MacArthur Airport is again a winner in the USAToday 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in the Best Small Airport Category.
In September, an independent panel of travel experts nominated MacArthur Airport (ISP), and nineteen other airports with fewer than 10 million passengers each year for the Award. Voting took place for twenty-eight days, as airports competed for this nationwide honor. USAToday 10Best revealed the winners this week. This is the third consecutive year Long Island MacArthur Airport has been nominated and included in the 10Best list. There was no contest held in 2022.
“We are giving everyone in this community a giant high five today celebrating being voted the number-five Top Small Airport in America,”said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip). “This is a great vote of confidence for our airport and community. “We work hard each and every day to provide an excellent experience for our airport customers. This Award shines a light on Long Island across the country, and airlines and passengers take notice.”
USAToday 10Best describes the twenty nominated airports as friendlier and easier to use. According to the 10Best Website, these airports “serve smaller numbers of passengers each year, yet excel with their commercial flight offerings, easy access, and amenities.”
MacArthur Airport is an economic engine for Long Island, employing 6,000 people directly and indirectly, and an economic impact of $600M to the region and local economy.
“We continue to innovate, build, improve, and bring jobs and great flights to this community,” said Long Island MacArthur Airport Aviation Commissioner, Shelley LaRose-Arken. “We’ve made excellent progress as we welcomed our newest airline, Breeze Airways to New York initially in February 2022. Breeze now serves eight destinations including the most recent announcement of non-stop flights to Vero Beach beginning in December. We look forward to continued growth with all three of our air carriers – Breeze, Frontier, and Southwest.”
“Our Long Island community really came together to support their hometown airport especially in the final stretch. We are grateful to everyone who helped us get the word out and voted,” said Supervisor Carpenter. “Today, we’re celebrating a win for Long Island and our loyal MacArthur Airport customers.”
The Top Ten winners in the Best Small Airport category are as follows:
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) – Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Huntsville International Airport (HSV) – Huntsville, Alabama
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) – Wichita, Kansas
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) – Islip, New York
- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) – Manchester, New Hampshire
- Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) – Warwick, Rhode Island
- Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) – Burlington, Vermont
- Pensacola International Airport (PNS) – Pensacola, Florida
- Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) – Rochester, New York
About Long Island MacArthur Airport
MacArthur Airport is on Long Island, approximately fifty miles from New York City. It is the closest airport to nearly three million Long Island residents, and to world-renowned attractions including the famous Hamptons, Wine Country, Cradle of Aviation Museum, lighthouses, Fire Island, excellent theatre, award-winning restaurants, and Gatsby-era mansions including Westbury Gardens.
The Town of Islip owns and operates the airport, served by Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Access to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) makes getting around Nassau and Suffolk counties convenient. Train service from the Ronkonkoma / MacArthur Airport LIRR to New York City provides frequent transport. Long Island MacArthur Airport employs 6,000 people directly and indirectly, with a $16M annual operating budget and an economic impact of $600M to the region and local economy.
