Long Island MacArthur Airport Voted #3 Small Airport By USA Today Readers

RONKONKOMA, NY — Long Island MacArthur Airport was voted the third best small airport in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, jumping two places from 5th to 3rd place in this year’s competition, airport officials announced in a news release on Thursday.

Nineteen other airports were also nominated for the award, with the airport’s nomination coming from an independent panel of travel experts and editors.

It is the fourth consecutive year the airport has been nominated and included in the 10 Best list.

USA Today 10Best describes the 20 nominated airports as friendlier and easier to use, with the airports serving "smaller numbers of passengers each year, yet excel with their commercial flight offerings, easy access, and amenities.”

The Top 10 winners in the Best Small Airport category are as follows:

1. Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
2. Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
3. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
4. Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
5. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV)
6. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
7. Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
8. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
9. Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
10. Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)

This year’s placement as one of the top three on the list is the highest ranking the airport has earned.

The airport is an economic engine for Long Island, employing 6,000 people directly and indirectly, generating an economic impact of $600 million to the region and local economy, according to officials.

Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter said "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,” she said. “The award validates our hard work each day to provide an excellent customer experience at Islip’s MacArthur Airport."

Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken said the "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,” she said.

Carpenter said 2024 has been "especially strong" for the airport.

The inaugural flight of Breeze Airways’ new nonstop year-round flights to Fort Myers was Wednesday, and later this month, JetBlue begins service as our fourth air carrier.

Southwest Airlines is also beginning new nonstop flights from the airport to Miami on Nov. 3.

“This year’s 10 Best 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.