A record-setting 10.8 million passengers flew into and out of New York-area airports in August, stats show.
Improvements to infrastructure, increased service to international destinations and the rebounding economy are responsible for the surge, said officials from the Port Authority, which operate the airports.
The huge number of fliers in August – the last month in which records are available – is a 10.2 increase over the same time in 2011, officials said.
The previous record was set in August 2007, when 10.7 million passengers flew into and out of JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Stewart airports combined.
What made the numbers break records this year was a dramatic increases in the amount of international visitors, along with an overall increase in at JFK and LaGuardia.
August – a traditionally busy time for airports – broke the record for most amount of international travelers ever, reaching more than four million people.
That figure is 11.1 percent higher than the same time in 2011.
JFK had its most passengers ever with nearly five million travelers.
And LaGuardia passenger traffic was also at an all time high, exceeding the 2.5 million monthly mark for the first time.
“These record numbers illustrate the strength of our airport system and reaffirm the value of the investments we have made to enhance air travel at our airports,” said Port Authority Chairman David Samson.
Those investments include a $100 million Delta expansion – which added 100 flights from LaGuardia – additional customer service representatives, and increased international flights to and from LaGuardia.
In addition, the Port Authority added high-speed taxi ways to the Bay Runway at Kennedy, which allows planes to travel to and from gates faster than before.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
