Problem with Islip is the connection from airport to train is not there. There is a cab company that will take you for $5. Plus there is not good frequency on the train into the city to make it worth it. SW goes into there and their schedule doesn't correspond to the train schedule so it's basically worthless to get into nyc

Need a lot of advertising $ and hard to compete against frequent flyer miles

Islip is a better option for those who live in Suffolk County and even parts of eastern Nassau county. For NYC, no question ISP is not desirable.

Islip Airport should be touting how inconvenient LGA currently is with all the construction.

There's been talk for years about better transportation from ISP terminal to the LIRR station, but it's never happened. I simply don't think there's enough traffic.

The only thing, ever, that's been convenient about LGA is the car-miles distance from mid-town. LGA was Third-world before the term was invented.

Some people have a formula to compare fares between larger & closer 'metro' airports and farther-out fields. It includes drive-miles, drive-time, parking costs, direct vs connection, overall flight duration, time of day, and more. The result is a way to determine how much more they can charge at farther-out fields (which probably have lower operating costs, as well).

Many airlines have some history of their own to look at. When Southwest wanted to attack Fortress Boston, they started operations to/from Providence, RI and Manchester, NH. Worked for them, and the PAX who lived between loved it, and some people went from Boston out to the 'boonies' to fly. Eventually, SWA got slots at Logan, but didn't pull out of either PVI or MHT.

One can be more, or less, scientific about the math. Half of it is perception. You're right: That can be swayed by good marketing - both PR and advertising.

Intermodal: If you build it, more will come. Enough more to absorb the cost? That's the question. PVI has intermodal rail connections to Boston. This transfers the question to: How convenient is the other end of rail to you?

The last factor is convenience. For a decade, I lived near Philadelphia, about as far north from center city as PHL is south. 50 minutes to drive to the airport, plus traffic delays. I could take the train: drive a mile from my house, park for free, train into Center City, change trains (lengthy connection), go to the airport. Took at least an hour and a half, with as many delays as I-95. Didn't do it once in ten years.

Boston has never been slot restricted/controlled. SWA did not fly to BOS because at that time their model was to not fly to Major airports where delays could affect their tight schedule with downline ripple effects.

True. My bad.

And LGA was NOT third world. No more than any place else before the "term" was invented. That is just an ignorant statement. I am from around there so I know.

Your right, LGA was not third world. Many terminals around the third world are significantly nicer. I know, I've been there.

Many that bash New York either don't live their or have anything better to do. The LGA terminal is one of my fav's as it is from the golden days. If you don't like that or get that, who cares, honestly. The NY bashing is just old.