14.8 million travelers expected to use NYC airports and crossings during holidays
An upgraded Terminal B at LGA. Credit: PANYNJ
A record number of travelers will use New York City airports and vehicle crossings during the holidays, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced. Between Monday, December 22, and Sunday, January 4, 2026, 14.8 million people are expected at Port Authority airports and vehicle crossings, up 1 percent compared to last year.
During this two-week period, the Port Authority predicts about 5.7 million passengers will travel through JFK, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, and New York Stewart International airports, and about 9.1 million vehicles will use the agency’s bridges and tunnels.
The busiest days for travel at airports will be December 22, 23, 28, and 29.
The increase in expected holiday travelers comes after a record year for the Port Authority airports in 2024. As 6sqft previously reported, the NYC area airports had their busiest year ever last year. During the holiday travel period from December 21, 2024, to January 2, 2025, 5.5 million passengers passed through the airports, a seven percent increase from the record set in 2023.
The Port Authority recommends arriving two hours ahead of departure for domestic flights and at least three hours for international flights.
Ongoing repairs and construction projects on the Outerbridge Crossing and the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels will be suspended starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday, December 23, through 5 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2026.
For travel via subway and commuter rail, most MTA agencies will operate on a weekend or holiday schedule for Christmas and New Year’s. On Christmas Eve, the NYC subway will operate on a regular schedule, but on a Sunday schedule for Christmas Day.
On New Year’s Eve, New York City subways will operate on a regular weekday schedule, with increased service on the 1, 2,3,4,5,7, C, D, G, N, Q, R, and shuttle trains, to accommodate NYE revelers. On New Year’s Day, the subway operates on a Sunday schedule.
See the full schedules for buses, Metro-North, and Long Island Rail Road here.
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