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Port Authority of NY/NJ Reports Strong October Across Multiple Transit Modes
Despite FAA disruptions, Port Authority had a huge October: 12.3 millioni airport passengers, strong PATH ridership, steady crossings, and solid cargo.
December 2, 2025
PATH welcomed 50.7 million riders over the first 10 months of the year.
Photo: PANYNJ
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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported strong October 2025 activity across its airports, transit system, seaport, and vehicular crossings, even amid disruptions tied to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staffing crunch during the federal government shutdown.
According to a release, PATH commuter rail ridership continued its recovery. October was PATH’s second-busiest month since the pandemic, with 5.7 million riders, just 0.1% below October 2024, the post-pandemic high. Ridership reached 75.2% of October 2019 levels.
Average weekday ridership in October 2025 was 216,640 passengers. This was the second-highest average weekday figure since the pandemic, 0.5% behind September 2025. It was 2.4% above October 2024.
PATH welcomed 50.7 million riders over the first 10 months of the year. The total surpassed the same period of 2024 by 6.4%.
Plus, bridge and tunnel traffic was steady. The agency recorded 10.4 million eastbound vehicles at its six crossings in October, down 1.4% from October 2024 and 0.6% below pre-pandemic October 2019.
For the first 10 months of the year, crossings totaled 101.2 million eastbound vehicles, about 0.4% below 2024 after adjusting for the leap year and 0.5% less than 2019.
Port Authority Sees Strong Airports, Solid Port Volumes
Port Authority airports welcomed 12.3 million passengers in October 2025, the third-busiest October on record.
Traffic dipped slightly from 2024 due to FAA staffing issues and severe weather: JFK was down 2.9%, LaGuardia was down 1.2%, and Newark was flat. Year to date, airports served 119.4 million passengers, 2.2% below last year’s record pace.
When it came to moving stuff, cargo volumes held firm. According to the release, the Port of New York and New Jersey maintained its position as the nation’s "second-busiest cargo gateway" for loaded containers year to date. From January through October, the port handled 5,011,322 loaded TEUs.
Overall, the Port Authority said October’s results show resilient demand across the region’s transportation network, even with some issues on the federal level.
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