Food and drink prices at New York's three main airports are expected to rise by more than 7% next year. The increase is part of a plan to offset the costs of higher wages and improved benefits for airport workers, according to reports from The New York Times and NJ Advance.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have introduced a proposal that would lead to these price adjustments as early as January. Murphy stated, "Our region’s airport system serves as one of the nation’s largest distribution and transportation hubs, but it is only as efficient as the men and women who work each day to keep operations running smoothly. Airport work is a difficult and demanding job that deserves our recognition and our thanks, which is why I am pleased with today’s proposed per hour wage increases and look forward to seeing them approved."
Currently, wages are capped at $19 an hour but could increase up to $25 an hour by September 2032 if not reached earlier through annual increments tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Starting in January 2025, there will be wage increases of 75 cents per hour every six months until January 2026, after which they will adjust based on CPI.