Lois Larson
Manhattan is served by three major airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Each airport has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on factors such as your final destination, mode of transportation, and budget. So, which airport is the best option for travellers heading to Manhattan?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Closest to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) |
| Easy to access from the west side of Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) |
| Easy commute to/from | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
| Most accessible from | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) |
| Queens | |
| Manhattan's Upper East Side | |
| The Bronx | |
| Northern Brooklyn | |
| Best for domestic travelers | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) |
| Most airlines | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
| Most passengers in 2023 | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
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What You'll Learn
- LaGuardia (LGA) is closest to Manhattan
- John F. Kennedy (JFK) is New York's busiest airport
- Newark Liberty International (EWR) is easy to access from New Jersey or west Manhattan
- Getting to Newark by subway is difficult
- The Blade Helicopter service can get you to Manhattan from all three airports in 5 minutes
LaGuardia (LGA) is closest to Manhattan
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the closest airport to Manhattan. It is located in Queens, about 10 miles north of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and is most easily accessible from Manhattan's Upper East Side, the Bronx, and northern Brooklyn.
If you're travelling to or from uptown Manhattan, you can take the M60-SBS bus, which stops at the 125th Street 4, 5, 6 subway station. The M60 bus operates from 5 am to 1 am and stops at airport terminals A, B, and C. From the final bus stop in northern Manhattan, you can connect to the 1, 2, 3, A, B, and C underground lines.
From Midtown Manhattan, you can take the subway or the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Queens, and then transfer to the free LaGuardia Link Q70 bus, which stops at terminals B and C. The Q70 bus service is free, and transfers from the subway to the bus are free for up to two hours. The LIRR fare varies depending on the time of day and whether you're travelling during peak hours, but it may be a faster option.
LaGuardia is a popular choice for domestic travellers, serving 30.6 million domestic passengers in 2023. Eight carriers, including United, American, Delta, and JetBlue, fly direct to cities across the US and Canada, as well as Aruba, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. The airport has undergone an $8 billion transformation, improving its facilities and making it one of the best airports in the US.
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John F. Kennedy (JFK) is New York's busiest airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is New York's busiest airport, serving more than 62 million passengers annually. It is located in Queens, about 10 miles from LaGuardia Airport (LGA). JFK is a major hub, serving destinations worldwide, including direct flights to Europe. It is larger than LGA and offers a wider range of airlines and flights, providing greater flexibility for travellers.
JFK is easily accessible from Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island via the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and the MTA subway system. The A and E subway trains connect JFK to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, but passengers must transfer to the AirTrain for the final leg of the journey. The AirTrain also connects to the LIRR at Jamaica Station. The cost of the subway and AirTrain combination is $7.75.
JFK is also accessible by bus, taxi, or ride-hailing services. While these options can be more expensive, they may be faster, especially during peak hours or when travelling with a group. For example, a taxi from JFK to any destination in Manhattan has a flat rate of $52, including the tunnel toll. In contrast, a taxi from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan starts at $50, excluding the hefty tunnel toll.
Travellers can also opt for a more luxurious and time-saving option by commuting to and from JFK via helicopter. Blade offers seamless helicopter transfers between JFK and Manhattan in under 5 minutes for $195 per seat.
When deciding which airport is best for Manhattan, factors such as flight availability, airline preference, connecting flights, and accommodation location should be considered. While LaGuardia is the closest airport to Manhattan, JFK offers better public transportation options and a wider range of flights, making it a convenient choice for travellers.
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Newark Liberty International (EWR) is easy to access from New Jersey or west Manhattan
If you're staying in New Jersey or on the west side of Manhattan, Newark Liberty International (EWR) is easy to access. It is one of the three major airports in the New York metro area, along with John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA).
Newark Liberty International is located in New Jersey, so if you're ending up in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, this airport is the best option. It is also closest to Midtown and Lower Manhattan via NJ Transit or by car. However, commuting to EWR from Brooklyn or Queens can be tedious and expensive by car. It is also notoriously difficult to get to using the subway and NJ Transit, and a taxi routinely costs $70-100.
There are several ways to get to Manhattan from EWR. The Newark Airport Express shuttle bus is the best way to get from Newark to Manhattan. This bus got one traveller from Penn Station (in Manhattan, a 10-minute walk from Times Square) to their terminal at Newark in 17 minutes. The CoachUSA bus from any terminal to Grand Central Station is also easy and cost-effective. The NJ Transit bus/Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) is another option. From the airport, take a bus to Newark Penn Station, then board the PATH to the World Trade Center. The PATH fare is $2.75 using a MetroCard. Combining the AirTrain and NJ Transit is possibly the fastest route, costing around $15. Travel via the AirTrain within Newark Liberty Airport Station, then switch to NJ Transit towards New York Penn Station. This journey typically takes under an hour. An express bus to Grand Central Terminal costs about $18.
Newark Liberty International served 49.1 million passengers in 2023. More than 30 airlines fly in and out of EWR, including more than a dozen international carriers. The airport is one of United's major hubs, along with American Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, British Airways, Emirates, Spirit, and TAP Air Portugal.
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Getting to Newark by subway is difficult
There are three airports that service New York City: John F. Kennedy International (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark Liberty International (EWR). While Newark is a good option if you're staying in New Jersey or on the west side of Manhattan, getting there by subway is difficult.
Firstly, there is no direct subway connection to Newark Airport. The closest subway station is at Newark Penn Station, which is 13-18 miles from Midtown Manhattan. From there, you need to take the AirTrain to the airport, which takes around 15 minutes. The AirTrain has become less frequent in recent years, so you may lose 10-15 minutes waiting for it to arrive.
Secondly, the cost of getting to Newark by subway and AirTrain is high. The AirTrain access fee is $8.50, and the NJ Transit train fare from Newark to New York City is $15.50. This is in addition to the cost of the subway to Newark Penn Station, which will vary depending on where you're travelling from.
Thirdly, travelling to Newark by subway can be time-consuming. Even if you take one of the six NJ Transit trains that stop at the airport every hour, the journey from Midtown Manhattan can easily take over an hour. This is especially true during peak hours, which are weekdays between 7-9 am and 4-7 pm.
Finally, if your flight arrives after the Newark Liberty International Airport Station has closed for the evening, you will need to take alternate ground transportation, such as a taxi or ridesharing service, to your final destination.
In conclusion, while it is possible to get to Newark Airport by subway, the combination of distance, cost, and time makes it a less convenient option than travelling to JFK or LaGuardia airports by public transportation.
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The Blade Helicopter service can get you to Manhattan from all three airports in 5 minutes
There are three major airports serving New York City: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). JFK is the largest and busiest of the three, serving more than 62 million passengers per year. It is also the easiest to get to and from by subway and has a wide range of flight departure times and destinations. However, it is not the most convenient option for everyone. For example, if you're staying in New Jersey or on the west side of Manhattan, EWR might be a better choice. On the other hand, LGA is the smallest of the three airports and is most accessible from Queens, Manhattan's Upper East Side, the Bronx, and northern Brooklyn. It is also a popular choice for domestic travellers.
Now, if you want to get to Manhattan from any of these three airports in just 5 minutes, The Blade Helicopter service is your best bet. Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (stylized as BLADE) is an aviation company headquartered in New York City. They offer helicopter transfers between Manhattan and JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. The service costs $145 and takes around 7 minutes, which is a significant time saver compared to travelling by car or public transportation, especially during peak traffic. Blade also offers a dedicated car service that will bring you to and from their lounges, and you can book your flight through their app.
The Blade Helicopter service has outposts in Midtown West and Midtown East, at the 30th Street West Side heliport and the 34th Street East Side heliport, respectively. The price is the same for both locations. You can also enjoy a meal at Mercado Little Spain or an area around Hudson Yards and then walk to the heliport on West 30th. The Blade Lounges offer a premium experience, with complimentary drinks and world-class service from the receptionists. Your carry-on luggage will be loaded onto the helicopter in advance, and you will be given a colour-coded wristband that serves as your boarding pass.
In addition to their airport transfer services, Blade also offers helicopter transfers between Manhattan and various destinations on Long Island, including the Hamptons, as well as jet services to other cities such as Miami and Aspen. They have also partnered with Uber to offer UberChopper, a service that allows Uber users to book a helicopter to The Hamptons through the Uber app. Blade's services provide a convenient, time-saving, and premium experience for travellers looking to get to and from Manhattan and its surrounding airports and destinations.
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Frequently asked questions
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is closest to Manhattan, followed by John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and then Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
You can get to Manhattan from LaGuardia by subway, bus, taxi, ride-hailing, or helicopter. The subway and bus cost $2.75 with a MetroCard, the taxi or ride-hailing will be around $40, and the helicopter costs $195 per seat.
You can get to Manhattan from JFK by subway, bus, taxi, ride-hailing, or helicopter. The subway and bus together cost $7.75, the taxi or ride-hailing will be around $52, and the helicopter costs $195 per seat.
You can get to Manhattan from Newark Airport by bus, train, taxi, ride-hailing, or helicopter. The bus costs $10, the train costs $2.75 with a MetroCard, a taxi or ride-hailing will be around $50, and the helicopter costs $195 per seat.
JFK is the largest and busiest airport in New York City, serving more than 62 million passengers per year.
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