Explore New Jersey's Airports And Their Unique Features

which airport is in new jersey

New Jersey has several airports catering to travellers, including major international airports and smaller local airports. Only three airports in New Jersey are FAA-classified as offering commercial flights, with Newark and Atlantic City Airports being the most popular.

Characteristics Values
Number of FAA-classified airports offering commercial flights 3
Names of the airports Newark, Atlantic City Airport
Largest airport in New Jersey Newark Metropolitan Airport
Location of Newark Metropolitan Airport Between Newark city and Elizabeth city
Distance from Newark Metropolitan Airport to Newark city 5 km
Distance from Newark Metropolitan Airport to Elizabeth city 4 km
Distance from Newark Metropolitan Airport to NYC's Manhattan Borough 15 km
Number of carriers at Newark Metropolitan Airport (EWR) 50
Number of carriers at Atlantic City Airport (ACY) 1 (Spirit Airlines)
Passenger numbers at Atlantic City Airport More than a million per year

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Major international airports in New Jersey

New Jersey has three FAA-classified airports that offer commercial flights. These include the Newark Metropolitan Airport, which is the largest and busiest airport in New Jersey, and one of the busiest US airports on the East Coast. Located between Newark City and Elizabeth City, the airport is approximately 5 km from Newark and 4 km from Elizabeth. Moreover, the nearby NYC's Manhattan Borough is about 15 km away. Newark Airport serves as a possible alternative to NYC airports. There are around 50 carriers at the airport, and United Airlines has its third-largest hub there.

The second busiest airport in New Jersey is the Atlantic City Airport, which is around 16 km from Atlantic City. Spirit Airlines is currently the only carrier operating at the airport, yet it handles more than a million passengers annually. The airport is a common choice for those travelling to other cities on New Jersey's Atlantic coast.

Although not much information is available on the third FAA-classified airport in New Jersey, it is known that there are other smaller local airports in the state as well.

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Smaller local airports in New Jersey

New Jersey is home to 16 airports, including major international airports and smaller local airports. Smaller airports in New Jersey are often publicly owned and may be designated as "reliever airports" by the FAA to reduce congestion at larger airports.

General aviation airports make up the largest single group of airports in the US airport system. These smaller airports typically handle a lower volume of commercial passenger boardings, or "enplanements," compared to larger commercial service airports.

While I cannot provide a comprehensive list of smaller local airports in New Jersey, here are some examples of what a smaller airport in New Jersey might look like:

Robert J. Miller Air Park in Toms River, New Jersey, is a public-use airport that primarily serves general aviation. It is located outside of the city it serves, providing easy access to the Jersey Shore and the Atlantic City area.

Another example is Trenton-Mercer Airport, a county-owned airport in Trenton, New Jersey. With less than 10,000 annual enplanements, it falls under the category of a "non-primary commercial service" airport. Trenton-Mercer provides convenient access to nearby cities like Princeton and Philadelphia.

These smaller airports play a vital role in providing aviation access to local communities, offering charter flights, private pilot services, and aviation education opportunities. They contribute to the diverse landscape of aviation in New Jersey, catering to both general aviation enthusiasts and commercial passengers alike.

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Newark Metropolitan Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport, originally known as Newark Metropolitan Airport and later as Newark International Airport, is located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is approximately 4.5 miles south of downtown Newark and 9 miles west-southwest of Manhattan. The airport is jointly owned by the cities of Newark and Elizabeth and is leased to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Newark Airport first opened on October 1, 1928, as the first commercial airport in the United States, complete with a paved airstrip. The airport was constructed on 68 acres of marshland by the City of Newark, and during World War II, it was operated by the Army Air Corps. The nation's first airport control tower and weather station were established at Newark in 1930, and the airport's iconic Art Deco-style administration building, featuring murals by Arshile Gorky, was completed in 1934 and dedicated by Amelia Earhart in 1935.

The airport has witnessed several notable incidents, including the crash of FedEx Flight 14 in 1997, which resulted in the aircraft being destroyed by fire, although fortunately, all crew and passengers escaped uninjured. Another incident occurred in 2013 when Scandinavian Airlines Flight 908 collided with an ExpressJet Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft on the taxiway. Additionally, in April 2025, air traffic controllers experienced a brief loss of contact with all aircraft in the area for approximately 90 seconds.

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Atlantic City Airport

Atlantic City International Airport (IATA: ACY, ICAO: KACY, FAA LID: ACY) is located in Egg Harbor Township, 9 miles (14 km) northwest of central Atlantic City, New Jersey. The airport is accessible via Exit 9 on the Atlantic City Expressway. It is operated by the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) and serves residents of central and southern New Jersey, as well as Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The airport offers worldwide connectivity and is served by Spirit and American Airlines. It provides convenient access to Atlantic City, with a travel time of just twelve minutes from downtown. The airport terminal is easy to navigate, and passengers can quickly get to their destination upon arrival using taxi, Uber, or Lyft services available at the baggage claim area or outside the terminal.

Atlantic City International Airport has a rich history, initially established as Naval Air Station Atlantic City in 1942. It served as a training base for various carrier air groups, including fighter, bomber, and torpedo squadrons. In 1958, the Navy departed, and the airport was transferred to the Airways Modernization Board (AMB) and later taken over by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The SJTA leased portions of the airport from the FAA and now serves as the owner and operator of the facility.

The airport property includes the William J. Hughes Technical Center, a major research and testing hub for the FAA, as well as a training center for the Federal Air Marshal Service. The airport also houses a base for the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing and the United States Coast Guard's Air Station Atlantic City.

Passenger traffic at the airport has been significant, with 1,404,119 passengers in 2011, making it the 102nd busiest airport in the country. The SJTA has outlined plans for terminal expansions to accommodate future growth and the potential for more airlines to serve the airport.

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Commercial service airports

New Jersey has three FAA-classified airports offering commercial flights. Newark and Atlantic City Airport are the two most popular, with significant passenger numbers. Newark Liberty International Airport is the largest airport in New Jersey and one of the busiest airports on the US East Coast. Located between Newark City and Elizabeth City, it is about 5 km from Newark and 4 km from Elizabeth. The nearby NYC Manhattan Borough is approximately 15 km away. There are around 50 carriers at Newark Airport, and United Airlines has a hub there. Newark Airport is a popular alternative for travellers who would otherwise fly into New York City.

Atlantic City Airport is the second busiest airport in New Jersey. It is approximately 16 km from Atlantic City and is a primary choice for anyone travelling to the city or to other cities along New Jersey's Atlantic coast. Spirit Airlines is currently the only carrier operating at the airport, but it still handles over a million passengers each year.

The remaining commercial airports in New Jersey are classified as "non-primary", meaning they are publicly owned airports with scheduled passenger services that handle between 2,500 and 10,000 passengers per year.

Frequently asked questions

Newark Metropolitan Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Jersey. It is located between Newark City and Elizabeth City and is approximately 15 kilometres away from NYC's Manhattan Borough. The airport is served by about 50 carriers, with United Airlines having it as its third-largest hub. Atlantic City Airport is the second busiest airport in New Jersey and is located about 16 kilometres away from the city.

Newark Metropolitan Airport handles more than a million passengers each year and is one of the busiest US airports on the East Coast.

To get to the Atlantic City Airport, passengers can choose from NJ Public Transit, airport shuttles, or taxis.

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