New York-area airports missing out on federal funding

New York's three airports rank lowest in survey of annual federal construction grants

John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport

New York’s three major airports are missing out on funding from the government, according to survey from Global Gateway Alliance.

Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International all ranked near the bottom of a survey of annual construction grants allocated to 369 airports around the country.

Of the nearly $4 billion in Federal Aviation Administration grants for airport improvements, about 35 percent went to facilities that served fewer than 10,000 passengers.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

With $0.24 per passenger, Newark International Airport ranked fourth lowest in the survey among those airports who received the least funding per passenger. LaGuardia ranked eighth, with $0.29 per passenger. JFK came in on the 18th place, getting $0.56 per passenger.

LaGuardia — with 12 million departures in 2012 — received $3.8 million in federal Airport Improvement Program grants, which is the same amount allocated to the Show Low Regional Airport in Arizona, which had 3,850 departures that same year.

New York’s three airports are among 98 of the busiest 100 airports in the country that can charge $4.50 on passenger tickets to pay for capital projects. [Bloomberg] — Claire Moses