John F. Kennedy International Airport Statistics

Page last updated: 11 August 2025

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens is New York City’s primary international entry point and one of the busiest airports worldwide, connecting North America to destinations across six continents.

How many passengers use John F. Kennedy International Airport each year?

Over 63 million passengers are processed through John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport each year.

• Before the pandemic, JFK Airport processed approximately 62.6 million passengers annually in 2019.

• Annual processing dropped to a pandemic low of 16.6 million passengers in 2020, then recovered to 30.8 million in 2021, 55.3 million in 2022, and reached 62.5 million in 2023.

• In 2024, JFK Airport processed 63.3 million passengers, up 1% from 2023 and just above 2019.

How many passengers use John F. Kennedy International Airport in 2024?

John F. Kennedy International Airport handled 63.3 million passengers in 2024.

• International passengers accounted for approximately 49.8% (31.5 million passengers), while domestic passengers comprised 50.2% (31.8 million passengers) of total airport traffic.

How many passengers use John F. Kennedy International Airport in 2023?

John F. Kennedy International Airport processed 62.5 million passengers in 2023.

• International passengers accounted for approximately 50.4% (31.5 million passengers), while domestic passengers comprised 49.6% (31.0 million passengers) of total airport traffic.

How large is John F. Kennedy International Airport?

John F. Kennedy International Airport spans approximately 4,930 acres of land in Queens, New York.

• Runways: 4 runways ranging from 8,400 to 14,500 feet in length

• Terminals: 5 passenger terminals with 130+ gates

• Parking spaces: Over 17,000 parking spaces across all terminals

• Annual capacity: Designed to handle up to 90 million passengers annually after redevelopment completion

How many aircraft operations occur at John F. Kennedy International Airport each year?

Over 420,000 aircraft operations (including takeoffs and landings) occur at John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport each year.

• Before the pandemic, JFK Airport handled approximately 446,000 operations in 2019 across all categories.

• Airport operations fell to 192,000 operations in 2020 (down 57% due to COVID-19), then gradually recovered to 300,000 in 2021, 402,000 in 2022 (achieving 90% of pre-pandemic levels), and 405,000 in 2023.

• The airport reached 420,000 operations in 2024, up approximately 4% from the previous year.

Aircraft Operations in 2024

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport handled 420,000 aircraft operations in 2024.

• Air carrier operations accounted for approximately 79% (330,000 operations), while general aviation, air taxi, and military operations comprised 21% (90,000 operations) of total airport activity.

Aircraft Operations in 2023

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport processed 405,000 aircraft operations in 2023.

• Air carrier operations made up 79% of airport activity, with total operations reaching 91% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels.

How much revenue does John F. Kennedy International Airport generate each year?

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport generates over $1.2 billion in revenue each year.

• The airport generated $1.2 billion in revenue in 2019, but dropped to $500 million in 2020 due to the pandemic.

• Recovery progressed steadily from $700 million in 2021 to $1.1 billion in 2022, reaching $1.2 billion in 2023.

• In 2024, the airport generated $1.3 billion in revenue, up 8% from 2023 and 8% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

JFK International Airport Revenue in 2024

JFK Airport generated $1.3 billion in total revenue in 2024.

• This represents an 8% increase from 2023 and 8% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

JFK International Airport Revenue in 2023

JFK Airport generated $1.2 billion in total revenue in 2023.

• This represents a 9% increase from 2022 and matches pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Which terminals are busiest at John F. Kennedy International Airport?

Terminal 4 is JFK’s busiest terminal with 18.5 million passengers in 2024. 

John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminals by Passenger Volume (2024)

Which airlines carry the most passengers at John F. Kennedy International Airport?

Delta Air Lines leads John F. Kennedy International Airport with 30% market share, followed by JetBlue Airways at 26%.

Market Share by Airline at JFK (2024)

• Delta Air Lines: 30% market share

• JetBlue Airways: 26% market share

• American Airlines: 13% market share

• British Airways: 2% market share

• Virgin Atlantic: 2% market share

• Other carriers: 27% market share

What are the busiest routes at John F. Kennedy International Airport?

The busiest domestic and international routes at John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport reflect both business and leisure travel patterns.

Top Domestic Routes by Passengers (2024)

1. JFK – Los Angeles (LAX): 1.4 million passengers
   
2. JFK – San Francisco (SFO): 900,000 passengers
   
3. JFK – Miami (MIA): 800,000 passengers
   
4. JFK – Orlando (MCO): 600,000 passengers
   
5. JFK – Boston (BOS): 500,000 passengers

Top International Routes by Passengers (2024)

1. JFK – London Heathrow (LHR): 2.8 million passengers
   
2. JFK – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): 1.0 million passengers
   
3. JFK – Santo Domingo (SDQ): 700,000 passengers
   
4. JFK – Tel Aviv (TLV): 600,000 passengers
   
5. JFK – Mexico City (MEX): 600,000 passengers

When is the peak month at John F. Kennedy International Airport?

July and August were the peak months at John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport in 2024.

• July was the busiest month with approximately 6.2 million passengers, followed by August with 6.1 million.

• June attracted around 5.8 million passengers, while September drew 5.4 million.

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How much cargo moves through John F. Kennedy International Airport each year?

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport handles approximately 1.6 million short tons of cargo each year.

• JFK Airport handled 1.34 million short tons in 2019, dropped to 1.15 million short tons in 2020 due to the pandemic, then recovered to 1.57 million short tons in 2021.

• Recovery continued from 1.55 million short tons in 2022 to 1.59 million short tons in 2023, growing 3% as operations normalized.

• In 2024, the airport processed 1.6 million short tons of cargo, up 1% from 2023 and 19% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

How reliable is John F. Kennedy International Airport?

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport achieved a 72% on-time departure rate in 2024, improving from 69% in 2022.

• Flight cancellations: Only 2.3% of scheduled flights were canceled in 2024, higher than the 2019 rate of 2.1%

• Average delays: 32 minutes in 2024, down from 35 minutes in 2023

• Weather-related delays: Account for over 55% of total delay minutes at JFK

JFK Airport Performance Metrics

• Best on-time airlines: JetBlue 75% Delta 73%

• Airport average: 72% on-time departures

• Peak delay periods: Monday mornings and Friday evenings

• Runway capacity:  Up to 90 operations per hour in optimal conditions

How does John F. Kennedy International Airport rank globally?

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport ranks as the 6th busiest airport in the United States and 11th busiest globally by passenger traffic in 2024.

• International gateway: Largest in North America for international passengers
• Cargo: 5th busiest cargo airport in the United States

What is John F. Kennedy International Airport’s economic impact?

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport generates $45 billion in annual economic activity for the New York region.

• Directly employs 40,500 people on-site

• Supports 238,000 total jobs throughout the metropolitan area

• Produces $19 billion in annual wages

• International visitors spent $28 billion in 2024, benefiting local businesses and hotels

Other US Airport Statistics

• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
• Denver International Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• O’Hare International Airport

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References

1. CC: Aviation Department Financial Reports and Traffic Data
2. CLTA: Charlotte Douglas International Airport Official Statistics
3. FAA: Federal Aviation Administration Operations Data
4. BTS: Bureau of Transportation Statistics Passenger Data