Port Authority Is Prepared to Assist Approximately 6 Million Travelers During Thanksgiving Weekend

On Nov 17, 2017

Approximately 6 million travelers are projected to use the Port Authority’s airports, bridges, tunnels and PATH system during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and the agency is putting measures in place to accommodate the anticipated heavy travel volume.

The Port Authority will provide a full complement of customer service representatives at its major airports and police officers and toll collectors at its tunnels and bridges to make the holiday trip as smooth as possible.

Air Travel

During the Thanksgiving holiday, approximately 1.6 million passengers will travel through John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and Stewart International airports. Due to the high volume of air travel, the agency is encouraging travelers to allow extra time to get to its airports and check with carriers for flight status prior to arriving.  The agency also encourages the use of mass transit to get to the airports, including AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark, given limited parking availability.

About 733,200 passengers will use John F. Kennedy International, 562,400 will use Newark Liberty International, 368,000 are expected at LaGuardia Airport, and 7,000 passengers are expected at Stewart International Airport during the holiday period.

In addition to a full complement of customer service representatives, the Port Authority will assist air travelers at its airport Welcome Centers, which are located on the arrivals level of every terminal and provide information about ground transportation, hotels and other useful travel tips. Airport customers can also find helpful features on the agency’s website at www.panynj.gov/airports, which they can check flight status and other airport-related services.

The Port Authority is providing parking discounts at its airports throughout the holiday period.

LaGuardia Airport’s hourly parking lot is currently closed for ongoing redevelopment construction at the airport.  Additional information and directions to all LaGuardia parking lots can be found on the airport’s website http://laguardiaairport.com. For travel tips at LaGuardia Airport, visit http://laguardiaairport.com/traveladvisories/

Travelers should plan ahead by visiting www.parkintheairport.com to check availability or to reserve a space, or to obtain coupons. Travelers can call 800-AIR-RIDE for alternative transportation options.

The Port Authority also offers AirTrain service to both JFK and Newark Liberty airports. AirTrain JFK connects to New York City mass transit via stations at Jamaica and Howard Beach. AirTrain Newark connects to Amtrak and NJ Transit via the Northeast Corridor line. For more information on AirTrain and other public transportation alternatives, call 800 AIR-RIDE.

Car and Bus Travel

Approximately 3.4 million vehicles are forecast to use Port Authority bridges and tunnels during the Thanksgiving holiday period. The agency will cancel all non-emergency construction work for the five-day holiday weekend at the George Washington Bridge, the Holland and Lincoln tunnels, and the Staten Island crossings. For more information on the agency’s tunnels and bridges, call the “Customer Connection” line at 800-221-9903 or visit www.panynj.gov.

At the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the agency expects passenger traffic to be heavier than usual on Wednesday, November 22, which is typically the busiest travel day of the year, and encourages customers to allow extra travel time to make their bus connections and to purchase tickets in advance if possible.

PATH

Approximately 915,000 passengers are forecast to use the PATH rail system during the Thanksgiving holiday period. PATH will operate additional service prior to the evening peak period on Wednesday, November 22, to accommodate commuters leaving early for the holiday weekend.  On Thanksgiving Day, PATH service will operate on a Saturday schedule. On Friday, November 24, PATH service will operate every 10 minutes during the daytime and evening hours on all PATH lines. On the November 25 and 26 weekend, PATH will operate normal weekend service.

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