New York Airports

New York airports are your first point of contact with the city. There are four airports in New York: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and New York Stewart International Airport (SWF). Even though all four are located around Manhattan, each airport has pros and cons. Below, I will tell you everything you need to know about the New York airports to help you compare them.

Compare New York Airports

There are some differences between the four airports in New York, such as the transfer options to the city, facilities and flights. When flying to New York from Canada, you can land at JFK Airport, Newark Airport or LaGuardia. New York Stewart International Airport is the fourth airport in New York. Although it is an international airport, the airlines that fly here vary.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

JFK Airport is a well-known airport which receives mostly international flights. The airport is in the borough of Queens, approximately 16 miles (26 km) from Manhattan. It can get very busy at John F Kennedy International Airport; it’s not known as one of the busiest airports in the United States for no reason! The crowds depend on the number of flights arriving and departing at the same time. If you’re lucky, you’ll be outside within an hour of arriving, but it could also take two hours or more.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is helpful, honest, and always up to date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyorkcity.ca. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Read more about NewYorkCity.ca and Eric

Eric’s Tip: “If given the choice, I would always go for JFK Airport. You can easily get to the city with the JFK AirTrain and the subway. However, if you depart or arrive at JFK Airport, you are unlikely to see Manhattan from the plane.”

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Newark Airport is located in New Jersey, a separate state from New York. The airport is about 17 miles (28 km) from Manhattan. Although Newark Liberty International Airport is much smaller than JFK Airport, it’s important to note that clearing customs and collecting your luggage could take at least one to two hours. Because of its location in a different state, transfer options from Newark Airport tend to be more expensive than those from JFK Airport.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is helpful, honest, and always up to date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyorkcity.ca. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Read more about NewYorkCity.ca and Eric

Eric’s Tip: “If you are flying into Newark or LaGuardia Airport and can sit by the left window, definitely do so! You will then have a good chance of getting a view of Manhattan.”

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia Airport is located in Queens, about 8 miles (13 km) from Manhattan. This airport is primarily used for flights within the United States. You could arrive at LaGuardia Airport when you fly to New York directly from Canada, from another part of America or when you fly on to another destination in the United States after your trip.

New York Stewart International Airport (SWF)

Another airport in New York State is New York Stewart International Airport. You will not fly here from Canada. Stewart Airport serves both domestic and international flights. However, the airlines that make use of this airport vary. At a distance of more than 60 miles (100 km) from Manhattan, this airport is the furthest away, making a transfer from the airport to New York difficult and/or expensive.