John F. Kennedy International Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport
Aerial shot of JFK Airport on November 14, 2018
IATA: JFK ICAO: KJFK FAA LID: JFK WMO: 74486
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	Port Authority of New York and New Jersey[1]
Serves	New York metropolitan area
Location	Queens, New York City, U.S.
Opened	July 1, 1948; 73 years ago (1948-07-01)
Hub for	American Airlines Delta Air Lines
Focus city for	Eastern Airlines, LLC JetBlue
Time zone	EST (UTC−05:00)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC−04:00)
Elevation AMSL	13 ft / 4 m
Coordinates	40°38′23″N 73°46′44″W / 40.63972°N 73.77889°W / 40.63972; -73.77889Coordinates: 40°38′23″N 73°46′44″W / 40.63972°N 73.77889°W / 40.63972; -73.77889
Website	www.jfkairport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram as of October 2016
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 4L/22R 12,079 3,682 Concrete[2] 4R/22L 8,400 2,560 Asphalt 13L/31R 10,000 3,048 Concrete 13R/31L 14,511 4,423 Concrete
Helipads
Number Length Surface ft m H1 60 18 Asphalt H2 60 18 Asphalt H3 60 18 Asphalt H4 60 18 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Aircraft operations 199,769 Passengers 16,630,642 Total cargo and mail (short tons) 1,152,601
Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey[3] FAA[4]

John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) (colloquially referred to as JFK Airport, New York-JFK, or JFK) is the main international airport serving New York City. The airport is the busiest international air passenger gateway into North America,^[5] the 20th-busiest airport in the world, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest airport of the six airports in the New York airport system, having handled over 62.5 million passengers in 2019.^[6] More than ninety airlines operate from the airport, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations in all six inhabited continents.^[7][8]

JFK is located in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens,^[9] 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Midtown Manhattan. The airport features six passenger terminals and four runways. JFK is a hub for both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, and it is the primary operating base for JetBlue.^[10] JFK was also formerly a hub for Pan Am, TWA, Eastern, National, and Tower Air.

The facility opened in 1948 as New York International Airport^[11][12] and was commonly known as Idlewild Airport.^[13] Following U.S. President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport as a tribute to the 35th President.^[14][15][16]

History[]

Map showing New York City and the locations of JFK (1), LaGuardia (2), and Newark (3) airports

Construction[]

John F. Kennedy International Airport was originally called Idlewild Airport (IATA: IDL, ICAO: KIDL, FAA LID: IDL) after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced. It was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after its 1939 opening.^[17]: 2 In late 1941, mayor Fiorello La Guardia announced that the city had tentatively chosen a large area of marshland on Jamaica Bay, which included the Idlewild Golf Course as well as a summer hotel and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport, for a new airfield.^{[17]: 2 [18]} Title to the land was conveyed to the city at the end of December 1941.^[19] Construction began in 1943,^[20] though the airport's final layout was not yet decided upon.^{[17]: 2–3}

About US$60 million was initially spent with governmental funding, but only 1,000 acres (400 ha) of the Idlewild Golf Course site were earmarked for use.^[21] The project was renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport in 1943 after a Queens resident who had commanded a Federalized National Guard unit in the southern United States and died in late 1942. The renaming was vetoed by Mayor La Guardia and reinstated by the New York City Council; in common usage, the airport was still called "Idlewild".^[22] In 1944, the New York City Board of Estimate authorized the condemnation of another 1,350 acres (550 ha) for Idlewild.^[23] The Port of New York Authority (now the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey) leased the Idlewild property from the City of New York in 1947^[17]: 3 and maintains this lease today.^[1] In March 1948, the City Council changed the official name to New York International Airport, Anderson Field, but the common name remained "Idlewild" until December 24, 1963.^[15][24] The airport was intended as the world's largest and most efficient, with "no confusion and no congestion".^{[17]: 3 [25]}

Early operations[]

President Truman (left) with Governor Dewey (right) at dedication of the Idlewild Airport

The first flight from Idlewild was on July 1, 1948, with the opening ceremony attended by then-U.S. President Harry S. Truman.^[21][26] The Port Authority canceled foreign airlines' permits to use LaGuardia, forcing them to move to Idlewild during the next couple of years.^[27] Idlewild at the time had a single 79,280-square-foot (7,365 m²) terminal building;^[17]: 3 by 1949, the terminal building was being expanded to 215,501 square feet (20,021 m²).^[28] Further expansions would come in following years, including a control tower in 1952,^[29] as well as new and expanded buildings and taxiways.^[30][31]

Idlewild opened with six runways and a seventh under construction;^[32] runways 1L and 7L were held in reserve and never came into use as runways. Runway 31R (originally 8,000 ft or 2,438 m) is still in use; runway 31L (originally 9,500 ft or 2,896 m) opened soon after the rest of the airport and is still in use; runway 1R closed in 1957 and runway 7R closed around 1966. Runway 4 (originally 8,000 ft, now runway 4L) opened June 1949 and runway 4R was added ten years later. A smaller runway 14/32 was built after runway 7R closed and was used until 1990^[33] by general aviation, STOL, and smaller commuter flights.

The Avro Jetliner was the first jet airliner to land at Idlewild on April 16, 1950. A Sud Aviation Caravelle prototype was the next jet airliner to land at Idlewild, on May 2, 1957. Later in 1957, the USSR sought approval for two jet-powered Tupolev Tu-104 flights carrying diplomats to Idlewild; the Port Authority did not allow them, saying noise tests had to be done first. (The Caravelle had been tested at Paris.)

In 1951, the airport averaged 73 daily airline operations (takeoffs plus landings); the October 1951 Airline Guide shows nine domestic departures a day on National and Northwest. Much of Newark's traffic moved to Idlewild (which averaged 242 daily airline operations in 1952) when Newark closed in February 1952. L-1049 Constellations and DC-7s appeared between 1951 and 1953 and did not use LaGuardia for their first several years, bringing more traffic to Idlewild. The April 1957 Airline Guide cites a total of 1,283 departures a week, including about 250 from Eastern Air Lines, 150 from National Airlines and 130 from Pan American.^{[full citation needed]}

Separate terminals[]

By 1954, Idlewild had the highest volume of international air traffic of any airport globally.^{[17]: 3 [34]} The Port of New York Authority originally planned a single 55-gate terminal, but the major airlines did not agree with this plan, arguing that the terminal would be far too small for future traffic.^[35] Architect Wallace Harrison then designed a plan for each major airline at the airport to be given its own space to develop its own terminal.^[36] This scheme made construction more practical, made terminals more navigable, and introduced incentives for airlines to compete with each other for the best design.^[35] The revised plan met airline approval in 1955, with seven terminals initially planned. Five terminals were for individual airlines, one was for three airlines, and one was for international arrivals. (National Airlines and British Airways arrived later.)^[24] In addition, there would be an 11-story control tower, roadways, parking lots, taxiways, and a reflecting lagoon in the center.^[17]: 3 The airport was designed for aircraft up to 300,000-pound (140,000 kg) gross weight^[37] The airport had to be modified in the late 1960s to accommodate the Boeing 747's weight.^[38]

The International Arrivals Building, or IAB, was the first new terminal at the airport, opening in December 1957.^[39] The building was designed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM).^[17]: 3 The terminal stretched nearly 2,300 feet (700 meters) and was parallel to runway 7R. The terminal had "finger" piers at right-angles to the main building allowing more aircraft to park, an innovation at the time.^[24] The building was expanded in 1970 to accommodate jetways. However, by the 1990s the overcrowded building was showing its age and it did not provide adequate space for security checkpoints. It was demolished in 2000 and replaced with Terminal 4.

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines^[40] opened Terminal 7 (later renumbered Terminal 9), a SOM design similar to the IAB,^{[17]: 3–4} in October 1959.^[41] It was demolished in 2008.

Eastern Airlines opened their Chester L. Churchill-designed Terminal 1^[17]: 4 in November 1959.^[42] The terminal was demolished in 1995 and replaced with the current Terminal 1.^[24][43]

American Airlines opened Terminal 8 in February 1960.^[44] It was designed by Kahn and Jacobs^{[17]: 3 [24]} and had a 317-foot (97 m) stained-glass facade designed by Robert Sowers,^[45] the largest stained-glass installation in the world until 1979. The facade was removed in 2007 as the terminal was demolished to make room for the new Terminal 8; American cited the prohibitive cost of removing the enormous installation.^[46]

Pan American World Airways opened the Worldport (later Terminal 3) in 1960, designed by Tippetts-Abbett-McCarthy-Stratton.^{[17]: 4 [47]} It featured a large, elliptical roof suspended by 32 sets of radial posts and cables; the roof extended 114 feet (35 m) beyond the base of the terminal to cover the passenger loading area. It was one of the first airline terminals in the world to feature jetways that connected to the terminal and that could be moved to provide an easy walkway for passengers from the terminal to a docked aircraft. Jetways replaced the need to have to board the plane outside via airstairs which descend from an aircraft, truck-mounted mobile stairs, or wheeled stairs.^[48] The Worldport was demolished in 2013.

Trans World Airlines opened the TWA Flight Center in 1962, designed by Eero Saarinen with a distinctive winged-bird shape.^[49][50] With the demise of TWA in 2001, the terminal remained vacant until 2005 when JetBlue and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) financed the construction of a new 26-gate terminal partly encircling the Saarinen building. Called Terminal 5 (Now T5), the new terminal opened October 22, 2008. T5 is connected to the Saarinen central building through the original passenger departure-arrival tubes that connected the building to the outlying gates. The original Saarinen terminal, also known as the head house, has since been converted into the TWA Hotel.^[51]

Northwest Airlines, Braniff International, and Northeast Airlines opened a joint terminal in November 1962 (now Terminal 2).^[48][52]

National Airlines opened the Sundrome (later Terminal 6) in 1969.^[53] The terminal was designed by I.M.Pei. It was unique for its use of all-glass mullions dividing the window sections, unprecedented at the time.^[54] In 2001, United Airlines planned to redevelop this terminal and the TWA Flight Center as a new United terminal.^[55] Terminal 6 was used by JetBlue from 2001 until JetBlue moved to Terminal 5 in 2008. The Sundrome was demolished in 2011.

Later operation[]

The airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 24, 1963, a month and two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy;^[56] Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr. proposed the renaming.^[57] The IDL and KIDL codes have since been reassigned to Indianola Municipal Airport in Mississippi.^[58]

Airlines began scheduling jets to Idlewild in 1958–59; LaGuardia did not get jets until 1964, and JFK became New York's busiest airport. It had more airline takeoffs and landings than LaGuardia and Newark combined from 1962 to 1967 and was the second-busiest airport in the country, peaking at 403,981 airline operations in 1967. LaGuardia received a new terminal and longer runways from 1960 to 1966. By the mid- 1970s, the two airports had roughly equal airline traffic (by flight count); Newark was in third place until the 1980s, except during LaGuardia's reconstruction. Concorde, operated by Air France and British Airways, made scheduled trans-Atlantic supersonic flights to JFK from November 22, 1977, until its retirement by British Airways on October 24, 2003.^[59][60][61] Air France had retired the aircraft in May 2003.

Construction of the AirTrain JFK people-mover system began in 1998, after decades of planning for a direct rail link to the airport.^[62][63] Although the system was originally scheduled to open in 2002,^[64] it opened on December 17, 2003 after delays caused by construction and a fatal crash.^[65] The rail network links each airport terminal to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road at Howard Beach and Jamaica.^[66][67]

The airport's new Terminal 1 opened on May 28, 1998; Terminal 4, the $1.4 billion replacement for the International Arrivals Building, opened on May 24, 2001.^[68][69] JetBlue's Terminal 5 incorporates the TWA Flight Center, and Terminals 8 and 9 were demolished and rebuilt as Terminal 8 for the American Airlines hub. The Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved a $20 million planning study for the redevelopment of Terminals 2 and 3, the Delta Air Lines hub, in 2008.^[70]

On March 19, 2007, JFK was the first airport in the United States to receive a passenger Airbus A380 flight. The route, with an over-500-passenger capacity, was operated by Lufthansa and Airbus and arrived at Terminal 1. On August 1, 2008, it received the first regularly-scheduled commercial A380 flight to the United States (on Emirates' New York–Dubai route) at Terminal 4.^[71] Although the service was suspended in 2009 due to poor demand,^[72] the aircraft was reintroduced in November 2010. Airlines operating A380s to JFK include Singapore Airlines (on its New York–Frankfurt–Singapore route),^[73] Air France (on its New York–Paris route), Lufthansa (on its New York–Frankfurt route), Korean Air (on its New York–Seoul route), Asiana Airlines (on its New York–Seoul route), Etihad Airways on its New York–Abu Dhabi route, and Emirates (on its New York–Milan–Dubai and New York–Dubai routes).^[74] On December 8, 2015, JFK was the first U.S. airport to receive a commercial Airbus A350 flight when Qatar Airways began using the aircraft on one of its New York–Doha routes.^[75]

On August 14, 2016, at 9:31 pm, gunfire was reported at Terminal 8; shortly afterward, gunfire was also reported at Terminal 1. An investigation indicated that no shooting had occurred, but frightened travelers ran from the terminals onto nearby highways and runways.^[76][77] The terminals were temporarily shut down, and flights were rerouted.^[78] Police, who were investigating, learned that the reported gunshots were travelers clapping for Usain Bolt after he won the men's 100-meter dash at the 2016 Summer Olympics.^[76] Two people were injured in the resulting stampede, and the Port Authority Police Department later reviewed its strategy for dealing with possible terror attacks.^[77]

Reconstruction[]

On January 4, 2017, the office of then New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced a plan to renovate most of the airport's existing infrastructure at a cost of $7 to $10 billion. The Airport Master Plan Advisory Panel had reported that JFK, ranked 59th out of the world's top 100 airports by Skytrax, was expected to experience severe capacity constraints from increased use.^[79][80] The airport was expected to serve about 75 million annual passengers in 2020 and 100 million by 2050, up from 60 million when the report was published.^[79] The panel had several recommendations, including enlarging the newer terminals; relocating older terminals; reconfiguring highway ramps and increasing the number of lanes on the Van Wyck Expressway; lengthening AirTrain JFK trainsets or connecting the line to the New York City transportation system, and rebuilding the Jamaica station with direct connections to the Long Island Rail Road and the New York City Subway.^[81] No start date has yet been proposed for the project;^[80] in July 2017, Cuomo's office began accepting proposals for master plans to renovate the airport.^[82][83] When all the construction is finished, the airport will have 149 total gates- 145 with jetways and 4 hardstands.

New Terminal 1[]

In October 2018, Cuomo released details of a $13 billion plan to rebuild passenger facilities and approaches to JFK Airport. Two all-new international terminals would be built. One of the terminals, a $7 billion, 2.8-million-square-foot (260-thousand-square-metre), 23-gate structure replacing terminals 1 and 2 (and the vacant space of Terminal 3) and connecting to Terminal 4, would be financed and built by a partnership between Munich Airport Group, Lufthansa, Air France, Korean Air, and Japan Airlines. Of these 23 gates, all are international gates, 22 are widebody gates (4 can accommodate an Airbus A380), and 1 is a narrowbody gate. This would also require the reconfiguring new roads to accommodate the new terminal.^[84][85]

On December 13, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul gave a further update on the plans to build a new Terminal 1, which in a further developed form would cost US$9.5 billion. The new facility is taking inspiration from the new Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, and the new terminal will have New York City-inspired art throughout it similar to Terminal B at LGA. Once Terminal 2 is demolished and Delta's regional flights are transferred to an expanded Terminal 4, the New Terminal 1 will begin construction, and will then open in phases with the first 14 gates on its east side along with the departures and arrivals hall scheduled to open in 2026 on the site of the demolished Terminal 2. The current Terminal 1 will then be demolished, and in its place the next 5 gates on the west side of the terminal will open in 2028, and the final 4 gates will open in 2030. An additional extension of the terminal on its west side with an additional 4 gates (with an additional A380 gate) has been proposed in the event of excess traffic. The project is scheduled to begin in mid-2022.

Expanded Terminal 4[]

On February 11, 2020, Cuomo and the Port Authority, along with Delta Air Lines, announced a $3.8 billion plan to add sixteen domestic regional gates to the 'A' side of Terminal 4, replacing Terminal 2. The main headhouse will be expanded to accommodate additional passengers and would open in 2022. The sixteen new gates will open in 2023, allowing the demolition of Terminal 2, the consolidation of flights for Delta, and the ability to build the new Terminal 1. An expanded roadway will be completed in 2025. This would bring the total gates of this terminal from 38 to 54.^[86][87]

New Terminal 6[]

The other terminal, a new Terminal 6 with 10 new wide-body gates costing $3 billion, would be built by a consortium including JetBlue, RXR Realty, and Vantage Airport Group known as JFK Millennium Partners, and will replace Terminal 7 and the vacant space of Terminal 6, and would connect to Terminal 5. Terminal 8 would remain a separate terminal operating American Airlines and Oneworld flights, the airline alliance AA is a member of.^[84][88][89] JFK's redesign will include adding cars to AirTrain trainsets; widening connector ramps between the Van Wyck Expressway and Grand Central Parkway in Kew Gardens; and adding another lane in each direction to the Van Wyck, at a combined cost of $1.5 billion.^[84][90] Under the plan, the first gates would open in 2023, and the project would be complete in 2025.^[88][89]

Expanded Terminal 8[]

In 2019, it was announced that British Airways and Iberia will move into Terminal 8 preceding the demolition of Terminal 7, and that the terminal would be expanded and changed to accommodate more widebody aircraft that British Airways, Iberia and other OneWorld airlines regularly send to JFK. On January 7, 2020, construction began on expanding and improving Terminal 8. Following the construction, British Airways and Iberia will move into Terminal 8. This construction will be the first phase in the airport's expansion; the airport will have the same amount of gates as before, plus 4 hardstands.^[91]

Access[]

Rail[]

All lines of AirTrain JFK, the airport's dedicated rail network, stop at each passenger terminal. The system also serves Federal Circle, the JFK long-term parking lot, and two multimodal rapid transit stations: Howard Beach and Jamaica. While AirTrain travel within airport property is complementary, external transfers at the latter two locations are paid via MetroCard and provide access to the New York City Subway, Long Island Rail Road, and MTA Bus services.

Bus[]

As of 2021, several MTA bus lines (Q3, Q10, B15) serve the airport's Central Terminal Area via a dedicated bus stop at the former Terminal 6. Additional lines (Q6, Q7) serve JFK's cargo terminals. Bus fares are paid via MetroCard or OMNY systems, with free transfers provided to New York City Subway services.

Car[]

Vehicles primarily access the airport via the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) or JFK Expressway, both of which are connected to the Belt Parkway and various surface streets in South Ozone Park and Springfield Gardens. The airport operates parking facilities consisting of multi-level terminal garages, surface spaces in the Central Terminal Area, and a long-term parking lot with total accommodation for more than 17,000 vehicles.^[92] A travel plaza on airport property also contains a food court, filling station, and four Tesla Superchargers.^[93]

Taxis and other for-hire vehicles (FHV) serving JFK are licensed by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. In 2019, PANYNJ approved the implementation of "airport access fee" surcharges on FHV and taxi trips, with the revenue earmarked to support the agency's capital programs.^[94]

Facilities[]

Aerial view of the terminals in 2021

Terminals[]

JFK has six terminals, containing 131 gates in total. The terminals are numbered 1–8 but skipping terminals 3 (demolished in 2013) and 6 (demolished in 2011).

The terminal buildings, with the exception of the former Tower Air terminal, are arranged in a deformed U-shaped wavy pattern around a central area containing parking, a power plant and other airport facilities. The terminals are connected by the AirTrain system and access roads. Directional signage throughout the terminals was designed by Paul Mijksenaar.^[95] A 2006 survey by J.D. Power and Associates in conjunction with Aviation Week found JFK ranked second in overall traveler satisfaction among large airports in the United States, behind Harry Reid International Airport, which serves the Las Vegas metropolitan area.^[96]

Until the early 1990s, each terminal was known by the primary airline that served it, except for Terminal 4, which was known as the International Arrivals Building. In the early 1990s, all of the terminals were given numbers except for the Tower Air terminal, which sat outside the Central Terminals area and was not numbered. Like in the other airports controlled by the Port Authority, terminals are sometimes managed and maintained by independent terminal operators. At JFK, all terminals are currently managed by airlines or consortiums of the airlines serving them, with the exception of the Schiphol Group-operated Terminal 4. All terminals except Terminal 2 can handle international arrivals that are not pre-cleared.

Most inter-terminal connections require passengers to exit security, then walk, use a shuttle bus, or use the AirTrain JFK to get to the other terminal, then re-clear security.

Terminal 1[]

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 opened in 1998, 50 years after the opening of JFK, at the direction of the Terminal One Group, a consortium of four key operating carriers: Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and Lufthansa.^[97] This partnership was founded after the four airlines reached agreement that the then-existing international carrier facilities were inadequate for their needs.

Terminal 1 is served by SkyTeam carriers Aeroflot, Air France, China Eastern Airlines, ITA Airways, Korean Air, and Saudia; Star Alliance carriers Asiana Airlines, Air China, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, and Turkish Airlines; and Oneworld carriers Japan Airlines and Royal Air Maroc. Other airlines serving terminal 1 include Air Senegal, Air Serbia, Azerbaijan Airlines, Azores Airlines, Cayman Airways, Eastern Airlines, Neos, Philippine Airlines, Sky Cana, VivaAerobus, and Volaris.^[98]

Terminal 1 was designed by William Nicholas Bodouva + Associates.^[99] It and Terminal 4 are the two terminals at JFK Airport with the capability of handling the Airbus A380 aircraft, which are flown by Lufthansa on the route from Frankfurt Airport, and by Korean Air on the route from Seoul–Incheon. Air France operated Concorde here until 2003.^[100] Terminal 1 has 11 gates.^[101]

Terminal 2[]

Terminal 2 opened in 1962 as the home of Northeast Airlines, Braniff, and Northwest Airlines, and is currently occupied by Delta Air Lines. The facility contains 11 jetbridge-equipped gates (C60–C70), one mezzanine-level airline club, and it formerly housed several hardstands for smaller regional airliners. As the only terminal without a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility, T2 is unable to accept any international flights arriving unless subject to US Customs preclearance.

After the demise of Northeast Airlines and Braniff, the terminal was taken over by Pan Am and subsequently Delta. Upon the completion of Terminal 4, T2's gates were prefaced with the letter 'C', and airside shuttle buses provided passenger connectivity between the terminals. Prior to 2013, Terminal 2 hosted the majority of Delta's operations in conjunction with Terminal 3, but the 2013–2015 expansion of Terminal 4 allowed the airline to consolidate most of its operation in the new larger facility, including international and transcontinental flights.^[102] In mid-2020, following drastic schedule reductions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta suspended all operations from Terminal 2.^[103] In April 2021, the Port Authority finalized plans to expand Terminals 1 and 4 and demolish Terminal 2 at an unspecified date.^[104] Terminal 2 is expected to be vacant by 2022, and the renovated Terminal 1 will occupy its former footprint. As of July 2021, the facility has been re-opened to Delta flights.

Terminal 4[]

Terminal 4 replaced the former International Arrivals Building in May 2001

Terminal 4, developed by LCOR, Inc., is managed by JFK International Air Terminal (IAT) LLC, a subsidiary of the Schiphol Group and was the first in the United States to be managed by a foreign airport operator. Terminal 4 currently contains 38 gates in two concourses and functions as the hub for Delta at JFK. Concourse A (A2–A7) serves primarily Asian and some European airlines, while Concourse B primarily serves both domestic & international flights of Delta Air Lines and its Skyteam partners.

Airlines servicing Terminal 4 include SkyTeam carriers Aeromexico, Air Europa, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, KLM, and XiamenAir; Star Alliance carriers Air India, Avianca, Copa Airlines, EgyptAir, and Singapore Airlines; and non-alliance carriers Caribbean Airlines, China Southern Airlines, El Al, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Hainan Airlines, JetBlue (late night international arrivals only), Kuwait Airways, LATAM Brasil, LATAM Chile, Uzbekistan Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet.^[98] Like Terminal 1, the facility is Airbus A380-compatible with service currently provided by Emirates (to Dubai; both non-stop and one-stop flights via Milan) and Singapore Airlines (to Singapore via Frankfurt). As of 2019 only one gate (A6) at Terminal 4 has three jetways, which is generally the most efficient system to board and offload an A380^{[citation needed]}.

Opened in early 2001 and designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill,^[105] the 1.5-million-square-foot (140,000 m²) facility was built at a cost of $1.4 billion and replaced JFK's old International Arrivals Building (IAB), which opened in 1957. The new construction incorporated a mezzanine-level AirTrain station, expansive check-in hall, and four-block-long retail area.^[106]

Terminal 4 has seen multiple expansions over the years. On May 24, 2013 the completion of a $1.4 billion project added mechanized checked-bag screening, a centralized security checkpoint (consolidating two checkpoints into one new 4th floor location), 9 international gates, improved U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities, and the largest SkyClub lounge in Delta's network.^{[107][108][109][110]} Later that year, the expansion also improved passenger connectivity with Terminal 2 by bolstering inter-terminal JFK Jitney shuttle bus service and building a dedicated 8,000 square-foot bus holdroom facility adjacent to gate B20.^[111] Also in 2013, Delta and the Port Authority agreed^[112] to a further $175 million Phase II expansion which called for 11 new regional jet gates to supersede capacity provided by the soon-to-be-demolished Terminal 2 hardstands and Terminal 3. Delta sought funding from the New York City Industrial development Agency,^[112] and work on Phase II was completed in January 2015.

By 2017, plans to again expand Terminal 4's passenger capacity were being floated in conjunction with a larger JFK modernization proposal. In early 2020, Governor Cuomo announced that the Port Authority and Delta/IAT had agreed to terms extending Concourse A by 16 domestic gates, renovating the arrival/departure halls, and improving land-side roadways at a cost of $3.8 billion.^[113] By April 2021, that plan had been scaled-back to $1.5 billion worth of improvements as a result of financial hardships imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The revised plan currently calls for arrival/departure hall modernization and just 10 new gates in Concourse A. Consolidation of Delta's operations entirely within T4 is expected by 2022, with full project completion in 2023.^[104]

In 2019, American Express began construction of a Centurion lounge which subsequently opened in October 2020.^[114] The structural addition extends the headhouse between the control tower and gate A2, and includes 15,000 square-feet of dining, bars, and fitness facilities.

Terminal 5[]

Terminal 5

Terminal 5 opened in 2008 for JetBlue, the manager and primary tenant of the building, as the base of its large JFK operating base. The terminal has also been used by Hawaiian Airlines since June 2012,^[115] Cape Air, and Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus, whose flights arriving into JFK from Shannon and Dublin have already been pre-cleared in Ireland. Aer Lingus previously used Terminal 4 prior to the introduction of pre-clearance in Ireland, moving to Terminal 5 on April 3, 2013. On November 12, 2014, JetBlue opened the International Arrivals Concourse (T5i) at the terminal.^[116]

The terminal was redesigned by Gensler and constructed by Turner Construction, and sits behind the preserved Eero Saarinen-designed terminal originally known as the TWA Flight Center, which is now connected to the new structure and is considered part of Terminal 5.^{[117][118][119]} The TWA Flight Center reopened as the TWA Hotel in May 2019. The active Terminal 5 building has 29 gates: 1 through 12 and 14 through 30, with gates 25 through 30 handling international flights that are not pre-cleared (gates 28–30 opened in November 2014).^[120]

The terminal has a TSA Pre check point for expedited security checks and is open from 3am to 11pm.^[121]

Airspace Lounge opened an airport lounge near Gate 24 in July 2013,^[122] and Aer Lingus opened an airport lounge in 2015.^[123] In August 2016, Fraport USA was selected by JetBlue as the concessions developer to help attract and manage concessions tenants that align with JetBlue's vision for Terminal 5.^[124] During the summer of 2016, JetBlue renovated Terminal 5, completely overhauling the check-in lobby.^[125]

Terminal 7[]

Terminal 7 – Departure Level

Terminal 7 was designed by GMW Architects^[126] and built for BOAC and Air Canada in 1970. Currently operated by British Airways, it is also the only airport terminal operated on US soil by a foreign carrier, although Terminal 1 is operated by a consortium of foreign carriers serving the building.

Airlines operating out of Terminal 7 include Oneworld carriers Alaska Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia; Star Alliance carriers All Nippon Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, and United Airlines; SkyTeam member Aerolíneas Argentinas; and non-alliance carriers Icelandair and Ukraine International Airlines.

Between 1989 and 1991, the terminal was renovated and expanded at a cost of $120 million.^[127] The expansion was designed by William Nicholas Bodouva + Associates, Architects.^[99] In 1997, the Port Authority approved British Airways' plans to renovate and expand the terminal. The $250 million project^[128] was designed by Corgan Associates^[129] and was completed in 2003.^[130] The renovated terminal has 12 gates.^[128]

In 2015, British Airways extended its lease on the terminal through 2022, with an option of a further three years.^[131] BA also planned to spend $65 million to renovate the terminal.^[132] Despite being operated by British Airways, a major A380 operator, Terminal 7 is not currently able to handle the aircraft type. As a result, British Airways cannot operate A380s on the lucrative London-Heathrow to New York flights, even though in 2014 there was an advertising campaign that British Airways was going to do so.^[132] However, British Airways plans to join its Oneworld partners in Terminal 8,^[133] and it will not exercise its lease options on Terminal 7. When BA vacates the terminal, the Port Authority has chosen JFK Millennium Partners, a consortium including JetBlue, RXR Realty, and Vantage Airport Group to operate, and eventually demolish, the current terminal while it builds a new Terminal 6 to serve as a direct replacement.^[134]

In late 2020 United Airlines announced they would be returning to JFK in February 2021 after a 5-year hiatus. As of Sunday, March 28, 2021, United operates transcontinental nonstop service from Terminal 7 to its west coast hubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles.^[135]

Terminal 8[]

Inside the security checkpoint of Terminal 8

Terminal 8 is a major Oneworld hub with American operating its hub here. In 1999, American Airlines began an eight-year program to build the largest passenger terminal at JFK, designed by DMJM Aviation to replace both Terminal 8 and Terminal 9. The new terminal was built in four phases, which involved the construction of a new midfield concourse and demolition of old Terminals 8 and 9. It was opened in stages between 2005 and its official opening in August 2007.^[136] American Airlines, the third-largest carrier at JFK, manages Terminal 8 and is the largest carrier at the terminal. Some Oneworld airlines that operate out of Terminal 8 include Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian Airlines, as well as Star Alliance carrier Ethiopian Airlines.

British Airways plans to move into Terminal 8 on December 1, 2022 following its renovation and expansion.^[133][137]

On January 7, 2020, construction began on expanding and improving Terminal 8. The construction is estimated to be completed in 2022. British Airways will move into Terminal 8 following the construction and will provide 14 daily flights to London. This construction is the first phase in an overall plan to renovate JFK airport.^[91]

The terminal is twice the size of Madison Square Garden. It offers dozens of retail and food outlets, 84 ticket counters, 44 self-service kiosks, 10 security checkpoint lanes, and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility that can process more than 1,600 people an hour. Terminal 8 has an annual capacity of 12.8M passengers.^[138] It has two American Airlines Admirals Clubs and a Flagship Lounge for premium class passengers.

Terminal 8 has 29 gates: 12 gates in Concourse B (1–8, 10, 12, 14 and 16) and 17 gates in Concourse C (31–47).^[139] Gate 31 is further subdivided into 5 regional service gates for small jets, 31A–31E. Gate 32 is subdivided into 4 regional service gates for small jets, 32F–32I. The total number of jetbridges is, therefore, 36. Passenger access to and from Concourse C is by a tunnel that includes moving walkways.

Former terminals[]

JFK Airport was originally built with ten terminals, compared to the six it has today. Ten terminals remained until the late 1990s, then nine remained until the early 2000s, followed by eight until 2011 and seven until 2013.

Eastern Air Lines terminal[]

This terminal opened in 1959 and was demolished in 1995 after the collapse of Eastern Air Lines in 1991. The terminal was on the site of today's Terminal 1.^[140]

Terminal 3 (Worldport)[]

Terminal 3 opened as the Worldport in 1960 for Pan American; it expanded after the introduction of the Boeing 747 in 1970. After Pan Am's demise in 1991 Delta Air Lines took over ownership of the terminal and was its only occupant until its closure in 2013. It had a connector to Terminal 2, Delta's other terminal, used mainly for domestic flights. Terminal 3 had 16 Jetway equipped gates: 1–10, 12, 14–18 with two hardstand gates (Gate 11) and a helipad on Taxiway KK.

A $1.2 billion project was completed in 2013, under which Terminal 4 was expanded and with Delta subsequently moving its T3 operations to T4.

On May 23, 2013, the final departure from the terminal, Delta Air Lines Flight 268, a Boeing 747-400 to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, departed from Gate 6 at 11:25 p.m. local time. The terminal ceased operations on May 24, 2013, 53 years to the day from when it opened on May 24, 1960.^[141] Demolition began soon thereafter and was completed by Summer 2014. The site where Terminal 3 used to stand is now used for aircraft parking by Delta Air Lines.

There has been large media outcry, particularly in other countries, over the demolition of the Worldport. Several online petitions requesting the restoration of the original 'flying saucer' gained popularity.^{[142][143][144][145]}

International Arrivals Building (Original Terminal 4)[]

The International Arrivals Building (IAB) was opened in 1957, and was replaced with current Terminal 4 in 2001.

Terminal 6 (Sundrome)[]

Terminal 6 had 14 gates. It opened as the Sundrome in 1970 for National Airlines. National was the tenant of this terminal until it was fully acquired by Pan American World Airways in 1980.

JetBlue flight departing with New York City Skyline visible in distance

Trans World Airlines then expanded into the terminal, referring to it as the "TWA Terminal Annex", later called "TWA Domestic Terminal". It was eventually connected to the TWA Flight Center. Later, after TWA reduced flights at JFK, Terminal 6 was used by United Airlines, ATA Airlines, a reincarnated Pan American Airways (1996–1998), Carnival Air Lines, Vanguard Airlines, and America West Airlines.

In 2000, JetBlue began service from Terminal 6, later opening a temporary complex in 2006 that increased its capacity by adding seven gates. Until 2008, JetBlue was the tenant of Terminal 6. It became vacant on October 22, 2008, when JetBlue moved to Terminal 5, and finally demolished in 2011.^[146] The international arrivals annex of Terminal 5 now uses a portion of the site, and the rest of the site is used for aircraft parking by both JetBlue and British Airways (which operates from nearby Terminal 7), but will be occupied by the new Terminal 6, an annex to Terminal 5, planned to be fully opened by 2027.^[134]

Terminal 8 (1960)[]

The original Terminal 8 opened in 1960; its stained-glass façade was the largest in existence at the time. It was always used by American Airlines and in later years it was used by other Oneworld airlines that did not use Terminal 7. This terminal was demolished in 2007–2008 and replaced with a new Terminal 8.

Terminal 9[]

Terminal 9 opened in 1959 and was used by United Airlines^[24] and Delta Air Lines.^[40] Delta moved to Terminal 2 when it acquired Northeast Airlines in 1972.^[147] Braniff moved from Terminal 2 to Terminal 9 in 1973, and operated in Terminal 9 until its bankruptcy in 1982.^[148] United used Terminal 9 from its opening in 1959 until it vacated the terminal in 1991 and became a tenant at British Airways' Terminal 7. Terminal 9 then became the home of American Airlines' domestic operations and American Eagle flights for the remainder of its life. This terminal was demolished in 2007–2008 and replaced with a new Terminal 8.^[136]

Tower Air terminal[]

The Tower Air terminal, unlike other terminals at JFK airport, sat outside the Central Terminals area in Building 213 in Cargo Area A. Originally used by Pan Am until the expansion of the Worldport (later Terminal 3), it was later used by Tower Air and TWA shuttle until the airline was acquired by American Airlines in 2001. Building 213 has not been used since 2000. It is located next to the Delta Air Lines employees' parking lot number 7, which was once the Tower Air terminal parking lot.

Runways and taxiways[]

The airport covers 5,200 acres or 21 square kilometers (8.1 sq mi).^[149] Over 25 miles (40 km) of paved taxiways allow aircraft to move around the airfield.^{[citation needed]} The standard width of these taxiways is 75 feet (23 m), with 25 feet (7.6 m) heavy-duty shoulders and 25-foot (7.6 m) erosion control pavement on each side. The taxiways have are generally of asphalt concrete composition 15 to 18 inches (380 to 460 mm) thick. Painted markings, lighted signage, and embedded pavement lighting including runway status lights provide both position and directional information for taxiing aircraft. There are four runways (two pairs of parallel runways) surrounding the airport's central terminal area.^[2]

Operational facilities[]

Looking at runway 4L/22R and into Jamaica Bay

Air Navigation[]

The Air Traffic Control Tower, designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and constructed on the ramp-side of Terminal 4, began full FAA operations in October 1994.^[155] An Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE) radar unit sits atop the tower. At the time of its completion, the JFK tower, at 320 feet (98 m), was the world's tallest control tower.^[155] It was subsequently displaced from that position by towers at other airports in both the United States and overseas, including those at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, currently the tallest tower at any U.S. airport, at 398 feet (121 m) and at KLIA2 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, currently the world's tallest control tower at 438 feet (134 m).^{[156][unreliable source?]}

A VOR-DME station, identified as JFK, is located on the airport property between runway 4R/22L and runway 4L/22R.^[2]

Physical Plant[]

JFK is supplied with electricity by the Kennedy International Airport Power Plant, owned and operated by Calpine Corporation.^[157] The natural gas-fired electric cogeneration facility uses two General Electric LM6000 gas turbine engines to supply a total of 110 megawatts, which is purchased by the Port Authority for airport operations. Excess energy is also sold to the New York Independent System Operator. The 45,000 ft² (4,180 m²) facility was authorized in 1990,^[158] designed by RMJM,^[159] and first entered commercial service in February 1995.^[160]

Heating and cooling for all of JFK's passenger terminals is provided by a co-located Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant (CHRP) in conjunction with a Thermal Distribution System (TDS) which entered service in August 1994. Waste heat from the power plant powers two heat recovery steam generators and a 25 megawatt steam turbine, which in-turn run chillers to generate 28,000 tons of refrigeration, or heat exchangers to generate 225 million Btu/hour.^[160]

Aviation Ground Service[]

JFK Airport – February 2017

Aircraft service facilities include seven aircraft hangars, an engine overhaul building, a 32-million-US-gallon (120,000 m³) aircraft fuel storage facility and a truck garage. Fixed-base operation service for general aviation flights is provided by Sheltair, which possesses the airport's sole helipad.

Other facilities[]

The airport hosts an extensive array of numbered administrative, government, and air cargo support buildings. In 2002, the New York metropolitan area accounted for 18 percent of import (and over 24 percent of all) air cargo volume in the nation. At that time, JFK itself was reported to have 4.5 million ft² (418,064 m²) of warehouse space with another 434,000 ft² (40,320 m²) under construction.^[161]

Three chapels, including Our Lady of the Skies Chapel, provide for the religious needs of airline passengers.^[181]

In January 2017, the Ark at JFK Airport, a luxury terminal for pets, opened at a cost of $65 million. Ark was built ostensibly so that people who were transporting pets and other animals would be able to provide luxurious accommodations for these animals. At the time, it was supposed to be the only such facility in the U.S.^[182] However, in January 2018, Ark's owner sued the Port Authority for violating a clause that would have given Ark the exclusive rights to inspect all animals who arrive at JFK from other countries. In the lawsuit, the owner stated that Ark had incurred large operational losses because many animals were instead being transported to a United States Department of Agriculture facility in Newburgh.^[183]

Airport hotels[]

There are several hotels adjacent to JFK Airport, including the Courtyard by Marriott and the Crowne Plaza. The former Ramada Plaza JFK Hotel is Building 144,^[184][185] and it was the only on-site hotel at JFK Airport.^[186] It was previously a part of Forte Hotels and previously the Travelodge New York JFK.^[187] Due to its role in housing friends and relatives of aircraft crash victims in the 1990s and 2000s, the hotel became known as the "Heartbreak Hotel".^[188][189] In 2009 the PANYNJ stated in its preliminary 2010 budget that it was closing the hotel due to "declining aviation activity and a need for substantial renovation" and that it expected to save $1 million per month.^[190] The hotel closed on December 1, 2009. Almost 200 employees lost their jobs. As of 2009, the Port Authority hoped to build a new hotel on the airport property.^[191]

On July 27, 2015, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in a press conference that the TWA Flight Center building would be used by the TWA Hotel, a 505-room hotel with 40,000 square feet (3,700 m²) of conference, event, or meeting space. The new hotel is estimated to have cost $265 million. The hotel has a 10,000-square-foot (930 m²) observation deck with an infinity pool.^[192] Groundbreaking for the hotel occurred on December 15, 2016, and it opened on May 15, 2019.^[193]

Airlines and destinations[]

Passenger[]

Notes[]

^a Air Senegal's flight from Dakar to New York continues on to Baltimore. However, the airline does not have eighth freedom rights to solely transport passengers between New York and Baltimore.

^b Qantas flies the 787 Dreamliner from New York to Sydney as QF12 with a stop-over in Los Angeles, where passengers have the option to connect onto the airline's flights to Brisbane and Melbourne. The airline does not have eighth freedom rights to solely transport passengers between New York and Los Angeles due to US government regulations.^[299]

Cargo[]

When ranked by the value of shipments passing through it, JFK is the number three freight gateway in the United States (after the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of New York and New Jersey), and the number one international air freight gateway in the United States.^[5] Almost 21% of all U.S. international air freight by value and 9.6% by tonnage moved through JFK in 2008.^[300]

The JFK air cargo complex is a Foreign Trade Zone, which legally lies outside the customs area of the United States.^[301] JFK is a major hub for air cargo between the United States and Europe. London, Brussels and Frankfurt are JFK's three top trade routes.^[302] The European airports are mostly a link in a global supply chain, however. The top destination markets for cargo flying out of JFK in 2003 were Tokyo, Seoul and London. Similarly, the top origin markets for imports at JFK were Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei and London.^[302]

25 cargo airlines operate out of JFK,^[302] among them: Air China Cargo, ABX Air, Asiana, Atlas Air, CAL Cargo Air Lines, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Cargo, China Airlines, EVA Air, Emirates SkyCargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines, FedEx Express, DHL Air UK, Kalitta Air, Korean Air, Lufthansa Cargo, UPS Airlines, Southern Air and, formerly, World Airways. Top 5 carriers together transported 33.1% of all revenue freight in 2005: American Airlines (10.9% of the total), FedEx Express (8.8%), Lufthansa Cargo (5.2%), Korean Air Cargo (4.9%), China Airlines (3.8%).^[303]

Most cargo and maintenance facilities at JFK are located north and west of the main terminal area. DHL, FedEx Express, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Nippon Cargo Airlines and United Airlines have cargo facilities at JFK.^[302][304] In 2000, Korean Air Cargo opened a new $102 million cargo terminal at JFK with total floor area of 81,124 square feet (7,536.7 m²) and capability of handling 200,000 tons annually. In 2007, American Airlines opened a new priority parcel service facility at their Terminal 8, featuring 30-minute drop-offs and pick-ups for priority parcel shipments within the US.^[305]

Statistics[]

Passenger numbers[]

Top destinations[]

Airline market share[]

Largest airlines at JFK (February 2021 – January 2022)^[329]

Rank	Airline	Passengers	Share
1	JetBlue Airways	10,728,208	33.0%
2	Delta Air Lines	10,306,319	31.7%
3	American Airlines	4,425,419	13.6%
4	Alaska Airlines	524,248	1.6%
5	Emirates Airlines	419,950	1.3%

Other[]

Information services[]

In the immediate vicinity of the airport, parking and other information can be obtained by tuning to a highway advisory radio station at 1630 AM.^[330] A second station at 1700 AM provides information on traffic concerns for drivers leaving the airport.

Kennedy Airport, along with the other Port Authority airports (LaGuardia and Newark), uses a uniform style of signage throughout the airport properties. Yellow signs direct passengers to airline gates, ticketing and other flight services; green signs direct passengers to ground transportation services and black signs lead to restrooms, telephones and other passenger amenities. In addition, the Port Authority operates "Welcome Centers" and taxi dispatch booths in each airline terminal, where staff provide customers with information on taxis, limousines, other ground transportation and hotels.

New York City traffic reporter Bernie Wagenblast provides the voice for the airport's radio stations and the messages heard on board AirTrain JFK and in its stations.^[331]

Notable staff[]

Stephen Abraham, colloquially known as Kennedy Steve, was a former air traffic controller at JFK between 1994–2017.^[332] Abraham was known for his distinct "informal" tone and controlling-style while handling ground traffic at the airport. Many of his interactions with pilots were recorded and featured on various social media platforms, including various YouTube channels. In 2017, Abraham was awarded the Dale Wright Award by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) for distinguished professionalism and exceptional career service to NATCA and the National Air Space System.^[333][334] In 2019, he was hired as Airside Operations and Ramp Manager at JFK's Terminal 1.^[335]

Accidents and incidents[]

See also[]

• List of memorials to John F. Kennedy
• Christopher O. Ward

Notes and references[]

Further reading[]

• Bloom, Nicholas Dagen. The Metropolitan Airport: JFK International and Modern New York (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015). x, 233 pp.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: John F. Kennedy International Airport (category)

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for John F. Kennedy International Airport.

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (official site)
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective March 24, 2022
• FAA Terminal Procedures for JFK, effective March 24, 2022

• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KJFK
  • ASN accident history for JFK
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KJFK
  • FAA current JFK delay information