MacArthur Aiport

In 1943, airports were needed in defense of the country. The Islip Town Board signed an agreement with the government for construction of a landing field. Islip Airport was born. In 1944 Lockheed Aircraft Corporation built the first hangar at the airport. Five years later the Town built the airport's first terminal building preparing for airline flights. Through the 1950s the Sperry Corporation conducted aerospace research at the airport.

Allegheney Airlines began passenger service at MacArthur in 1960. It was officially named MacArthur Airport in 1966.

The Town of Islip owns and operates the airport, which serves approximately two million commercial passengers a year. The Department of Aviation is led by the Commissioner of Aviation and Transportation, who works closely with the Town Board to manage and steward the airport.

MacArthur Airport serves primarily the three million residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties. The FAA designated MacArthur Airport an Official Metro Airport in early 2011, meaning it is now grouped with LaGuardia, JFK and Newark in travel and informational searches for New York airports, providing better exposure to the traveling public.

Sources:

“Long Island MacArthur Airport.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_MacArthur_Airport#History

Siniski, Steve. History, www.macarthurairport.com/history