Metro

Passenger traffic at NY metro area’s airports neared all-time high in 2012

NEWARK — Passenger traffic at the New York area’s four commercial airports increased in 2012 despite closures caused by Superstorm Sandy.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says traffic at Newark Liberty, La Guardia, John F. Kennedy and Stewart airports rose by 3.3 percent last year compared to 2011.

More than 109 million travelers used the four airports. That’s just below the pre-recession record of 110 million set in 2007.

Traffic at JFK Airport reached an all-time high with 49.3 million passengers.

La Guardia experienced a 6.6 percent increase in passengers over 2011, partly due to expanded service offered by Delta and JetBlue Airways. Passenger traffic at Newark increased by about one percent.

Superstorm Sandy cancelled thousands of flights and forced the airports to close. All reopened within days.