U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says New York's LaGuardia Airport could use some major improvements — and that's putting it mildly.


Biden says if he blindfolded someone and took him to LaGuardia Airport he'd think he was in "some third-world country."


Biden made the LaGuardia comment as part of a comparison with the Hong Kong airport. He says Hong Kong has the type of modern facility travellers would expect to see in the United States.


His remarks came during an event Thursday in Philadelphia in which he stressed the need for infrastructure improvement.


Biden focused mainly on Amtrak, which just unveiled its new Cities Sprinter electric locomotive. But he says the nation's ports and airports also need to be upgraded.


The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates LaGuardia. It hasn't responded to a request for comment.