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August sets record for international air travel at NYC area airports, Port Authority says
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 2, 2025
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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 2, 2025
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Airports in the New York metropolitan area recorded a record-breaking number of passengers this August, marking the “busiest month ever” for the region’s transit hubs, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
A combined 13.8 million people passed through JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports, the Port Authority said Wednesday. The agency also reported an all-time high in international passengers for the month.
The record-setting numbers are partly being attributed to Labor Day weekend travel, which ran from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2. Roughly 2.5 million passengers flew through the agency’s airports during that period — a 2% jump from the previous holiday travel record set last year.
But the busy season isn't over yet. With the winter holidays still ahead, more crowded terminals are likely, capping off a year already marred by air traffic control staffing and equipment problems.
The situation at Newark Liberty International Airport became so dire that some air traffic controllers went on trauma leave, as previously reported by Gothamist.
The Port Authority also said 5 million people rode the PATH commuter rail in August, a 7% increase from the same month last year.
Usage of tunnels, bridges and bus terminals run by the agency also increased.
Tagged
new york city
transportation
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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