Lufthansa offers daily direct flights straight into New York City’s JFK and Newark airports, and we’re sharing how to decide which one to fly into from major European cities
Lufthansa offers daily direct flights straight into New York City from European hubs(Image: Getty Images)
Is a trip to the Big Apple on your 2026 bucket list? Planning and booking a trip to New York City from abroad may seem like a big puzzle at first as you narrow down flights, commuting around Manhattan, sightseeing, and more.
The German air group Lufthansa offers flights worldwide, including many U.S. cities from its European hubs. To make your trip to NYC more seamless, the airline offers multiple daily direct flights straight into New York City’s major airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
For any avid Lufthansa flyers, it was reported yesterday that the airline is canceling all flights to and from Israel.
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Additionally, Lufthansa just became the first European airline to ban the use of power banks on board its aircraft, which is something to keep in mind for a long-haul flight to New York City.
If you’ve been waiting to click book on your trip to New York City, we’re sharing which airport you should fly into from European destinations via Lufthansa.
What flights does Lufthansa offer to New York City?
Lufthansa is a big player in its European home market, offering passengers a wide variety of flights from its hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome.
If you’re flying out of Frankfurt, Germany, into JFK airport, Lufthansa offers two direct flights per day. The airline also offers daily direct flights from Munich to JFK.
To compare your options, Lufthansa has daily direct flights from Munich and Frankfurt to Newark. You can also find flights into New York City from other major cities across Europe, including London, Dublin, Paris, and more. You can quickly find out what your flight options are into New York City on Lufthansa’s flight finder.
Ultimately, the choice of arrival airport in NYC comes down to the price, your personal preferences, and the flight options that work best for you. You can also narrow your choices based on the type of aircraft and cabin classes being offered, such as First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.
JFK and EWR have similar commute times into Midtown Manhattan(Image: Getty Images)
What is the quickest way from the airport to Manhattan?
You may be wondering which airport is better to fly into: JFK versus Newark. You will see similar commute times into Manhattan from either airport, but it comes down to your destination, personal preference, and available flight options.
JFK is NYC’s main airport, located in Queens, and you’ll be able to find flights into JFK from many cities across the world. If you’re staying in Brooklyn, Queens, or on the east side of Manhattan, you may want to consider flying into JFK, as it will be the closest airport.
JFK is approximately 15 miles away from Midtown Manhattan, and depending on traffic and ongoing construction at the airport, travel time to or from Manhattan can range from 30 to 90 minutes.
JFK’s website states that taking the AirTrain to the subway or LIRR from either Penn Station or Grand Central is your best option, as it can be faster and is significantly less expensive.
When it comes to Newark, while it is based in New Jersey, it takes a similar amount of time to get into Manhattan from the airport, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your destination. Newark is roughly 16 miles away from Midtown Manhattan.
It can be a convenient airport if you’re staying in New Jersey or on the west side of Manhattan. New Jersey Transit provides transportation between Penn Station and Newark Airport Station, which is connected to the airport via the AirTrain. This commute will take around 50 minutes. You can also choose to take a taxi or rideshare, but it will be more expensive and take a similar amount of time.