USA. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has reported a record-breaking 2013 for passenger traffic at its commercial airports with an estimated total of 111.6 million – surpassing the agency’s previous passenger total set in 2007 by over 1.5 million.
The figures include estimates based on projected final totals for John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia Airport and Stewart International airports. Starting this year, the Port Authority will release figures for Atlantic City Airport, which it has been managing since the middle of last year.
John F. Kennedy International Airport set new annual records with 50 million total passengers and around 26 million international passengers. LaGuardia Airport set a record for international passengers with an estimated 1.6 million.
Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye said: “While the effects of the recession linger for far too many people, we are pleased at the continued growth in passengers at our airports, which means great news on a host of related fronts, but especially for direct and indirect job creation, and our regional economy.”
Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Deborah Gramiccioni added that the numbers reflect investments it has made to improve the airports. These include rebuilt runways and high-speed taxiways to ease congestion and delays, as well as terminal upgrades.
To date, the combination of aviation operations, capital spending and tourism generated by the Port Authority’s airports has resulted in approximately 450,000 jobs being created and US$63 billion in economic activity, according to the agency.
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JFK International was one of the Port Authority’s record-breaking airports in 2013 |
