With four airlines now serving the Hudson Valley, NY airport, Stewart is adding a fifth and sixth with new service being launched by AirTran and JetBlue. The airport is already served by American Eagle, Northwest Airlink and US Airways Express as well as LCC Allegiant Air.

The former air force base is part of a trend of regional airports acting as a safety valve to the heavily congested metropolitan airports. It is the 51st destination for LCC AirTran which launches new nonstop service from Stewart to Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. Other airlines go to Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Orlando, respectively. JetBlue plans service to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando on December 19, with flights to West Palm Beach added in January.

In April 2000, Stewart International Airport (SWF) became the first privatized commercial airport in the United States when the National Express Group (NEG) paid $35 million for a a 99-year lease with the State of New York. However, NEG, in a bid to get out of the airport business, is now selling its lease which has prompted the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to debate moves to gain control of it in an effort to relieve congestion.

The Port Authority said that Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark will reach full capacity within 20 years. It also said Teterboro is reaching capacity. The PANYNJ's authority only extends out in a 25-mile radius of New York, stymieing efforts by New York Senator Charles Schumer to get it to offload small plans and air cargo to the upstate airport. If the Port Authority were to buy it, state governments in New York and New Jersey would have to amend laws governing the organization.