FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HIA-LI Nominates Long Island MacArthur Airport for 31st Annual Business Achievement Awards

Islip, NY – August 13, 2025 – Recognizing Long Island MacArthur Airport’s successful business development, growth, vision, and role as an economic generator for our region, HIA-LI has selected ISP as a finalist for its Small Business Achievement Award.

“With the arrival of JetBlue in October of 2024, Avelo Airlines in May of 2025, and Cape Air just last month, we are feeling the positive momentum of many years of hard work and the economic energy and prosperity this brings to all of Long Island,” said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “We are so grateful for the support of this community,” Carpenter added.

The HIA-LI Small Business Award honors Long Island enterprises with 100 or fewer employees for their excellence, innovation, industry leadership, and accomplishments.

“HIA-LI represents the interests of businesses across Long Island and plays a significant role in driving economic development for our region. It also manages the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge, one of the largest in the nation,” said Long Island MacArthur Airport Aviation Commissioner Rob Schneider. “It’s an honor to be recognized and honored by this prestigious business powerhouse,” he added.

“In addition to our successful outreach to air carriers, Long Island MacArthur Airport has invested in infrastructure, terminal improvements, and security enhancements,” said Town of Islip Councilman John Lorenzo. “We’ve also invested in marketing to raise awareness of ISP and its six air carriers,” he added.

Long Island MacArthur Airport’s growth is especially significant. Through July 31, year over year Long Island MacArthur Airport has grown seat capacity three times faster than JFK and LaGuardia, and five times faster than the U.S. airport industry average. ISP's forward capacity through December 31, 2025, indicates a 15% increase in airline seats, the largest in New York among airports above 250,000 annual enplanements.

The airport has also put forth considerable effort to bring additional tourism visitors to Long Island from areas across the U.S. through a destination marketing campaign funded by the Town of Islip Economic Development Corporation, and to bring new airlines and destinations to Long Island businesses and local residents.

“Especially given the negative impact from the pandemic on tourism and the airline industry, Long Island MacArthur Airport envisioned and then delivered an aviation business model built on innovation, outreach, service, and running the airport as a business without the support of local taxes. ISP also understands the importance of bringing business travelers and visitors to our region,” said Mitch Pally Discover Long Island Interim President & CEO.
The awards ceremony will be held Thursday, September 19th from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY.

ABOUT LONG ISLAND MACARTHUR AIRPORT: MacArthur Airport is on Long Island approximately 50 miles from New York City. It is the closest airport to 2.8 million Long Island residents, and to world-renowned attractions including the famous Hamptons, Wine Country, lighthouses, Fire Island, excellent theatre, award-winning restaurants, and Gatsby-era mansions. The Town of Islip owns and operates the airport, served by Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Cape Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines.

Access to the Long Island Railroad (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 6000 people directly and indirectly, with a $19M annual operating budget in 2025 and an economic impact of $600M to the region and local economy. In 2024, ISP was voted the #3 Best Small Airport in the country in USAToday’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a ”Haven” Airport by the Wall Street Journal, and earned the 2024 Tourism Trailblazer Award from Discover Long Island. In 2025, the Washington Post ranked MacArthur Airport as one of the 50 best airports in America.