It’s been years in the making and the finish line is now in sight: the transformed John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is just over a year away from opening.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages and oversees the airport, has undertaken a massive $19 billion airport-wide transformation project. The project includes two new terminals, renovated concourses in the existing terminals and a fully optimized road structure.
The highlight of the remodeling project is, without a doubt, the new flagship Terminal Onewhich will become the largest and perhaps most emblematic portal of the international airport that is the gateway to New York. (In fact, it will be almost the same size as two new terminals at LaGuardia Airport combined.)
With 23 gates spanning more than 2.4 million square feet, this terminal is poised to become one of the most beautiful in the entire country.
While the first phase of the new Terminal One won’t open until 2026, work is underway (nearly 50% is there, according to the Port Authority) and major milestones are coming, including the terminal becoming watertight. , scheduled for the next few years. weeks.
As construction progresses, the Port Authority invited select media outlets to a helmeted tour of the new Terminal One on Monday.
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Against the backdrop of what’s about to be the busiest (and most annoying) holiday travel season in the airport’s history, there’s a lot of excitement building. Here you will find everything you need to know.
The new JFK Terminal One
When completed, the new Terminal One will measure a whopping 2.4 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK Airport and one of the largest in the country.
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It will be located on the site of the current Terminal 1, as well as the former sites of Terminals 2 and 3.
Construction is currently focused on the main departure and arrival headland and the first gate hall, which will open in 2026 (the rest of the terminal will open in 2030).
Entering the new Terminal One reveals an impressive new facility that is likely to impress even the most sophisticated frequent travelers who have passed through places like Dubai and Singapore.
The departure area, which will be on the third level of the main house, is bathed in natural light and supported by visually appealing columns that create a spectacular entrance.
There will be four check-in islands serving multiple airlines, as well as a centralized security area that will funnel into the second level of the headquarters.
The existing security setup at Terminal 1 is perhaps the worst in the country, so this will undoubtedly be an improvement. (After all, simply adding more capacity would be enough to upgrade the existing configuration.)
After passing through security, you will descend one level to the airside departures area. This is where you’ll find many concessions and a handful of airline lounges to be announced soon.
This main area will then connect to two vestibules, each with 10 wide-body capacity doors. The main house will have three doors connected directly to it.
The first concourse to open will be the one facing the east side of the airport. (The second concourse, which will be on the west side of the terminal, will not be built until the existing Terminal 1 is demolished.)
The gate areas will have two levels: a main level for passengers and another for airline lounges. This design should be largely reminiscent of the configuration of the current JFK Terminal 4.
While it’s difficult to get an idea of what the terminal will look like once finished, I love the use of glass to maximize the amount of natural light entering the space.
Plus, if you squint hard enough, you might even be able to glimpse Manhattan in the distance.
Another major improvement will be the location of the Customs and Border Protection facilities, which will be on the third level of the terminal.
This means that arriving passengers will not be funneled to some basement in the bowels of JFK as their first point of entry into the US.
After clearing immigration, passengers will take the escalators to the arrivals level, where customs, baggage claim and ground transportation will be located.
The new Terminal One will be connected to the AirTrain through the existing stop at the old Terminal 1. The Port Authority is building a heated bridge that will connect the station to the new terminal.
Speaking of ground transportation, the Port Authority is currently building a new road network at JFK that includes a new parking lot and expanded terminal facades. Until this work is complete in 2026, travelers are advised to expect long delays when arriving or departing by car.
Traffic chaos during the holidays
While the new Terminal One is probably worth the wait, Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority, reminds passengers that “this is the largest infrastructure project in the country.”
With that, expect “unprecedented challenges” when it comes to navigating JFK during the holiday season (the Port Authority is forecasting 25,000 more passengers during Thanksgiving week compared to last year’s all-time high) and next year.
“We are rebuilding JFK while maintaining all operations,” Cotton said, once again reminding passengers to check the agency travel advice if they are heading to the airport in the coming months. (My favorite tip is to take the AirTrain to avoid the mess entirely.)
Part of the chaos is the relocation of shuttle services to three airport terminals (4, 5 and 7), along with frequent lane closures and permanent detours until the transformation project is complete.
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At the end of the day, “we know travelers will find the pain worth it,” but in the meantime, be sure to be patient and arrive early if you’re flying from JFK.
New Terminal 6
The other new terminal being built at JFK is Terminal 6. While no media previews were offered, this space is also expected to open in 2026.
Once completed, this $4.2 billion project will span 1.2 million square feet and offer 10 new gates, nine of which can accommodate wide-body aircraft. The new terminal is being built next to the existing Terminal 5, which houses JetBlue Airways’ JFK hub.
Once completed, the two terminals will connect airside, providing travelers with a more seamless connection experience.
When it first opens in 2026, only five of the terminal’s 10 gates will be ready; the remaining five should be completed in 2028.
In a nutshell
JFK Airport officials have completed construction underway on the airport’s new Terminal One, which is sure to be a major improvement to the airport experience.
Although there is still much work to be done, the facility as it stands today is a harbinger of good things to come for JFK.
Of course, the timing of the construction process means that commuters will experience heavy traffic and road closures for the foreseeable future.
But the wait will be worth it.
For more information on the new JFK, be sure to check out:
