The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey kicked off 2025 with record-breaking numbers, reporting its busiest January ever at its commercial airports following a historic 2024. Meanwhile, PATH commuter rail ridership continued its upward trend, port activity surged, and the agency’s bridges and tunnels remained consistent with pre-pandemic levels.
The agency announced Thursday that approximately 10.7 million passengers traveled through its airports in January, setting a new high for the month and surpassing the previous record set in 2020 by more than 180,000 travelers. The total marks a 3.5% increase over January 2024, with both domestic and international travel seeing similar gains. However, as expected, travel dipped by 15% compared to December 2024 due to the conclusion of the holiday season.
PATH also posted strong ridership growth, carrying 4.5 million passengers in January—an 11% increase from the previous year. Weekday ridership averaged 178,195 passengers, up 10% from 2024, while weekend travel exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Saturday ridership was 9% higher than in 2019, while Sunday travel rose 4% compared to the same period. Seasonal trends resulted in a 6% drop from December 2024, but the agency noted that PATH continues to see strong year-over-year momentum.
At the Port of New York and New Jersey, cargo movement remained robust, with the facility handling more than 720,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January—an 8% increase from the previous year and a 16% jump compared to 2019. The port retained its position as the busiest on the East Coast and one of the top three in the country.
Meanwhile, traffic across the agency’s six vehicular crossings remained stable, with approximately 9.2 million eastbound vehicles recorded in January. The figure was slightly below 2024 and 2019 levels by 0.6% and 0.2%, respectively. Finalized crossing data will be released following standard verification procedures.
The Port Authority continues to invest in its expansive infrastructure network, including major airport redevelopments, bridge upgrades, and transit improvements aimed at accommodating rising demand.
