The Town of Islip has chosen real estate developer RXR to lead a major terminal expansion at Long Island MacArthur Airport. RXR is part of JFK Millennium Partners, which is building the 10-gate, 1.2 million-square-foot Terminal 6 at JFK International Airport in Queens.
Fly Long Island, a joint venture of RXR and Herdon, Va. based Avports, has been tapped by a Town of Islip committee to build a new terminal at MacArthur Airport, according to Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter.
The town, which issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in April 2025 for a developer to build and operate a new terminal at MacArthur, had selected a developer for the project, but it had yet to announce who that was.
According to the town’s RFQ, the project includes creating a direct connection from the airport to the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station. If approved by the town board, Fly Long Island would have an option to build a new north terminal that will connect the airport directly to the LIRR station or expand the existing south terminal with a way to connect with the train station.
Supported by $200 million in state and county infrastructure funds comprising $150 million from New York State and $50 million from Suffolk County, the project recently hit a local obstacle. Town board members voted earlier this week to block a $250,000 local funding contribution, prompting Carpenter to issue a statement calling for its immediate restoration.
“This $250,000 in funding is a necessary first step, not a final decision,” Carpenter said in a statement on Thursday. “Before we can determine whether a new north terminal at Long Island MacArthur Airport is the right move for our residents, we need real data on cost, feasibility, and long-term impact. Pulling this funding now would mean walking away from that groundwork just as we have engaged a reputable, experienced and highly qualified developer in RXR to help us evaluate the opportunity and the county has indicated its commitment by issuing an RFP on the adjacent land.”
In her remarks, Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter highlighted Suffolk County’s newly issued Request for Proposals (RFP). The wide-spread initiative aims to transform 48 acres of municipal land located directly south of the Ronkonkoma LIRR station. By reimagining an immense, underutilized commuter parking lot into a vibrant hub, local officials are seeking to drive substantial job creation and stimulate regional economic growth.
Championing sustainable regional growth, Carpenter has urged the town to fully investigate the expansion of Islip MacArthur expansion rather than grounding the project prematurely, stating,
“I want to be clear: exploring this possibility is not the same as committing to it,” she said in the statement. “But we owe it to the taxpayers of Islip to do our due diligence with the professionals, attorneys and our proposer before closing any doors.
