer 2024. When completed by the end of next year, LaGuardia’s Terminal C will offer 37 gates across 1.3 million square feet and up-to-the-minute technologies, including hands-free bag drop, self-service check-ins, and facial matching screening capabilities. Delta’s investment in the terminal has totaled $4 billion.

SkyClub at LaGuardia International Airport. Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines / Chris Rank, Rank Studios

LaGuardia also now hosts the airline’s largest Sky Club, which will eventually offer seating for nearly 600 travelers over 34,000 square feet. The Club currently provides a gourmet kitchen, a premium bar, two dining buffets, and two hydration stations. Future improvements into a year-round, all-weather Sky Deck with views of the runways and a second bar.

Across its two hubs, Delta offers more than 470 peak daily departures from New York to more than 120 destinations, making it the city’s largest airline by seats and departures. 

Delta will operate its biggest-ever transatlantic schedule this summer from JFK, with more than 225 weekly departures. Among the 32 routes are some not flown since before the pandemic or even earlier, including to Berlin (BER), Geneva (GVA), and London Gatwick (LGW).