- One of the Town’s most important and valuable assets is Long Island MacArthur Airport. Its proximity to major roadways and the Ronkonkoma Station of the Long Island Rail Road makes the airport an important key in developing a complete transportation hub.
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Ownership: Long Island MacArthur Airport (LIMA) is owned and operated by the Town
of Islip under the Town of Islip's Department of Aviation and Transportation.
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Location: Veteran's Highway, Ronkonkoma, New York. Located near the center of
Long Island with easy access from major highways (four miles south of the
Long Island Expressway) and the Long Island Railroad (two miles south of
the Ronkonkoma station).
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Size/Area: Approximately 1,310 acres.
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Background: In 1943, the Town of Islip provided land on which the United States
Government spent $1.5 million to build the Long Island MacArthur Airport, an air base for
potential use during WWII. The Town constructed the first terminal in 1949.
The "General MacArthur Terminal" opened in 1966. The name of the Airport
was changed to Long Island MacArthur Airport in 1978.
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Open to the Public: Commercial passenger service commenced in the early 1960s with service to
Boston and Washington on Allegheny Airlines.
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Public Services: On-site car rentals (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz), Off-site car rentals
(Dollar), ticketing, three gift/newspaper shops, five restaurants, taxi
service, shuttle to the LIRR, parking (daily, long term and resident), Long
Island information booth.
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FAA Presence: The Federal Aviation Administration constructed the seven-story control
tower at the Airport in 1962. The FAA Flight Service Center provides
weather information and assists general aviation.
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Main Terminal: The 45,000 square-foot terminal originally opened in 1966 and expanded in
later years as new air service was introduced by various commercial carriers.
With the addition of east and west concourses and new ticketing and baggage
areas, the enclosed area of the terminal expanded to approximately 121,000
sq. ft. by 2002.
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2004 Growth: A total of 114,000 sq. ft. were added to the passenger service area of the
Airport with the completion of the Veterans Memorial Concourse. This $60
million expansion hosts four passenger gates, a new aircraft parking apron
and additional security screening areas. The Veterans Memorial Concourse
also includes elevators and escalators, administrative offices, public
restrooms, one newspaper/gift shop and four restaurants. Phase II of the
project, completed in November, 2006, includes the addition of four
more passenger gates, one gift shop, and a link to the Main Terminal.
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Passenger Volume: Over 2.3 million passengers passed through the Airport in 2006, an average
of more than 5,800 per day.
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Number of Flights: 75 flights per day.
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Air Carriers: Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines and USAirways
Express serve destinations across the United States with 10 direct routes and
connections to most major cities.
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Aviation Services: Fuel, hangars, tie-downs, flight school, aircraft service and repair. Two major
Fixed Base Operators are located at the Airport, along with other air service
businesses accommodating general commercial aviation, corporate aviation,
charter flights, flight schools and private aviators.
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Military Presence: The Army National Guard maintains 10 aircraft at LIMA and accounts for an
average of 1.2 percent of the daily aircraft operations.
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Runways: There are four runways, the longest measuring 7,000 feet. They accommodate
private, commercial and military aircraft. In addition, two helipads are used
by the military, police/rescue and private aviation.
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Parking: Daily parking, long-term parking and resident parking (sticker required) are
available. Capacity exists for over 3,500 vehicles.
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Economic Impact: Approximately 900 people are employed at the Airport. For 2004, the
estimated direct and indirect economic impact of LIMA, including payroll,
local spending capital spending and benefits was estimated at more than $202
million.
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Airport Revenue: Includes commercial landing fees, parking fees, rents and concession fees
charged to Airport and Terminal tenants (newspaper/gift shop, car rentals,
airlines, restaurants, advertising and service vendors) and other tenants on the
Airport grounds.
- The establishment of a Foreign Trade Zone on airport property, as well as an increase in the development of industrial properties in the area surrounding the airport, has resulted from its location close to this valuable transportation site.
- Long Island MacArthur Airport recently underwent major renovations which brought it into the 21st century. Since then, passenger numbers have more than doubled, and a number of major airlines have located to the airport to provide the business and leisure traveler with convenient air service to virtually every major city in the country.
- For added convenience, there is now a shuttle bus that runs from the airport’s economy parking lot to the main terminal. A private jitney also runs from the Long Island Rail Road's Ronkonkoma Station to the airport for a nominal fee, and Suffolk County has marked the airport as one of the destinations of their many buses.
- Islip Town also owns and operates the Bayport Aerodrome, a small facility located at the north of end of Third Avenue used primarily for small, recreational and antique aircraft.
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