NY/NJ Airports Saw Record Traffic in 2014

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For the second consecutive year the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has snapped its previous airport passenger record.

According to the Associated Press, the agency announced this week that an estimated 117.1 million passengers utilized the five local airports during 2014 based on preliminary data.

In addition to John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia, the data takes into account passenger figures from Stewart International and Atlantic City International airports.

JFK led the way with a record 53.2 million fliers, LaGuardia set an airport record with 26.9 million passengers and Newark Liberty set an airport high with 11.7 million estimated international passengers in 2014.

"These robust, record airline passenger travel numbers support the Port Authority's plans to invest over $8 billion dollars to modernize its airports over the coming decade," said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. "Our gateway airports are major economic engines for the region, and an important source of job creation."

It's estimated that every additional one million passengers provides "4,000 jobs and $700 million in economic benefits." That's significant considering that 2014's record figure tops the previous year by three million passengers, signalling a three percent increase from 2013.

The biggest reason for the spike in overall passenger growth is the six percent increase in international passengers the region saw this past year.

Meanwhile, domestic growth increased just 1.5 percent by comparison.

That breaks down to 75.2 million domestic fliers and 41.9 million international passengers in 2014, both of which are record marks.

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