October 3rd, 2024 – MacArthur Airport is again a winner in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in the Best Small Airport Category, jumping from 5th to 3rd place in this year’s competition. On August 26, voting began following MacArthur Airport’s nomination by an independent panel of travel experts and editors. Nineteen other airports were also nominated for the Award.
Voting took place for 28 days, as nominated airports competed for this nationwide honor. USA Today 10Best officially revealed the top ten today. This is the fourth consecutive year Long Island MacArthur Airport has been nominated and included in the 10Best list. This year’s placement as one of the top three on the list is the highest ranking MacArthur Airport has earned to date.
“Our loyal airport customers and the community really showed their enthusiastic support this year with consistent voting across Long Island. We are proud to be one of the top three winners in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Small Airport,” said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “The award validates our hard work each day to provide an excellent customer experience at Islip’s MacArthur Airport,” she added.
USA Today 10Best describes the 20 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.”
“This type of award captures the attention of air travelers across the U.S. and raises Long Island’s profile with potential passengers and visitors to our region. Air carriers also take notice of these top airports as they carefully evaluate new routes to serve,” said Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken.
MacArthur Airport is an economic engine for Long Island, employing 6000 people directly and indirectly, generating an economic impact of $600M to the region and local economy.
“This year has been especially strong for us here at Long Island MacArthur Airport. Today, we welcome and celebrate Breeze Airways’ new nonstop year-round flights to Fort Myers, a doubling of flights to Vero Beach, and the Sarasota inaugural coming up next month,” Carpenter said. “Additionally, later this month JetBlue begins service at MacArthur Airport as our fourth air carrier, and we couldn’t be happier as this means so much to our community,” she added.
Southwest Airlines is also beginning new nonstop flights from MacArthur Airport to Miami on November 3.
“This year’s 10Best top ranking – especially competing against airports that are larger than us – is a win for our entire region. MacArthur Airport is an economic engine for the region and the progress and recognition we are seeing at ISP points to a strong future for Long Island. We are most grateful to everyone who voted each day and put their positive energy towards ISP – Long Island’s Hometown Airport,” Carpenter said.
The Top Ten winners in the Best Small Airport category are as follows:
- Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
- Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
- Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV)
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
- Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
- Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
- Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)