A handy guide to Westchester County Airport


At just under an hours’ drive from Manhattan, Westchester County Airport provides a great alternative to the often-crowded New York City airports.

Westchester County Airport aerial view. Image credit: cmarcus/iStock
Westchester County Airport aerial view. Image credit: cmarcus/iStock

Westchester County Airport (HPN), sometimes referred to as White Plains Airport, is located six miles northeast of White Plains, New York and serves the northwest suburbs of New York City, including New Rochelle, Yonkers, and Rye as well as Stamford and Bridgeport in Connecticut.

Westchester County Airport history

Westchester Airport was built in 1942 as an Air National Guard station to protect New York City during World War II. Civilian air service and the Air National Guard shared the facility from 1949 until 1983, when the Guard moved its operations to nearby Stewart International Airport.

Today, more than 1.5 million passengers travel through Westchester Airport each year, and that number continues to grow. Flights into and out of the airport are also quite prompt, with almost three-quarters of all flights departing from and arriving at the airport do so within 15 minutes of their scheduled times.

Westchester Airport flights

Westchester Airport is currently served by five scheduled airlines and three charter airlines that offer seasonal service. The scheduled airlines include American Eagle, Delta Airlines, Delta Connection, JetBlue Airways, and United Express. These airlines offer service to Charlotte, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport, Atlanta, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. Of course, connecting services are available to points throughout the U.S. and abroad.

A summer charter service is offered between Westchester NY Airport and Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Westchester Airport lounges and private jet terminals

Since the Westchester County NY airport is relatively small, there are no designated lounges within the facility. However, the airport does offer complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the airport’s public areas.

Free Wi-Fi can be accessed at the airport. Image credit: PeoplFree Wi-Fi can be accessed at the airport. Image credit: PeopleImages/iStock
Free Wi-Fi can be accessed at the airport. Image credit: PeopleImages/iStock

There is a small lounge with limited facilities for private jet charter and general aviation customers at the general aviation terminal.

Private jet charter services at Westchester airport

Roughly three quarters of the total traffic to and from Westchester Airport is via private aircraft (general aviation). Two fixed-based operators, Ross Aviation East and Signature Flight Support, serve private aircraft at Westchester Airport.

Wings Air and Tradewinds Aviation both offer private jet charters and helicopter charters from Westchester Airport.

Getting to Westchester airport from New York City

There are a number of transportation options to get to and from Westchester Airport, but the most convenient and reliable by far is to book a reliable Blacklane airport transfer service in New York to anywhere you would like to go.

If you have less than an hour to get from the airport to your destination, then the next best option could be to either take public transport or rent a car yourself.

Public Bee-Line bus service connects the airport to downtown White Plains and other points in Westchester County. In addition, the MTA Metro-North Railroad connects White Plains with Grand Central Station in New York City. You can take the bus to White Plains and connect to the railroad to travel to Manhattan.

There are also six major car rental companies serve the Westchester airport. These include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. Since the Westchester NY Airport is relatively small, the car rental counters are located right inside the terminal and the car pick-up and drop-off lots are adjacent to the baggage claim area.

Hotels near Westchester Airport

Although there are no designated Westchester Airport hotels, there are a number of hotels located within five miles of the airport grounds. While New York City is less than 35 miles away, staying at an airport hotel can be convenient when you have a late night arrival or an early morning departure from Westchester.

Take the time to rest nearby. Image credit: kupicoo/iStock
Take the time to rest nearby. Image credit: kupicoo/iStock

Crowne Plaza White Plains-Downtown, elegant convenience

Located just 3.7 miles away from White Plains Airport next to the Westchester Mall, this Crowne Plaza Hotel offers 402 guest rooms and suites, all equipped with deluxe bedding and premium toiletries, as well as complimentary WiFi. The rates for the executive level rooms include breakfast each morning and an afternoon cocktail hour.

Facilities include two restaurants, a coffee shop, a fitness room, a 24-hour business center, a gift shop, and an indoor swimming pool.

Hyatt House White Plains – low-rise comfort

Also the same distance away from HPN airport, Hyatt House White Plains features 159 one-bedroom and-two-bedroom guest suites on four levels, all with fully-equipped kitchens, sleeper sofas, and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Breakfast is included in the room rates.

Facilities at this property include a 24-hour convenience store, a fitness room, a business center and a seasonal, outdoor swimming pool.

Hilton Westchester – an elegant, bucolic affair

Yet another one of the hotels near Westchester County Airport is the Hilton Westchester. This 445 room hotel is a little further from the airport grounds, but features 37 acres of woodland as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, complimentary Wi-Fi, a jogging trail, fitness center, tennis courts, and more than 30 meeting rooms to choose from should you need to work while your away. The connected Westchester County airport restaurant Härth serves farm-to-table meals in a relaxed setting for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.