The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s monthly air passenger levels surpassed pre-pandemic volumes in November for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The port authority operates and maintains John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International Airport. The airports handled 11 million passengers in November, 102 percent of November 2019 volumes.
“We are extremely gratified to see our airports at pre-pandemic levels after more than two years of a global pandemic that left us homebound and filled with wanderlust,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “Throughout this year, we have seen the steady return of airport passengers and also the pleasant surprise on their faces when they see the brand-new, world-class air facilities that await them. We look forward to welcoming millions more passengers in the coming weeks as people celebrate the holidays with loved ones.”
The port authority expects that air travel demand will remain high for the 11-day period that started Dec. 23 and ends Jan. 2.
The port authority completed several re-development projects, including a new Terminal A at Newark Liberty, the $8 billion public-private transformation of LaGuardia Airport, and the financial close of Terminal One and Terminal 6 at JFK.