The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Jan. 23 that its commercial airports served 5.8 million passengers over the year-end holiday travel period from Dec. 22, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, a 1.2% increase from the prior year, and the highest total ever for the year-end holiday travel period.
Holiday travel records were also set in 2025 during the Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Presidents Day travel periods, topping records set in the previous year.
The growth comes as the Port Authority continues unprecedented investment in its airports to deliver a world-class customer experience and match the region’s demand and expectations for air travel. Renovation of the three airports is part of the agency’s recently approved $45 billion infrastructure improvement plan over the next 10 years.
“These record-breaking holiday travel numbers are a powerful vote of confidence in the transformation of our region’s airports,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Millions of travelers chose our airports during the busiest travel periods of the year, and they were served by facilities that reflect the scale, ambition, and importance of the New York-New Jersey region. What were once symbols of frustration have been rebuilt into gateways we can all be proud of: modern, welcoming and worthy of this great region.”
The 5.8 million airport passengers served during the year-end holiday travel period was an increase of about 69,000 passengers from the previous high set the prior year. LaGuardia Airport’s 1.2 million passengers during the travel period was a 4% increase from the prior year.
Newark Liberty International Airport served 2.06 million passengers, jumping 3% from the prior year. The surge was largely driven by domestic travel demand, which grew 5% over the prior year.
At John F. Kennedy International Airport, its 2.48 million passenger total was level with the previous year.
Several passenger records were set across holiday travel periods throughout 2025, despite the backdrop of uncertainty and air travel disruptions that resulted from Federal Aviation Administration staffing issues in 2025 and the federal government shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025.
Thanksgiving Day travel rose 1.2% to 3.3 million. Memorial Day travel increased 0.5% to 2.2 million passengers. Labor Day travel climbed 2.1% to 2.5 million. Presidents Day travel surged 2% to 2.1 million travelers.
