Cuomo's Big Vision for Airports Comes in for Landing, Finally

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will unveil the plans for a redesigned LaGuardia airport on Monday.

The governor will appear alongside Vice President Joe Biden, who famously said the airport looked like it belonged in "a Third World country." Sources briefed on the event say Cuomo will reveal a "comprehensive" vision for LaGuardia, as well as improvements to JFK Airport.

Cuomo has said modernizing the airports is a top priority.

Last fall, the Port Authority was just about to select a winning bidder to redo one of LaGuardia's terminals when, right before his re-election, Cuomo called for an overhaul of the entire airport, including an AirTrain, plus changes at New York's other airports.

Critics said the governor's interference delayed the upgrade at LaGuardia's terminal, but he says that plan wasn't ambitious enough.

Joe Sitt, chairman of the airport advocacy group Global Gateway Alliance, said he hopes Monday's announcement means work at LaGuardia will soon be underway.

"We are hopeful for a true 21st century vision for LaGuardia that is matched by a clear timeline and budget for getting it done," he said.