It has been years within the making, and the end line is now nearby: The reworked John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) is just a bit greater than a 12 months away from opening.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages and oversees the airport, has undertaken an enormous $19 billion transformation venture throughout your complete airport. The venture consists of two brand-new terminals, renovated concourses at present terminals and a completely optimized roadway construction.
Highlighting the redevelopment venture is little question the airport’s new flagship Terminal One, which can develop into the most important and maybe most iconic portal to the worldwide airport that’s the gateway to New York. (Actually, it’s going to be practically the identical dimension as two new terminals at LaGuardia Airport mixed.)
With 23 gates spanning greater than 2.4 million sq. toes, this terminal is poised to develop into one of many nicest in your complete nation.
Whereas the primary part of the brand new Terminal One will not open till 2026, work is effectively underway — it is practically 50% there, in keeping with the Port Authority — with main upcoming milestones, together with the terminal changing into weathertight, slated to occur within the coming weeks.
As development progresses, the Port Authority invited choose media shops for a hard-hat tour of the brand new Terminal One on Monday.
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In opposition to the backdrop of what is poised to be the airport’s busiest — and most annoying — vacation journey season ever, there’s a lot of pleasure build up. This is every thing you’ll want to know.
JFK’s new Terminal One
When full, the brand new Terminal One will measure a whopping 2.4 million sq. toes, making it the most important terminal at JFK and among the many largest nationwide.
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It’s going to sit on the location of the present Terminal 1, in addition to the previous websites of Terminals 2 and three.
Proper now, development is concentrated on the principle departures and arrivals headhouse and the primary concourse of gates, which can open in 2026. (The remainder of the terminal will open in 2030.)
Stepping inside the brand new Terminal One reveals a surprising new facility that is more likely to impress even essentially the most refined frequent flyers who’ve handed by way of the likes of Dubai and Singapore.
The departures space, which will probably be on the third stage of the headhouse, is drenched with pure mild and supported by visually interesting columns that make for a dramatic entrance.
There will probably be 4 check-in islands servicing a number of airways, in addition to a centralized safety space that’ll funnel into the second stage of the headhouse.
The present safety setup in Terminal 1 is maybe the worst within the nation, so this one will undoubtedly be an improve. (In spite of everything, merely including extra capability could be sufficient to improve the present setup.)
After clearing safety, you may descend one stage to the airside departure space. That is the place you may discover loads of concessions and a handful of to-be-announced airline lounges.
This primary space will then be linked to 2 concourses, every with 10 wide-body-capable gates. The headhouse itself could have three gates linked on to it.
The primary concourse to open would be the one going through the east facet of the airport. (The second concourse, which will probably be on the west facet of the terminal, will not be constructed till the present Terminal 1 is demolished.)
The gate areas will function two ranges: a primary stage for passengers and one other for airline lounges. This format ought to be largely harking back to the setup in JFK’s present Terminal 4.
Whereas it is arduous to get a way of how the terminal will look as soon as full, I like the usage of glass to maximise the quantity of pure mild that streams into the area.
Plus, if you happen to squint arduous sufficient, chances are you’ll even catch a glimpse of Manhattan within the distance.
One other massive improve would be the location of the Customs and Border Safety facility, which will probably be on the third stage of the terminal.
This implies arriving passengers will not be funneled into some basement dungeon within the bowels of JFK as their first entry level into the U.S.
After clearing immigration, passengers will take escalators right down to the arrivals stage, the place customs, baggage declare and floor transportation will probably be situated.
The brand new Terminal One will probably be linked to the AirTrain by way of the present cease for the previous Terminal 1. The Port Authority is constructing a climate-controlled bridge connecting the station to the brand new terminal.
Talking of floor transportation, the Port Authority is at present constructing a brand new roadway community at JFK that features a new parking storage and expanded terminal frontages. Till this work is full in 2026, vacationers are suggested to count on lengthy delays when arriving or departing by automobile.
Vacation visitors chaos
Whereas the brand new Terminal One will probably be definitely worth the wait, Rick Cotton, the chief director of the Port Authority, is reminding passengers that “that is the most important infrastructure venture within the nation.”
With that, he expects “unprecedented challenges” in relation to navigating round JFK throughout the busy vacation season (the Port Authority is forecasting 25,000 extra passengers throughout Thanksgiving week in comparison with final 12 months’s historic excessive) and into subsequent 12 months.
“We’re rebuilding JFK whereas sustaining full operations,” Cotton stated, reminding passengers as soon as once more to take a look at the agency’s travel tips in the event that they’re heading to the airport within the coming months. (My favourite tip is to take the AirTrain to keep away from the mess solely.)
A part of the chaos is the relocation of ride-hailing providers at three airport terminals (4, 5 and seven), together with frequent lane closures and everlasting reroutes till the transformation venture is full.
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On the finish of the day, “we all know that vacationers will see that the ache is definitely worth the acquire,” however within the meantime, you’ll want to pack your persistence and arrive early if you happen to’re flying from JFK.
New Terminal 6
The opposite new terminal being constructed at JFK is Terminal 6. Whereas no media previews had been supplied, this area can be anticipated to open in 2026.
As soon as full, this $4.2 billion venture will span 1.2 million sq. toes and provide 10 new gates — 9 of which may deal with wide-body jets. The brand new terminal is being constructed adjoining to the present Terminal 5, which is residence to JetBlue Airways’ JFK hub.
As soon as full, the 2 terminals will probably be linked airside, giving flyers a extra seamless connecting expertise.
When it first opens in 2026, solely 5 of the terminal’s 10 gates will probably be prepared; the remaining 5 are because of be accomplished by 2028.
Backside line
JFK airport officers took the wraps off the development taking place on the airport’s new Terminal One, which is certain to be a significant improve to the airport expertise.
Despite the fact that a lot work nonetheless must be carried out, the power because it stands at the moment is a harbinger of fine issues to come back for JFK.
In fact, the timing of the development course of signifies that vacationers will endure by way of a lot of visitors and roadway closures for the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless it’ll be definitely worth the wait.
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