Our Story
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) and Bayport Aerodrome are part of the aviation department for the Town of Islip. Both serve a thriving general aviation sector. ISP is a dynamic regional commercial airport, providing flights to over 1.2 million passengers in 2023. The Town has operated ISP since 1944. MacArthur Airport’s central location is ideal to accommodate the travel needs of almost 3 million local residents. This makes it easy to do business on Long Island, to fly conveniently and for family and friends to visit.
Located only 50 miles from NYC, MacArthur Airport is a hassle-free alternative to JFK and LGA. MacArthur Airport is also the closest airport to world-renowned attractions including the famous Hamptons, Wine Country, the Cradle of Aviation Museum, lighthouses, Fire Island beaches, excellent theater, award-winning restaurants, and Gatsby-era mansions and gardens.
Customer Experience & Air Service
More than 1,600 people fly Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) on average each day, and it is one of the top 114 commercial airports in the U.S. servicing 1.2 million passengers annually. ISP has three commercial air carriers - Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines - providing service to 10+ nonstop destinations from Florida to Maine, and with connections to hundreds of destinations worldwide.
Economic Impact, Budget, Capital Projects & Funding
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) encompasses 1,311 acres and has three runways and two helipads. ISP has an annual budget of $20 million, generating more than 6000 jobs and an annual economic impact of $600M (2012 New York State Economic Study). The airport’s capital improvement program is a further economic and employment generator for the region.
Airport Capital Projects & Funding
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) applies annually and receives grant funding through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Regional Economic Development Council (ERDC) for airfield and infrastructure projects, and equipment purchases that meet agency requirements. No local tax dollars are used to support the airport.
In 2023, the airport began $26 million in federally and locally funded capital projects. The work includes terminal improvements to the ticketing and baggage area, as well as the replacement of all Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) within the Main Terminal Building. The airport has completed over $100 million in planning and capital projects since 2016, most recently completing a Ground Transportation Center and Walkway, a Fire Rescue Building, and rehabilitation of airfield taxiway and runway surfaces.
Accolades
The FAA designated Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) an official NYC Metro Airport in early 2011. Long Island MacArthur Airport does not share the congested airspace of New York City. For travelers, ISP also offers a high level of customer convenience and lower average fares than JFK and LGA (according to 2023 USDOT data). ISP has been voted one of the 10 Best Small Airports in the United States in each of the last three USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
A Premier Regional Transportation Hub
MacArthur Airport’s location near the center of Long Island has been instrumental in its development as a regional transportation center. ISP is accessible from three major east-west thoroughfares, and the main airport access road connects with Veteran’s Memorial Highway. ISP is less than two miles south of the Long Island Expressway and approximately one mile north of Sunrise Highway.
The Long Island Rail Road’s MacArthur Airport / Ronkonkoma Station is less than two miles from ISP’s Main Terminal Building. Recent improvements to the LIRR offer travelers new service to Grand Central Station and a one-seat ride to NYC's Penn Station to and from MacArthur Airport / Ronkonkoma Station and ISP’s terminal.
MacArthur Airport’s central location is one of the leading reasons businesses choose to locate in the Town of Islip. The Veterans Highway Corridor is one of the fastest-growing industrial areas. Many builders and developers have looked to capitalize on the location by building new office space on the corridor. With easy access to major roadways and the Long Island Rail Road, ISP offers the ultimate in service and customer experience for the business and leisure traveler and is an excellent location for doing business.
Health & Safety of Travelers
Due to COVID-19's adverse impact on the aviation industry, Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) implemented innovative technological health and safety protocols to ensure the safety of our passengers, employees, and visitors, and to restore consumer confidence in flying. In May 2020, ISP became the first airport in the world to install continuous pathogen reduction units throughout the terminal. Subsequently, ISP incorporated pathogen reduction equipment into the new Ground Transportation Center and as part of main terminal improvements. These systems and units effectively kill 99.9% of viruses, germs, and bacteria in the air and on surfaces.
Air Service Recruiting & Marketing
There are several key factors affecting an air carrier’s decision to serve an airport, such as:
- Market size
- Market viability
- Customer experience
- Airport operating costs
- Community support
- Financially self-sufficient
- Proximity to a large metro market
As airlines ultimately make the decision on where to fly, ISP approaches air service development collaboratively. Key components of ISP’s approach include:
- Keeping landing fees and rental rates lower than most other facilities to improve airline profitability and stimulate airline growth.
- Actively engaging with carriers to discuss and promote both new routes and existing destinations that need additional support.
- Identifying and marketing to passengers throughout Long Island to increase awareness, consideration and use of ISP versus alternatives.
-Using cutting-edge, real-time information to help with route identification, and to optimize marketing efforts and cost-efficiency.
- In 2023, the Town of Islip Economic Development Corporation (EDC) received a New York State EDA grant to increase visitation to Long Island in 2024 and 2025. EDC and ISP are partnering to use this grant to market Long Island and ISP to potential visitors in nonstop destinations served by ISP air carriers.
Since 2017, ISP’s air service and marketing campaign has increased the airport’s market share for its nonstop destinations by 40%. While the leisure market recovered faster than the business market, ISP regained its pre-pandemic levels by Q1 2022. Since then, the shortage of aircraft, crews, and higher fuel prices have adversely affected the entire aviation industry. This is particularly true with regional airports that compete with larger hubs. Carriers responded by increasing fares and reducing service offerings. The commitment of the Long Island community and Town of Islip residents to support and use the airport whenever possible will likely produce positive results and more travel choices in the upcoming years as the economy and industry recover.
The airport actively reaches out to carriers to discuss and promote both new routes and existing destinations. The airport keeps its landing fees and operational costs lower than most other facilities to stimulate airline growth.
Our History
In 1942, just four months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Town of Islip contracted with the Federal Government to build an airfield on Town-owned land for military use. Originally named Islip Airport, it would later be renamed to MacArthur Airport, in honor of World War II General Douglas MacArthur.
Throughout the 20th century, the airport would undergo many expansions and transformations, and in 1960, Allegheny Airlines would become the first airline to operate scheduled passenger service with flights out of ISP.
It seems that change is the only constant in the airline industry. Factors affecting airline routes and services include deregulation, mergers, and economic changes such as fuel prices and inflation. Airline crew and aircraft availability is another reality that impacts air service decisions. Changes in business travel also continue to affect the airline industry.
Southwest Airlines began service at ISP in 1999. Frontier launched flights at MacArthur Airport in 2017. Our newest air carrier is Breeze Airways founded by airline entrepreneur David Neeleman. Breeze Airways’ inaugural flights to Charleston and Norfolk from MacArthur Airport took off in February, 2022. Breeze now offers nonstop flights to six destinations.
We welcome you to Long Island MacArthur Airport as we look to the future!
Interactive Vintage Flying
In addition to owning Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), the Town of Islip also owns Bayport Aerodrome.
Bayport Aerodrome offers one of the few remaining grass runways on Long Island where many men and women aviation pioneers chased records and gained worldwide recognition.
As a unique “living museum” Bayport Aerodrome features many vintage aircraft like these two moving across your screen and flying above Long Island.
Plane photographs courtesy of imageamb.com.
