Article for the Local Newspaper

Article for the Local Newspaper

Laguardia Airport consists of various benefits starting from the creation of jobs, general local revenue and attraction of other businesses among other benefits. The Airport is one of the essential economic assets that the local community should be proud of. Various improvement initiatives are underway such as the redesign of the airport expected to transform it into a unified airport that consists of better transportation access, more taxiways, air train as well as best-in-class passenger amenities. It is, therefore, necessary for the community to support such future improvements since it is a valuable and a vital facility to the community.
Laguardia Airport has been an economic engine, especially for the community living around the airport. It has created hundreds of jobs for the locals who are either skilled or semi-skilled, and many people can raise their families. The businesses that have come up as a result of the airport also provide job opportunities to many within the community. The Airport contributes incomes and economic health to the community. Most entrepreneurs perceive the airport as an opportunity to grow their businesses hence many businesses look for the location to expand their businesses. The improvement of the airport is estimated to create 10,000 indirect jobs and 8,000 direct jobs that will generate wages of approximately $1.3 billion. The improvement is also expected to stimulate $5.2 billion in economic activity. The airport is a vital contributor to a greater New York metropolitan.

It is crucial in facilitating access to tourists as well as businesses in the area (Tomer, 2015). The airport is considered as a national transportation hub that does not only contribute to the economy of New York but also the economy of the entire nation. A part of being a transportation hub of the city, the airport is also a very critical link in the aviation network of the nation. The airport normally provides safer transportation services for both the locals as well as foreigners. The term “safer” is used to imply that few cases of accidents associated with air transport are normally reported, unlike the road accidents that are reported more often.
The aviation airport provides unbeatable cost-effectiveness and convenience. The benefits enjoyed by the community at little or no cost. The community has been able to save a lot of time that is normally wasted on roads since the air transport is much faster. Time saving also translates into higher productivity at the workplace and longer time at home with the family (Stone, 2016). The airport has been at the forefront in taking part in social responsibility. During emergencies, it has always offered disaster relief services as well as law enforcement services. When disaster strikes, the aviation has always been the fastest as the most effective way of helping those in need. In their day to day activities, the traffic and news reporters use small airplanes and helicopters that are based at the local airport, covering regional as well as breaking the news to keep the community informed and safe (“General aviation and community development,” 1977). Private pilots do volunteer by offering transport to patients who are not able to afford travel to life-saving medical treatments.
Laguardia Airport has been a source of civic pride among the locals and other various stakeholders. It gives hope for the future growth of the community since it is part of the community today and many years to come. Greater things are yet to come that will keep the community realize the benefits of the airport comfortably with minimal noise pollution. It is because Amazing new developments and advancements in community-friendly airport facilities guarantee even bigger rewards for the community in future. The aircraft makers are developing and producing small airplanes that have fuel-efficient engines and airline-style flight displays. Various improvement initiatives of the airport are underway aimed at improving the current state of the airport. For instance, a consortium firm of airport experts which is a partner of the airport is in the process of designing, building and maintaining Terminal B of the airport under a lease a contract with the Authority of New Jersey and New York. Such projects will pave the way for modernization of terminals, increase in the number of gates and making the airport one of the top aviation hubs in the country (Scholz & von Cossel, 2011). The airport will have an increased capacity that will improve customer service in the event the landmark deal is fully implemented. However, this will best be possible with the community support hence the stakeholders call for full community support to make the airport the pride of the community.
Conclusion
There have been certain concerns that the airport has various negativities such as noise pollution, the benefits are overwhelming and exceed the negativities such as noise. The experts are aware of the concerns are various measures have been taken to respond to such concerns. The modernization of Laguardia Airport is vital for survival and to compete in the today’s market. As much a lot is being done to modernize the airport, community support is also very important to make it a world-class airport.
Reference
General aviation and community development. (1977). Transportation Research, 11(1), 74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0041-1647(77)90078-8Scholz, A. & von Cossel, J. (2011). Assessing importance of hub airports for cargo carrier and its implication for a sustainable airports management. Research in Transportation Businesses & Management, 1(1), 62-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2011.06.002
Stone, M. (2016). Impact of delays and cancellations on travel from small community airports. Tourism And Hospitality Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1467358416637252
Tomer, A. (2015). A New York minute matters, and so does LaGuardia | Brookings Institution. Brookings. Retrieved 28 November 2016, from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2015/06/05/a-new-york-minute-matters-and-so-does-laguardia/