LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the manager and developer of LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B, appointed Klaudia FitzGerald as Chief Operating Officer in November 2023. FitzGerald joins LGP’s now majority-women-led executive leadership team from AvAirPros Inc., where she most recently served as the JFK Terminal One operator’s Senior Director of Operations.
A seasoned operations leader in the airport industry, Klaudia oversees LaGuardia Airport Terminal B’s commitment to safety, security, and operational performance. Her career stretches across two decades. Most recently, she concluded a 12-year tenure with JFK’s Terminal One operator AvAirPros in various operations roles leading up to Senior Director of Operations. Additional aviation industry experience includes roles with a registered travel program, Clear, covering product launch and management, employee relations, regulatory compliance, and marketing and sales.
How did you get your start working in the aviation industry?
Klaudia FitzGerald: While studying at Hofstra University, I worked for two international carriers, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines, which sparked my fascination with airport and terminal operations. During my time at Singapore Airlines, I learned the foundation of airline operations, including delivering exceptional passenger experiences, managing catering services, load control, and ramp operations. Upon graduation, I was hired full-time at JFK Terminal One as a Duty Manager, where I gained hands-on experience in the day-to-day management of a busy international terminal.
Was working in the aviation industry or at airports your first choice for your career path?
Klaudia FitzGerald: Absolutely! My interest in airports began when I arrived from Poland at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport as a teenager with my family to start our new life in the U.S. My first field trip with my new junior high school class was a visit to JFK’s International Arrivals Building, where we toured a Boeing 747-400. This quickly jump-started my interest and passion for aviation. My fascination with aviation propelled me during my studies at Hofstra University to work with various airlines and at JFK’s Terminal One, which started my aviation career.
Is there an airport redevelopment project that you are most interested in seeing completed?
Klaudia FitzGerald: First, even before joining LaGuardia Gateway Partners, I was impressed by the recent and incredible redevelopment of LGA Terminal B, which Skytrax has since awarded its highest global 5-star rating and named the world’s best new airport terminal. It’s now my honor to be part of the executive leadership team that will continue to elevate our amazing Terminal B experience. As Vantage Airport Group led LaGuardia Gateway Partners’ Terminal B redevelopment, I’m now most excited to see what they do at JFK T6 as part of JFK Millenium Partners. It is sure to be another spectacular gateway to NYC!
Do you want to tell us about any sustainability initiatives your company has implemented?
Klaudia FitzGerald: We’re proud that Terminal B has earned a LEED Gold certification for the design and construction of the new terminal, and we continue to conceptualize ways to implement operations as sustainably as possible. At first glance, we’ve eliminated the use of single plastic straws terminal-wide. Our energy-efficient baggage handling system transitions to sleep mode when not in use, conserving more than 35% of energy compared to airports using older technology. In 2023, we completed our first terminal waste audit to help identify points to maximize further the reduction of waste and greenhouse gas emissions from the terminal. Sustainability is a critical focus for LaGuardia Gateway Partners, and we strive to be a key driver of these crucial initiatives for the airport industry.
Does your company have internships or other programs to attract young employees?
Klaudia FitzGerald: LaGuardia Gateway Partners has an Aviation Internship program with Vaughn College, and we invite one student per semester interested in pursuing an aviation career. The program offers a 15-to-18-week hands-on opportunity to learn the fundamentals of an airport terminal facility across day-to-day operations and relations with terminal guests, administration, and business partners. Interns rotate through each department at LGP to gain first-hand aviation experience that equips them with knowledge and skillsets critical to leading a successful career in the industry. We’re thrilled that, to this date, each intern welcomed through the program has been offered and accepted full-time roles within our organization.
LaGuardia Gateway Partners
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B,
Flushing, NY, 11371
www.laguardiab.com
