Port Authority Sets New Passenger Record at Airports

The Port Authority has broken its airport passenger record for the second straight year.

The agency announced Wednesday that 117.1 million passengers used Kennedy, Newark, LaGuardia, Stewart and Atlantic City airports during 2014. That tops the record set in 2013 by more three million fliers, or roughly a 3 percent jump.

The increase in passenger traffic fuels regional economic growth, with an estimated additional 4,000 jobs and $700 million in economic benefits whenever another million fliers are added to the airports’ ranks.

Overall, passenger growth primarily was driven by international travel, which rose 6 percent. Domestic growth showed a 1.5 percent increase.

Systemwide, there were an estimated 75.2 million domestic and 41.9 million international fliers — both new agency records.

JFK led the way with a record 53.2 million passengers, while LaGuardia also set an airport high with 26.9 million travelers last year. Newark set another record with 11.7 million international passengers.

“These robust, record airline passenger travel numbers support the Port Authority’s plans to invest over $8 billion dollars to modernize its airports over the coming decade,” Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye said. “Our gateway airports are major economic engines for the region, and an important source of job creation.”

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the January 29th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.