JetBlue Secures Rights to LaGuardia’s Historic Marine Air Terminal

The historic Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport is poised for a return to active service. JetBlue has emerged as the winning bidder in an auction for gates previously occupied by Spirit Airlines, which vacated the facility in May following its bankruptcy filing. The Queens-based airline secured the slots with a bid of $58.5 million, narrowly surpassing an offer from Frontier Airlines.

While the deal has been confirmed by both the airline and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, it remains subject to pending court and regulatory approvals. Should the transition proceed as planned, JetBlue—which currently operates out of Terminal B—could shift its operations to the historic terminal, potentially adding up to 12 daily roundtrips starting in 2027.

Constructed in the 1940s, the Marine Air Terminal is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and stands as a notable example of Art Deco architecture. While the broader LaGuardia Airport underwent a comprehensive modernization project that concluded in 2022, the Marine Air Terminal was preserved in its original form.

The Port Authority has indicated that the auction results underscore the strategic importance of the airport to the region. Regarding the future of the site, a spokesperson for the agency stated that they intend to preserve the landmarked structure while simultaneously pursuing significant upgrades to the attached concourse and boarding area, which date back to the 1980s.

In a statement, a spokesperson for JetBlue noted that the company is currently evaluating the most effective way to utilize the newly acquired slots. The airline, which launched its first flights from JFK Airport in 2000, has not yet provided specific details on how the potential move might affect its existing footprint at Terminal B.