What Airports Are in New York State?

As one of the most densely populated states in the country, it’s easy to understand why New York state has so many airports serving it. These airports serve many local and international flights daily. If you want to travel in and out of New York state, you’ll always find an airport and an airline that meets your budget.

John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Buffalo Niagara are the top airports in New York. Minor airports include Greater Rochester International, Syracuse International, Greater Binghamton, Ithaca Tompkins Regional, and more. The busiest ones are JFK and LaGuardia.

This article comprehensively covers the airports in New York state. I’ll discuss each airport’s location, size, and important facts. Let’s dive right in!

1. John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport

Located in Jamaica Bay in New York’s Queens Borough, John F. Kennedy Airport (or JFK, as it’s often called) is New York’s busiest and largest airport.

Many of the world’s major airlines fly into it from other important hubs, and it also offers flights throughout the country.

About one hundred airlines – local and international use JFK airport, including:

JetBlue
American Airlines
Delta Airlines
British Airways

Because so many airlines serve JFK, the airport records hundreds of flights daily. In 2019 alone, JFK International Airport recorded over 62 million passengers.

JFK International Airport is one of the top ten busiest airports in the United States and among the top twenty busiest airports worldwide. Many consider it the best airport in the United States.

2. New York LaGuardia Airport

New York’s LaGuardia Airport is conveniently located in Queens. It’s the second busiest airport in New York state and recorded over 26 million passengers in 2016.

Some of the airlines using LaGuardia Airport include the following:

Air Canada
Air Canada Express
American Airlines
United Airlines
Delta Airlines

LaGuardia is a major hub for passengers traveling to domestic and international destinations.

This airport features an ultra-modern and spacious terminal building. The convenient people mover and multiple retail spaces make it a comfortable choice for passengers.

3. Buffalo Niagara Airport

Buffalo Niagara Airport is situated in Buffalo and is one of the state’s oldest airports. It has been an active hub for airlines since 1927. It records an average of 5 million passengers annually, making it the third busiest airport in New York after LaGuardia and JFK International Airport.

Buffalo Niagara Airport is a convenient hub for airlines serving large Canadian cities and is an excellent option if you’re working on a tight budget. It’s a major hub for low-cost carriers like Frontier Airlines.

Aside from Frontier Airlines, Buffalo Niagara airport is a hub for ten other airlines, including:

American Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Vacation Express by Sunwing

The airport has shops and restaurants to cater to your needs before your flight. It’s a small airport that’s easy to navigate, and many passengers find it a more relaxing experience than New York’s larger airports.

4. Greater Rochester International Airport

As its name suggests, Greater Rochester International Airport is located in Rochester. It may be smaller than JFK, LaGuardia, or Buffalo, but it serves the state just as efficiently. Despite its small size, the airport boasts a relatively comprehensive flight schedule that allows passengers to fly in and out of the city without stress.

Some of the main airlines operating out of the airport include:

Allegiant Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Airlines
JetBlue
Southwest
United Airlines

The airport primarily handles domestic flight routes and some seasonal flights to Florida and the midwest.

Greater Rochester Airport has an airfield viewing area open to the public without charge for their aviation viewing pleasure. This viewing area also attracts non-passengers to the airport. However, if you have a layover at this small but efficient airport, the airfield viewing area makes for some pleasant entertainment as you wait for your next flight.

5. Syracuse Hancock International Airport

Syracuse Hancock International Airport is located in the northern part of the state, in Syracuse. This airport is a convenient option if you need to get to northern or central New York state.

Although it’s a relatively small airport, it handles domestic and international flight routes to and from some of the following destinations:

Atlanta, Georgia
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Chicago, Illinois
Denver, Colorado
Tampa, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee

The airport has two spacious concourses with many stores and restaurants to keep you busy before your flight.

Syracuse records an average of only six departure flights per day. So, you can be assured of a peaceful and stress-free airport experience.

Although Syracuse is the city with the highest occurrence of snow in the United States, with an average of 124 inches (315 cm) of snowfall annually, the airport remains active throughout the year. The fact that the airport is not closed for more than a day, irrespective of the climate, is truly remarkable.

6. Greater Binghamton Airport

Formerly known as Broome County Airport in the 1970s and Edwin A. Link in the 1990s, Greater Bingham Airport serves the city of Binghamton.

Flying in and out of this smaller airport is usually a pleasant experience as the airport’s goal is to give passengers a hassle-free travel experience. The terminal has real-time flight arrival and departure information, and friendly employees are available if you have questions or need assistance.

The airport mostly handles domestic flights. So the terminal is never too busy and easier to navigate.

The main airlines operating in the Greater Binghamton Airport include the following:

Delta Airlines
American Airlines
United Airlines

The airport has two asphalt runways and a dedicated app you can download for an enhanced passenger experience.

7. Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport

Ithaca Tompkins Airport is located in Lansing and is one of the state’s oldest airports.

It serves domestic and international airlines, with American Airlines and COPA Panama being the most popular carriers. This airport has an average of 78 thousand departing flights annually.

Ithaca Tompkins Airport has excellent facilities and structures, even though it has been around for a long time and completed a $34.8 million reconstruction in the past few years.

This reconstruction project improved security facilities, expanded the airport terminal, and added new structures like jet bridges, conference rooms, a new gate area, and an indoor playground.

Ithaca Tomkins Regional Airport has two runways and occupies 531 acres (2.15 square kilometers) at an elevation of 1,099 feet (335 meters).

8. Niagara Falls International Airport

Niagara Falls International Airport is in Niagara Falls and is a public and military airfield owned and run by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. The airport has three asphalt runways covering 1,067 acres (4.32 square kilometers).

Two major airlines operate in the airport: Allegiant Air and Quest Diagnostics. However, unlike Allegiant Air, Quest Diagnostics isn’t a passenger airline and transports only cargo.

Niagara Falls Airport gives passengers access to about 31 destinations and records an average of 100 departure flights daily. The major routes of Niagara Fall International Airport include:

Orlando/Sanford (Florida)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Punta Gorda, Florida
St Petersburg/Clearwater (Florida)
Rochester, New York (cargo only)

Niagara Falls Airport is a great option if you’re looking for cheaper flights and live in the Niagra Falls area.

9. Plattsburgh International Airport

Plattsburgh International Airport is located in Plattsburgh (Clinton County) and lies about 60 miles (96.5 km) away from Montreal, so it is mostly known and promoted as “Montreal’s U.S. Airport.” The airport occupies 1,912 acres (7.74 square kilometers) of land on the old air force base and operates on one asphalt runway.

Fort Lauderdale is the most frequent route from this airport, with over 122 flights weekly. Other popular destinations include Orlando, St Petersburg, and Florida.

Plattsburgh International Airport is the major hub for Alaska, Spirit Airlines, and PenAir, with an average of 140 thousand passengers annually.

10. Elmira/Corning Regional Airport

Elmira/Corning Regional Airport is located in Chemung Country and offers passenger flights to many major urban cities in the United States and onward flights to some international destinations. It’s owned and operated by Chemung County.

The airport is relatively big, with 1,000 acres (4.05 square kilometers) of land and three runways.

Elmira/Corning Regional Airport is a hub for several popular airlines, including:

American Airlines
Delta Airlines
United Airlines
Virgin Atlantic

Passengers can fly to San Diego, Tampa, and Raleigh. However, the most popular route is Elmira to Philadelphia, with more than 1300 flights weekly.

11. Ogdensburg International Airport

Ogdensburg International Airport is one of the state’s smallest airports and offers commercial flights to and from the following destinations:

Northern New York
Massachusetts
Southeastern Ontario

The airport has served passengers for over 40 years and offers a relaxing passenger experience with friendly employees.

This is one of the easiest airports to use if you fly from Canada because you won’t have to clear U.S. customs again. Major airlines like Allegiant, United, and SkyWest serve the airport and connect passengers directly to Orlando, Tampa, and other major cities in the U.S.

12. Long Island MacArthur Airport (LIMA)

Long Island MacArthur Airport is located in Ronkonkoma and is also called Islip Airport. Although it’s not as large as JFK or Buffalo, it’s still big for a minor airport and is popular for its excellent and easy-to-navigate facilities.

Long Island MacArthur Airport is to the suburban Nassau and Suffolk counties what JFK and LaGuardia’s airports are to the New York City Borough. It occupies 1,311 acres (5.31 square kilometers) of land and has four runways and two helipads.

The airlines serving the airport include the following:

American Eagle Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Southwest Airlines

The airport attracts an average of 2 million commercial passengers annually and allows flights to local and international destinations. The major destinations from Long Island MacArthur Airport include:

Orlando, Florida
Baltimore, Maryland
West Palm Beach, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee

13. Albany International Airport

Located in Colonie, Albany International Airport became the first municipal airport in the United States in 1928. It’s a public airport that occupies 1,000 acres (4.05 square kilometers) of land.

This airport might be your best gateway if you want to explore northern New York or Vermont’s beautiful scenery.

Albany International Airport is less international than it reads; the farthest place from Albany without making contact is Denver. However, you can fly to numerous cities from the airport.

Many of the country’s major national carriers serve the airport, and flying in and out of it is a breeze. The terminals are spacious, airy, and well-signed.

14. Whiteplains Westchester Airport

White Plains Westchester Airport is located in White Plains and is the departure point for over 1 million passengers annually. Passengers can fly to several domestic destinations, including:

Tampa, Florida
Norfolk, Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
Miami, Florida

The airport is connected to the Metro-North rail, making it easier and faster for passengers to get to the airport.

JetBlue and Delta Airlines, two well-known airlines, serve the Whiteplains Westchester Airport. Delta Airlines primarily fly passengers to Atlanta. However, other notable airlines using this small but efficient airport include:

Breeze Airways
United Airlines
Tradewind Aviation
JetSuiteX
Cape Air

15. Stewart International Airport

New York Stewart International Airport is situated in New Windsor and is a great airport to use if you’re looking for low-cost fares, especially for Norwegian Airlines.

The airport serves over 1 million passengers annually. It was formerly named Stewart Airport until 2018 when the Port Authority added New York to the name due to its proximity to the city.

Some passengers find getting to the airport stressful because it has no light-rail connections, and they need to use a private car or taxi.

Despite this challenge, the New York Stewart International Airport airport is still a popular small airport in the state.

Aside from Norwegian airports, other major airlines serve the airport:

Allegiant Air
American Eagle
Delta Connection
JetBlue

16. Brookhaven Airport

Brookhaven Airport is owned and operated by the Town of Brookhaven’s Division of General Aviation and is not for commercial passengers. However, it might be a good option if you want to arrive at your destination in style because it mainly offers chartered and private flight services, including helicopter tours of Long Island.

East End Helicopter Services are operated by East End Helicopter, while the other aircraft in the airport are used for chartered services. The airport owns over 200 aircraft.

17. East Hampton Airport

East Hampton Airport is owned and operated by the town of East Hampton. Like Brookhaven, East Hampton is a private airport for passengers wanting to get to the Hamptons by helicopter or private jet.

The airport offers only domestic flights within New York and New Jersey.

18. Republic Airport

Republic Airport is a small Long Island Executive Airport that primarily serves passengers in Nassau and Suffolk counties. It offers charter flight services through charter providers like Talon Air, Ventura Air Services, and Sundance Aviation.

Although the airport only handles chartered small aircraft, it doesn’t restrict larger aircraft like Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 from arriving and departing, and you can still use the airport if you fly in a large group.

The airport also flies passengers to Atlantic City in New Jersey through some casino and helicopter charter services. If you want to spend the weekend in Atlantic City, consider Republic Airport.

19. Watertown International Airport

Located in Jefferson County, Watertown International Airport is a public airport primarily serving Fort Drum and Watertown. It partners with the Essential Air Service program to subsidize scheduled passenger services, but this service is only for domestic flights.

Watertown International Airport only allows international arrivals from private aircraft, with at least a 2-hour advance notice.

Watertown airport is known for offering a top-notch flying experience for a relatively lower fee. Some popular destinations from the airport include:

Jacksonville, Florida
Los Angeles, California
Norfolk, Virginia
Tampa, Florida

American Airlines is the only airline serving the airport.

Honorable Mention: Newark Liberty International Airport

Although Newark Liberty International Airport is located in New Jersey (15 miles (24km) southwest of Midtown and Manhattan and 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Philadelphia), it has served New York City so long and so well that it is placed alongside the JFK and LaGuardia Airports as the three major airports in New York City.

This airport boasts three standalone passenger terminals and three concourses for each terminal. It records an incredible number of passenger traffic and flight operations, making it one of the busiest and largest in the world.

The major airlines operating out of Newark’s terminals include:

Allegiant air
British Airways
Delta Airlines
American Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Air Canada
Jet Blue
United Airlines.

The airport flies through local and international routes to major cities and countries like:

London
Tel Aviv
Paris
Orlando
San Francisco
Los Angeles

In addition to accepting multiple domestic and international airlines, Newark Airport has plenty of facilities (restaurants, medical offices, and charging stations) to keep you busy and comfortable before your flight.

Newark Liberty International Airport is connected to major transportation options like Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains via the airport’s AirTrain service, so getting to and from Manhattan is simple and convenient.