Six-Airport Cities: Global Travel Hubs With Unmatched Accessibility

New York City and London are the only two cities in the world with six commercial airports. New York's six airports include John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). London, on the other hand, is home to Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Stansted, Luton, and Southend airports.

New York City's six airports

New York City is one of the few cities in the world that can boast six commercial airports within its boundaries or in close proximity. These airports have played a significant role in the development of the city and its status as a global hub for business, finance, and tourism. Each of these airports has its own unique history and contributes to the vibrant aviation landscape of the New York metropolitan area.

The first airport on our list is John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), located in the southeastern portion of Queens County, about 12 miles from midtown Manhattan. JFK is the largest and busiest of New York City's airports, serving as a major international gateway to the United States. The airport is named after John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, and has a rich history dating back to its opening in 1948 as Idlewild Airport. Today, JFK is a major hub for international airlines and is known for its iconic Terminal 4, which has won numerous awards for its architecture and design.

Moving on to the next airport, we have LaGuardia Airport (LGA), situated in the northern part of Queens, just 8 miles from midtown Manhattan. LaGuardia plays a crucial role in domestic travel, offering flights within the United States and to Canada. The airport opened in 1939 and has undergone significant renovations and expansions over the years. LaGuardia is known for its convenient location and easy access to Manhattan, making it a popular choice for business travelers and tourists alike.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is the next airport, and while it is technically located in Newark, New Jersey, it is just 16 miles from midtown Manhattan and serves as a significant gateway to New York City. Newark Airport has a long history, dating back to 1928, and is one of the oldest major commercial airports in the United States. Today, it is a major hub for several airlines and is known for its efficient operations and convenient access to both New York City and northern New Jersey.

The fourth airport serving New York City is Stewart International Airport (SWF), located about 60 miles north of the city in Newburgh, New York. While SWF is a smaller airport compared to the previous three, it still plays an important role in the region's aviation network. The airport has a long history, initially serving as a military base before transitioning to commercial aviation in the 1950s. Today, it offers a convenient alternative for travelers heading to the Hudson Valley region or looking for a quieter alternative to the busier airports in the city.

Completing the list of New York City's six airports are two smaller airports that primarily serve general aviation and private flights. Teterboro Airport (TEB) is located just 12 miles from midtown Manhattan in the borough of Bergen, New Jersey. It is a popular airport for private jets and corporate flights, offering convenient access to the city for business travelers. Finally, there is the Republic Airport (FRG) in East Farmingdale, New York, which is also primarily used for general aviation and serves as a reliever airport for the larger commercial airports in the region.

In conclusion, New York City's six airports showcase the city's importance as a global aviation hub. Each airport contributes to the city's vibrant transportation network, connecting New York to the rest of the world and facilitating the movement of millions of travelers each year. Whether it's the international gateway of JFK, the domestic convenience of LaGuardia, the historical significance of Newark, or the specialized services of SWF, TEB, and FRG, these airports collectively contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of New York City and the surrounding region.

London's six airports

London, England, is served by six international airports and several smaller airports, making it the city with the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers. In 2018, the six airports handled a total of 177,054,819 passengers, handling over 60% of all the UK's air traffic. These airports serve a total of 14 domestic destinations and 396 international destinations.

The six airports are:

• Heathrow Airport: Heathrow is London's long-distance hub and is the most popular arrival point for flights from the United States. It is the third busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger numbers and is the busiest airport in Europe. Heathrow serves six continents and is the base for British Airways in Terminal 5. It is connected to Central London destinations by London Underground trains on the Piccadilly line.
• London City Airport: This airport is the closest to central London, which limits its size. It has a single, very short runway and a steep approach, meaning only the smallest aircraft are permitted to use it. It is used by business travellers and has many flights serving destinations across the UK and Northern Europe. It is connected to the financial district of the City of London by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
• Gatwick Airport: Gatwick is London's second-closest airport to central London and is served by Gatwick Express, Southern, and Thameslink trains.
• Luton Airport: Luton is London's fourth-largest and fourth-closest airport to central London. It is served by low-cost carriers easyJet and Wizz Air. Luton Airport Parkway railway station can be reached in as little as 22 minutes via East Midlands Railway.
• Stansted Airport: Stansted was the third-busiest airport in London from the 1960s until the end of the 1970s. It is connected to Central London by the Stansted Express train to and from Liverpool Street.
• Southend Airport: Southend claims it only takes 15 minutes to get through arrivals and to the train with hand luggage. It is served by Abellio Greater Anglia trains, which connect the airport to London Liverpool Street station.

Los Angeles's five airports

Los Angeles is served by five airports with commercial air service, which together served a total of 114 million passengers in 2019. The primary international airport serving the Greater Los Angeles area is Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to as LAX. LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles (29-30 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It is also a major hub for seven airlines, serving as the world's busiest origin and destination airport. In 2019, LAX handled over 88 million passengers and 2 million tons of cargo.

The second-busiest airport in the region is Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), which is located in Burbank and serves northern Los Angeles County. It is the smallest of the primary airports in the area and only handles domestic air service. As the closest airport to central and northeastern Los Angeles, it serves as a convenient option for many travellers.

The other three airports in the region with commercial air service are not specifically named, but the Greater Los Angeles area also hosts a major cargo airport, four military airfields, and two dozen general aviation airports. The FlyAway express bus system connects LAX with Los Angeles Union Station, providing easy access to the region's primary rail transportation hub.

While Los Angeles and its surrounding area are served by five airports with commercial air service, New York City claims six commercial airports. The three main airports serving New York City are Newark-Liberty (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA), and John F. Kennedy International (JFK). In addition, there are three smaller airports within a reasonable distance of the city that offer scheduled flights: Long Island MacArthur Airport, New York Stewart International Airport, and Westchester County Airport.

Moscow's four airports

Moscow is one of the few cities outside the US with four international airports, all within 40 kilometres of the city. The four airports are Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), Domodedovo International Airport (DME), Zhukovsky International Airport (ZIA), and Vnukovo International Airport (VKO).

Sheremetyevo International Airport, the largest of the four, is located in Khimki, northwest of Moscow. The airport initially served as a military airfield, and in 1959, it was converted into a civilian airport. Sheremetyevo underwent rapid expansion in the late 2000s, with the opening of Terminal C and the renovation of its second runway to accommodate larger aircraft. The airport also constructed an Aeroexpress line to the Savyolovsky Railway Station, reducing travel time to central Moscow to just 30 minutes. Sheremetyevo is the country's largest airport and serves as a hub for international airlines such as Air Malta, British Airways, and Emirates.

Domodedovo International Airport, officially known as Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov International Airport, is the second-largest airport in Russia and is located southeast of Moscow. It served as a hub for flights to Siberia, the Russian Far East, and Central Asia. The airport experienced rapid expansion in the early 2000s, attracting several airlines that previously operated from Sheremetyevo. Domodedovo is home to Russia's second-largest airline, S7, and is a major hub for international carriers such as British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates.

Zhukovsky International Airport, the newest addition to Moscow's airports, opened in 2016. It was formerly a military airfield and aircraft testing site for the USSR. Zhukovsky's single runway is the longest in Europe, but its growth is limited due to overlapping airspace with Domodedovo. The airport primarily handles low-cost and charter operations to alleviate passenger traffic from the other three airports.

Vnukovo International Airport, located southwest of Moscow, is one of the older airports in the city. It has experienced competition from the newer airports, particularly Domodedovo, which caused some airlines to move their services away from Vnukovo. However, it still serves as an important hub for domestic and international travel.

Tokyo's four airports

New York City claims to have six commercial airports, with three main airports and three smaller, more distant ones. However, Tokyo also has four airports, two major international airports, and two smaller ones. The two major airports are Narita and Haneda, with Ibaraki and Chofu being the smaller airports.

Narita and Haneda are the two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. Haneda Airport, officially known as Tokyo International Airport, is the busier of the two. It is able to handle 90 million passengers per year following its expansion in 2018. In 2018, it handled 87,098,683 passengers, making it the fourth-busiest airport in the world. In 2023, it was ranked the second-busiest airport in Asia after Dubai International Airport. Haneda Airport has four runways, with the fourth runway, D Runway, completed in 2010 through land reclamation. The Tokyo Monorail, which opened in 1964, connects Haneda to central Tokyo. The Keikyū Airport Line and the Tokyo Monorail both added stops at the new terminal, and an international air cargo facility was also constructed nearby.

Narita International Airport, on the other hand, previously handled the majority of international flights to and from Tokyo. It is accessible via the Narita Express and other major suburban and commuter rail lines.

The two smaller airports, Ibaraki and Chofu, serve different purposes. Ibaraki Airport is further from the city centre and caters to low-cost, domestic, and regional flights. Chofu Airport, on the other hand, is a small, central airport with limited scheduled services to the Izu Islands.

Frequently asked questions