More Airports Close, Cancellations Pile Up.

By Timothy W. Martin and Doug Cameron

Four of the New York area’s five main commercial airports were all closed to arrivals as of noon Saturday, with only Long Island MacArthur Airport and Teterboro in New Jersey providing flying access.

U.S. and international airlines are canceling flights to and from New York, New England and Washington, marking the beginning of what was expected to be a widespread service shutdown along the Eastern seaboard until Hurricane Irene passes.

So far, about 4,000 flights have been canceled through the weekend, but that number is expected to grow as airlines firm up their plans, according to FlightAware.com, a website that tracks flights.

Teterboro, a key base for corporate jets in the northern county of Bergen, plans to stay open as long as possible, according to an airport official. The last flight from MacArthur is expected to leave at 4 p.m., with the airport likely to remain closed until carriers resume services Monday

Stewart International Airport in New York state, some 60 miles north of Manhattan, closed at noon, according to the FAA.

The region’s three main gateways—Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport–all closed to arriving passenger flights at noon. The three will remain open to cargo and general aviation services—such as corporate jets—and departures will continue as long as possible, with British Airways’ flight at 6:40 p.m. seen as the last flight out Saturday.

The key concern for reopening New York’s main airports is possible flooding at LaGuardia, although the Port Authority said it had the staff and other resources in place for any cleanup.