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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey saw its busiest year ever in 2023 at each of its three major airports, exceeding pre-pandemic highs. According to preliminary estimates, a staggering total of 144 million air passengers passed through John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airports in 2023. This figure was 3 percent higher than the previous record of 140 million passengers set in 2019.
The spike in demand follows years of redevelopment work at the agency’s three primary airports, transforming outdated terminals into award-winning 21st century facilities. Among these is Newark Liberty's new Terminal A, which celebrated its first operational year by transporting its 15 millionth passenger and earning a Prix Versailles Special Prize for its unique exterior design. The new Terminal A served 15 million passengers in its debut year, surpassing the number served by the previous Terminal A during any of the 50 years it was in operation.
In 2023, Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK each established new domestic travel records, accommodating 35.3 million, 30.6 million, and 29.1 million domestic passengers respectively. Newark Liberty recorded the largest increase, with a record 49.1 million passengers in 2023, indicating a 6 percent rise from its previous high set in 2019.
December 2023 marked the busiest December ever for Port Authority airports with over 12 million passengers, an increase of more than 70,000 from the previous December record set in 2019. The holiday period from December 21, 2023, to January 2, 2024, saw some 5.2 million passengers passing through Port Authority airports, marking the busiest Christmas/New Year period on record.
The Port Authority is currently overseeing $30 billion worth of airport redevelopment initiatives across New York and New Jersey. The next phase of Newark Airport’s redevelopment is currently in initial planning.