JFK is still the main international gateway for New York, as illustrated by this photo which shows an El Al Boeing 747-400, Aerolineas Argentines Airbus A340-200, Avianca Boeing 767 and a Thai Airways International Airbus A340.

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A340-600 lifts off from JFK bound for Hong Kong. Of the three main airports serving New York it is the busiest, handling 41.9 million in 2005.

Newark has a significant number of international services and offers scheduled flights by 17 international carriers. Pictured is a Lufthansa A340-300 on departure from Newark heading back to Germany.

A Midwest Airlines Boeing 717 taxies past a sign at LaGuardia welcoming passengers to the 'Big Apple'. In 1984 the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, banned services from and to LaGuardia of more than 1,500 miles.

JetBlue Airways has helped revitalise JFK and now accounts for a quarter of passengers at the airport. Pictured is one of the carrier's Airbus A320s.

A busy scene at LaGuardia as a line of aircraft, headed by an American Airlines MD-80, taxies for departure. In 2005 the airport handled 26.7 million passengers.