The unknown US airport that could change transatlantic travel forever

Norwegian will be the first airline to use Stewart International as a transatlantic base
Norwegian will be the first airline to use Stewart International as a transatlantic base Credit: Copyright Limmatquai AS 2014/Mats Anda

When the first UK tourists disembark at New York’s newest international airport on Thursday, they will be in for a shock. Stewart International is no bigger than a motorway service station. In fact, it’s probably smaller. And most of the time it's deserted. Last Saturday afternoon (usually peak time for international travel), it was remarkably empty –and remarkably clean. Indeed, the bathrooms were cleaner than any I’ve seen at any airport.

No starchitect has been involved in the design of Stewart International. From the outside it looks like an early 21st century shopping mall; all fake brick, turrets and piped music.

It is easy to dismiss Stewart International based on its looks, but the plans in place for its expansion are huge. And what it means for UK and Irish tourists are unprecedented cheap transatlantic flights. Starting this week, Norwegian is the first airline to use it as a transatlantic base, with cheap direct flights to New York from Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin and Shannon. A quick scan of its website revealed that even in July (peak season and with little notice), it is possible to get a one-way ticket from Edinburgh for between £199 and £249 (baggage fees not included). The return leg is even cheaper, starting at £139. In the same period, return fares with the main transatlantic carriers on the same route range from £1,000 to £2,500.

Norwegian entered the transatlantic budget flight market in 2013, and already has flights from Gatwick to a clutch of destinations, including New York JFK. But the Stewart Airport fares are considerably lower. Norwegian CEO, Bjorn Kjos explains: "In a smaller airport like Stewart all the fees are totally different. It makes a huge difference." Stewart airport landing fees are capped at 2008 rates, which are almost 10 times lower than say New York’s LaGuardia airport. And because the airport is so tiny: "We can have a much faster turn around. We expect to load new passengers and depart within 90 minutes," says Kjos.

Norwegian entered the transatlantic budget flight market in 2013
Norwegian entered the transatlantic budget flight market in 2013 Credit: © 2014 Bloomberg Finance LP./Bloomberg

And then there is Norwegian's new Boeing 737 AirMax8 fleet, which will begin service this summer out of Stewart International Airport. "We are the launch customer for these planes in Europe. They are about 20 per cent more fuel efficient," says Kjos. It is another cost saving he can pass onto customers. Does he anticipate other major airlines will try to compete? "I doubt they will be able to do what we do," he says. "But I hope the other airlines adjust their rates." 

At NYC & Company, the tourist board for New York, there is terrific excitement about this week's launch. "We’re thrilled. The UK is our largest visitor market: 1.2 million Brits came to New York City in 2016. And a quarter of a million people from Ireland," says Fred Dixon, NYC & Co’s president. But soon a raft of other nationalities will be flying into Stewart as well. "We’re talking to every airline in the world," says Stewart airport manager Ed Harrison. "Already US Global Airways [a new airline] has announced it will offer flights to Stewart from Paris and London at the end of 2017."

Stewart International may look tiny now, but its ticket to success is that it sits on plot of land that’s 7,000 acres bigger than New York’s vast Newark airport, one of New York’s premier airports that handles 40 million passengers a year. Stewart also boasts the third longest runway in the country, says Harrison. He adds: "You can land in zero visibility 24/7". And because of its location, Stewart doesn’t compete for air space with JFK, Newark and LaGuardia. Consequently, there are fewer landing delays. And more to the point, the place is so tiny it is a hop, skip and a jump through the terminal and out the front door.  

Manhattan is 1 hour and 25 minutes from the airport by coach
Manhattan is 1 hour and 25 minutes from the airport by coach Credit: dade72 - Fotolia

But the airport’s advantage (being outside the congested airspace around Manhattan) is also its drawback. It is over 60 miles north of midtown Manhattan. And transport options will take a little while to catch up with the airport’s ambitions. Launching on Thursday, to coincide with the first transatlantic flights, is the Stewart Airport Express, a direct coach service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. It takes 1 hour 25 minutes. And travellers are recommended to book seats in advance. This is really the only way to reach New York City unless you hire a car. At the moment a taxi ride is not an option, unless you want to pay as much as your airfare. A local firm quoted me $250 + tip for a one-way trip. Ed Harrison says he is negotiating with the car services apps Lyft and Uber to provide greatly reduced rates.  

The Catskills are on the airport's doorstep
The Catskills are on the airport's doorstep Credit: SINISA KUKIC/GETTY

One thing to consider if you do fly into Stewart is that it is situated at the foot of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. Both are favorite weekend escapes for New Yorkers. Hudson Valley is the posher of the two. The Catskills is the wilder one, with seemingly endless forests, mountains and lakes. Both offer year-round adventure: skiing (in the resorts of Hunter and Wyndham), hiking, kayaking, horse riding, fly fishing. "People come here for an immersion in authenticity," says Sims Foster, a Catskills hotelier. He suggests a stay in New York City on a weekend, when hotel rates are lowest, and a visit to the Catskills (or Hudson Valley) during the week, when rates there are cheapest.  

Of course, the cheap flights mean more Americans will be heading in the other direction too. Ed Harrison plans to be one of the first: "I’m going to take my daughter to Dublin for the weekend. It will be more fun and not much more expensive than going to the local mall."

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