These ideas would complement New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Green New Deal, which calls on renewable sources to provide half the state’s energy needs by 2030. Stewart’s location in the lush Hudson River Valley makes it easier for the airport to implement innovative strategies in addressing the climate impact of air travel. Today that same river could provide a rebirth for both Newburgh and Stewart International Airport with new connections to the city via high-speed ferries. What if we could find a solution outside of traditional land routes? Two hundred years ago, the Hudson River gave birth to Newburgh. Travel times by train are even longer, requiring multiple transfers and a final bus connection. Express bus shuttles from Manhattan typically take around 90 minutes. Stewart’s problem isn’t reaching it by air-or even space its runway was a backup site for space shuttle landings. Stewart, for example, has a runway long enough to handle the world’s largest aircraft and has recently lured international airlines including Norwegian Air. All the while, its relative proximity to New York City has brought investments uncommon to most small, regional airports. Over the years it has changed hands several times from state control, to private ownership to its current owner in the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Stewart came into being in the 1930s as an airfield for the nearby U.S. Today, however, Stewart’s location could be its greatest strength. Over the years, the airport has struggled to draw airlines and passengers due to its distance from the city. Stewart lies outside of the industrial town of Newburgh, 60 miles north of Manhattan on the Hudson River. Hudson River via Juliacolton on WikiMedia Commons I believe the little-known Stewart International Airport outside of New York City offers one solution-if we’re willing to do some out-of-the-box thinking.

We need to ask ourselves how smarter airport designs could mitigate the environmental impact of air travel and ease air-traffic congestion. This rise in air travel is already straining many airports and cities, like New York, that are dealing with near-capacity air traffic and the flight delays that come with it.įor aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and governments, the time to explore big ideas and new ways of thinking is now. Over the next 20 years, the number of air passengers worldwide is expected to double. New emission caps and taxes will soon raise costs for airlines and their customers even as the demand for air travel continues to grow at a staggering pace. Yet beyond just the environmental aspects, there is a strong business case for more sustainable aviation. Anyone familiar with the term “flight shame” understands why the aviation industry needs to get greener.

Stewart international airport location