New York City–area airports are handling more passengers, yet they continue to rank among the worst in the United States for punctuality, according to a study by Global Gateway Alliance, an organization that advocates for increased investment in the region’s airports.
Only 70.58 percent of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) arrive or depart on time, placing it at the bottom nationally. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) follows with a 72.21 percent on-time rate, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) posts 73.93 percent, and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) records 74.22 percent. By contrast, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) leads the nation with an on-time performance of 86.08 percent.
“What’s frustrating is that we know some of the strategies and technologies necessary to begin to fix this problem,” said Joe Sitt, a real estate developer and founder of Global Gateway Alliance. He noted that improved communication between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and terminal operators could make a meaningful difference, along with the rollout of FAA-tested technologies designed to reduce delays.
To address these and other needs, the Port Authority plans to invest roughly $11 billion over the next decade in upgrades and improvements across the region’s airports.