The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to impact passenger volumes at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, officials said Friday.
Passenger volume in October across Port Authority airports is down 79 percent compared to October 2019, officials said. Passenger volumes decreased an estimated 83 percent at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 71 percent at Newark Liberty International Airport, and 83 percent at LaGuardia Airport compared to the same month last year.
Additionally, the Port Authority reported that PATH ridership in October was down 78 percent from the previous year, while bridge and tunnel traffic was down 11 percent over 2019 levels. PATH reported October average weekday ridership of 65,841 riders, down 78 percent from October 2019. The Port Authority’s four bridges and two tunnels handled a total of 9.3 million vehicles in October, a decrease of 11 percent compared to October 2019. Automobile traffic was down 11 percent, and truck traffic declined 6 percent.
Seaports, however, were up 13 percent, officials said.
Officials said the sustained low level of use contributed to the agency’s $1.4 billion in lost revenue. During its November meeting, the agency reported to its board of directors that it estimates revenues will be off by $1.7 billion by year’s end and will be down $980 million in 2021.
The agency has requested federal relief and is working closely with the New York and New Jersey Congressional delegations to advocate for federal assistance.