A significant transformation is underway at New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK).
The airport, which is among the many busiest on the planet, is getting two brand-new terminals, in addition to an overhaul of a number of different present terminals.
Maybe no improve is as thrilling because the new Terminal 6, which simply celebrated one yr since building started. As a part of this milestone, the terminal redevelopment group, JFK Millennium Companions, together with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, shared a sneak peek at what vacationers can count on as soon as the power opens within the first quarter of 2026.
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JFK’s new Terminal 6
JFK’s new Terminal 6 will span a whopping 1.2 million sq. ft and supply 10 new gates, 9 of that are able to dealing with wide-body jets. The brand new terminal is being constructed adjoining to the present Terminal 5, which is dwelling to JetBlue Airways’ JFK hub.
As soon as full, the 2 terminals might be linked airside, giving flyers a extra seamless connecting expertise (assuming that the carriers working from these amenities supply connecting tickets).
The Lufthansa Group has already introduced that it’s going to change into the brand new terminal’s first tenant, shifting the Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airways and Brussels Airways operations from the present Terminal 1 to Terminal 6 in early 2026.
The Port Authority confirmed this week that “superior discussions with different air carriers are underway” to maneuver to the brand new terminal. On the outset, solely 5 of the $4.2 billion terminal’s 10 gates will open, with the remaining 5 as a result of be accomplished by 2028.
A number of different facilities have already been teased. This contains the longest departures curb at JFK (with translucent canopies), that means that there should not be an excessive amount of roadway site visitors attending to the terminal (one thing that the present Terminal 1 suffers from on a nightly foundation).
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The terminal might be dwelling to as much as 5 airline lounges — Lufthansa already confirmed that it’s going to open a brand new outpost there — in addition to a brand new arrivals lounge. It stays to be seen which provider will lease the arrivals lounge, nevertheless it seemingly will not be Lufthansa since a lot of the airline’s New York-bound flights arrive within the afternoon and night.
Terminal 6 will share a brand new floor transportation middle and taxi stand with Terminal 5, and it will even be linked to each the Terminal 5 and Terminal 7 AirTrain stations.
The brand new facility may also home a centralized Transportation Safety Administration checkpoint with the most recent screening applied sciences, in addition to a Customs and Border Safety immigration space for worldwide arrivals.
Primarily based on the newly launched renderings, the brand new terminal seems prefer it’ll change into one of many nicest within the nation when it opens. From the round skylight on the middle of the check-in space to the brilliant and ethereal Grand Corridor within the departures space, this facility must be largely paying homage to the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport.
Many extra particulars are anticipated to be unveiled within the coming months. “Collection of the long run meals and beverage, retail and duty-free concession manufacturers is underway, with companions to be introduced as soon as chosen,” reads the Port Authority’s press launch.
When Terminal 6 is full, the present Terminal 7 is anticipated to be demolished.
JFK’s new Terminal One
Along with the brand new Terminal 6, the airport’s present Terminal 1 is being remodeled as a part of a $9.5 billion mission.
The new Terminal One at JFK will incorporate the present and former websites of terminals 1, 2 and three into a large, 2.4 million-square-foot worldwide terminal that can anchor the south aspect of the airport.
When full, the brand new terminal would be the largest at JFK — almost the identical dimension as LaGuardia Airport’s two new terminals mixed. The primary massive milestone, which incorporates the brand new arrivals and departures corridor and the primary set of 14 new gates, is anticipated to open in 2026.
When absolutely full in 2030, the brand new Terminal One will characteristic 23 gates, a redesigned check-in corridor and overhauled arrival areas. (The present Terminal 1 and just lately shuttered Terminal 2 have 12 and 11 gates, respectively.)
Different JFK upgrades
All of this work is being carried out as a part of the JFK Imaginative and prescient Plan, a serious strategic initiative from the Port Authority to reimagine the airport.
In reality, two components of the JFK Imaginative and prescient Plan are already operational. American Airways led a $400 million modernization of its JFK dwelling that features new gates, three new premium lounges and an overhauled check-in space.
As a part of the enlargement, British Airways and Iberia moved into Terminal 8, with different Oneworld alliance carriers having co-located into the house since then.
In the meantime, Delta Air Traces invested in a $1.5 billion improve at its Terminal 4 hub at JFK. This enlargement contains 11 new gates, two new Sky Golf equipment and an overhauled check-in space.
Positive, all of this work would possibly imply numerous site visitors and complications proper now, nevertheless it seems prefer it’ll all be value it as soon as the mission is full.
For extra in regards to the new JFK, make sure to take a look at: