Summary. JFK is NYC's busiest airport, considered cleaner and easier to navigate compared to LaGuardia. LaGuardia, closer to Manhattan, underwent major renovations but still lags behind JFK in overall rating. JFK is the primary international airport, while LaGuardia serves mostly domestic US destinations.

JFK is also larger than LGA and offers several more airlines and flights, so you may find more flexibility flying through JFK, which is known as New York's busiest airport.

LaGuardia is the smallest of the NYC area's three major airports but has been called the most efficient in the world. It's located in Queens, about 10 miles north of JFK, and is most accessible from Queens, Manhattan's Upper East Side, the Bronx, and northern Brooklyn.

LaGuardia Airport opened in 1939. It is located at the northern part of the New York City borough of Queens. The combination of JFK International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airport creates the largest airport system in the United State and the largest total flight operations in the world.