New Windsor Stewart Airport (SWF) Flights & Flight Status

New Windsor Stewart (SWF) Airport is more commonly known as Newburgh/Stewart Airport and serves as an alternative to New York’s other regional airports. The airport is 70 miles to the north of New York City and provides flights for people who live in the region. While it can never match the long-haul connectivity of New York JFK or Newark or the convenience of New York LaGuardia, Stewart International Airport can save travelers both time and money. And those that live nearby appreciate how easy it is to use while avoiding traffic into the city. Here are some key points to consider when flying from SWF.

An easy-to-use terminal

You will not have to worry about crowds here, but just in case, the central security checkpoint has a separate lane for TSA PreCheck. There is no CLEAR lane here, however.

I like how the airport’s own website has a real-time tracker that tells you how long the wait is (spoiler alert: it’s rarely more than five minutes). After passing through the checkpoint, travelers take the escalators up one level to the main gate area.

SWF has one terminal with several jet bridges that make it easy for passengers to board their flights directly from the terminal. Inside the airport, there is a limited number of stores and dining options.

The Euro Cafe is the only option to grab any type of substantial food (the airport does not have a traditional restaurant). I recommend bringing a refillable water bottle instead of buying water at the airport as there are hydration stations in the terminal.

There is also a gift shop and cafe on the landside part of the airport for people to grab a snack while they wait for arriving passengers or to take with them on their flight. It comes as no surprise that there is no airline or airport lounge here, given the limited traffic and small terminal size. Mother’s nursing pods are available in the terminal.

Newsstands and gift shops compose the rest of the retail options. When international flights depart, the airport opens its small duty-free shop, but this is only for a few hours on select days. I appreciate the free Wi-Fi throughout the airport and the ample power outlets available at each gate. There are even wireless charging stations on high-top work tables.

My recommendation when flying from here is to be aware that with only low-fare airlines dominating the departure boards, the airport draws a lot of infrequent flyers who may be unfamiliar with travel norms.

On almost every occasion I fly through SWF, I have encountered travelers that do not know about the latest TSA requirements (like liquid restrictions or removing shoes), and bags regularly get sent to secondary search due to prohibited items that passengers do not realize are prohibited. While this can delay you, low-cost airlines allow more people to travel, which is a good thing!

Where you can fly from SWF

The number of destinations from Stewart International has dwindled in recent years from a high point in the late 2010s when more airlines flew here. These days, the major U.S. network airlines have pulled out of the airport and no longer fly to their major hubs from here.

The airport is only served by low-cost airlines like Allegiant, which serves several beach destinations in the south including Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Fort Lauderdale. Breeze Airways also has a few flights per week to south Florida and Charleston, South Carolina.

While the airport used to have numerous long-haul flights to Europe using narrowbody aircraft operated by low-cost carriers, those heydays have passed. But, Icelandic low-fare airline Play still offers flights to Reykjavik where travelers can connect to its growing European network of destinations.

How to get to and from SWF

The biggest challenge for Stewart International Airport is its distance from New York City. It has no problem drawing traffic from the Newburgh/Stewart metro area, but this is mostly leisure-focused. This is why only low-cost airlines fly here. But, those starting or ending in Manhattan can secure solid deals here if they are willing to make the drive to SWF.

One of the cheapest ways to get into Manhattan is by taking the train from Beacon Station, which goes to Grand Central Station. Travelers must first take the Leprechaun Lines Newburgh Beacon Shuttle from the terminal. The shuttle only takes cash. Its schedule is based on departing and arriving flights.

It is also possible to reach Hoboken, New Jersey via Metro-North’s Port Jervis Line, but you need to find a way to get to Salisbury Mills Station from the terminal (I recommend Uber or Lyft).

Another cost-effective way to get to SWF (aside from car, taxi or rideshare service) from Manhattan, Brooklyn or other parts of New York is by shuttle bus, which takes 75 minutes.

Coach USA’s Stewart Airport Express bus service does not operate on a regular schedule though. Instead, the bus is timed around the international Play Airlines flight from Iceland.

I have used the bus, and while cheap and convenient, it waits for all passengers to pass customs and immigration and then collect their luggage. This means it takes at least an hour after landing from Reykjavik before you leave for Manhattan. In reverse, it leaves the city center with ample time for passengers to check in for the Play flight.

It is surprising that the bus service does not operate in tandem with other flight departures, but this could be because only the international flight from Reykjavik has enough traffic heading into Manhattan for it to operate profitably.

Finally, there are several rental car agencies that have cars at SWF, which is an easy way to get around if you are planning to explore other parts of the state or region.

What to expect around the airport

If you are parking a car, there are short-term and long-term lots with ample space. I appreciate that if you are dropping off or picking up someone, you are allowed to park free for 15 minutes.

The closest hotel to the airport is the Courtyard by Marriott Newburgh Stewart Airport. This is especially convenient for early-morning flights, and it has a free shuttle that runs to and from the airport. Another option with a complimentary shuttle is the Hampton Inn & Suites Newburgh Stewart Airport, and families may prefer it since it has free breakfast and a slightly larger indoor pool.

Among the nearby attractions to SWF is LEGOLAND New York as well as the natural beauty of Hudson Valley. My favorite time to visit the region is during the fall months when the leaves start to change. West Point Military Academy is also in this area, which fuels some of the passenger demand at the airport.

International service at SWF over the years

This airport has ebbed and flowed with traffic, even offering numerous daily transatlantic flights via low-cost carrier Norwegian Airlines to several European cities. It gained popularity by those looking to save cash, and Norwegian’s Boeing 737 planes that it used on long-haul flights were the perfect fit.

The airport authority continues to work hard on getting more European service back, but the distance from the city can prove a challenge. Do not be surprised if taxi, Uber or Lyft drivers are unfamiliar with the airport if coming from New York City. I find if you give them the airport code SWF, they are more likely to pinpoint it via GPS (although I highly recommend taking the train instead).

Given the small size of this airport, the immigration and customs facilities are limited. Do your best to choose a seat at the front of the plane otherwise you will be waiting in a lengthy queue on a full flight to clear immigration. Luckily, there is a Global Entry lane for those that are eligible to use it, but still no Mobile Passport Lane.

Interestingly, the airport recently completed a 20,000 sq ft arrival immigration facility to expedite international flight processing although it is not being used at full capacity right now. But, it shows how the Port Authority is preparing the airport for potential future expansion.

Other traffic at the airport

While commercial service is not as bustling as previous years, there are still a handful of passenger flights here. This airport is also shared with an air national guard base, and a lot of the air traffic here is military-related.

Plane spotters will find that SWF is often used as a diversion airport for New York’s other major airports, too. On occasion, large widebody planes bound for New York JFK or Newark are sent here while they wait for an opening at their original airport due to weather or air traffic control delays.

Because this airport has federal inspection facilities for immigration and customs, it can handle international diversions. It is also used quite often by private planes and general aviation.