Which airport to choose to arrive in New York?

New York’s 4 Airports

You have several options for flying into New York. Three major airports serve the city and rank among the busiest in the United States:

• New York-JFK, New York’s largest airport. Located in southern Queens, JFK is the 5th busiest airport in the United States, handling nearly 30 million passengers annually. The airport operates 6 terminals.
• Newark, located in New Jersey, just across New York Bay. Newark ranks 15th among US airports, with nearly 20 million passengers per year. The airport has 3 terminals.
• LaGuardia, in northern Queens. This airport ranks 20th in the United States, serving nearly 15 million passengers annually. It operates 4 terminals.
• A fourth option is Stewart Airport, about 1 hour’s drive from New York. Budget airlines use this airport to reduce their landing fees.

If you’re flying from Europe, you can skip LaGuardia—it mainly handles domestic flights and service to Canada. That leaves you choosing between JFK, Newark, and Stewart.

Choosing Between JFK, Newark, and Stewart

Most major airlines fly to both JFK and Newark, including Air France, KLM, French Bee, Lufthansa, Swiss, and British Airways. Here’s how to decide:

• Start by comparing prices. If a flight isn’t filling up on one route, you might find better fares—for example, Air France sometimes offers different prices to JFK versus Newark. Don’t expect huge savings, though.
• If prices are similar, choose the airport closest to your hotel. This saves time on arrival and departure for your airport transfers. If your hotel is in southern Manhattan or New Jersey, go with Newark. If you’re staying in Brooklyn or Queens, choose JFK. Staying near Times Square or northern Manhattan? Both work equally well, though Newark has a slight edge—it’s less congested than JFK and you’ll clear immigration faster.
• Here’s another reason to consider Newark: on the right approach, you get a beautiful view of Manhattan as you descend. When the wind cooperates, your plane glides slowly along the entire length of Manhattan—spectacular. It’s not guaranteed since it depends on wind direction, but it’s a nice bonus when it happens.
• Finally, if your main goal is the cheapest ticket possible, you’ll likely end up at Stewart. Be aware that savings on your airfare can disappear quickly—you’ll spend significant time and money on the transfer from Stewart Airport to New York.