While there are three major international airports in the area around New York City, the vast majority of international travellers will enter the United States via one of them - John F. Kennedy International Airport. There is an increasing level of diversity with some smaller UK airports serving Newark Liberty International Airport, although LaGuardia Airport remains a domestic-flights-only airport. That is just as well, as LaGuardia is abysmal. Truth be told, all New York airports are dreadful, but they are a necessary evil if you want to visit New York. And trust us - you want to visit New York!
John F. Kennedy International Airport (airport code JFK) is the largest and busiest airport serving New York, and is the main entry point for international traffic for the whole of the United States. It will, therefore, be extremely busy at all times, and will require patience and a good sense of humour to navigate without losing one's mind entirely. Located 12 miles from Manhattan, the transport alone from the airport to the tourist centre of the city can be maddening. Again, trust us - this is all worth it.
JFK (as it is commonly called) is a hub for Delta Airlines and a secondary hub for American Airlines, and you can see a list of all the airlines which serve this massive airport here. As you will note, there are countless European airlines which fly in and out of JFK every day, including British Airways, Aer Lingus, flyglobespan and Virgin Atlantic.
Getting into New York City after landing at JFK Airport is not difficult - there are many options to choose from. A New York taxi is an experience, but for a cheaper method of transport you could try a city bus or the famous New York subway. Learn more about your transport options here, and about the train which shuttles passengers both between terminals as well as to various other points at the airport - it is called AirTrain JFK - here.
Newark Liberty International Airport (airport code EWR) is actually located in New Jersey, but is only 16 miles from Manhattan. It is one of the largest hubs for Continental Airlines, and the other airlines which serve Newark are listed here. On that list you will not only find European airline giants like British Airways and Lufthansa but also smaller airlines like Flybe and Silverjet, the latter only flying back and forth between London Luton Airport and Newark International Airport.
After collecting your bags at Newark, you will want to begin the trek into Manhattan. The good news is that you have loads of choices for transport. The bad news is that you are far enough away from Manhattan that none of them will be cheap. You can always hire a taxi, but the less expensive options will be things like the airport's various mini-bus shuttles or riding the AirTrain to a place where you can catch the subway or a regular New York train into the city centre. You can explore all your transport options further here.
Have an excellent trip to New York, and do not let the airports colour your opinion of the city before she has had a chance to really grow on you! And if you need anything else for your holiday in New York, be sure to look through our New York Travel Guide before you go.
