Inside JFK’s new Terminal One, a large $9.5 billion flagship terminal

It has been years within the making, and the end line is now within reach: The reworked John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) is just a bit greater than a yr away from opening.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages and oversees the airport, has undertaken a large $19 billion transformation venture throughout your entire airport. The venture contains two brand-new terminals, renovated concourses at current terminals and a totally optimized roadway construction.

Highlighting the redevelopment venture is little question the airport’s new flagship Terminal One, which can change into the most important and maybe most iconic portal to the worldwide airport that’s the gateway to New York. (In truth, it’s going to be almost the identical measurement as two new terminals at LaGuardia Airport mixed.)

With 23 gates spanning greater than 2.4 million sq. toes, this terminal is poised to change into one of many nicest in your entire nation.

Whereas the primary part of the brand new Terminal One will not open till 2026, work is effectively underway — it is almost 50% there, based on 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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Towards the backdrop of what is poised to be the airport’s busiest — and most annoying — vacation journey season ever, there’s plenty of pleasure increase. This is every thing that you must 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.

It will sit on the positioning of the prevailing Terminal 1, in addition to the previous websites of Terminals 2 and three.

Proper now, development is targeted 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 shocking new facility that is more likely to impress even essentially the most subtle frequent flyers who’ve handed by means of the likes of Dubai and Singapore.

The departures space, which will likely be on the third degree of the headhouse, is drenched with pure mild and supported by visually interesting columns that make for a dramatic entrance.

There will likely be 4 check-in islands servicing a number of airways, in addition to a centralized safety space that’ll funnel into the second degree 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 can be sufficient to improve the prevailing setup.)

After clearing safety, you may descend one degree 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 important 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 likely be on the west facet of the terminal, will not be constructed till the prevailing Terminal 1 is demolished.)

The gate areas will characteristic two ranges: a important degree for passengers and one other for airline lounges. This structure must be largely paying homage to the setup in JFK’s current Terminal 4.

Whereas it is laborious to get a way of how the terminal will look as soon as full, I really like the usage of glass to maximise the quantity of pure mild that streams into the area.

Plus, for those who squint laborious sufficient, it’s possible you’ll even catch a glimpse of Manhattan within the distance.

One other large improve would be the location of the Customs and Border Safety facility, which will likely be on the third degree 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 all the way down to the arrivals degree, the place customs, baggage declare and floor transportation will likely be situated.

The brand new Terminal One will likely be linked to the AirTrain through the prevailing 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 the moment 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 automotive.

Vacation visitors chaos

Whereas the brand new Terminal One will doubtless be definitely worth the wait, Rick Cotton, the manager 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 in the course of the busy vacation season (the Port Authority is forecasting 25,000 extra passengers throughout Thanksgiving week in comparison with final yr’s historic excessive) and into subsequent yr.

“We’re rebuilding JFK whereas sustaining full operations,” Cotton stated, reminding passengers as soon as once more to take a look at the company’s journey ideas 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 fully.)

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 for those who’re flying from JFK.

New Terminal 6

The opposite new terminal being constructed at JFK is Terminal 6. Whereas no media previews have been supplied, this area can also be anticipated to open in 2026.

As soon as full, this $4.2 billion venture will span 1.2 million sq. toes and supply 10 new gates — 9 of which might deal with wide-body jets. The brand new terminal is being constructed adjoining to the prevailing Terminal 5, which is house to JetBlue Airways’ JFK hub.

As soon as full, the 2 terminals will likely 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 likely be prepared; the remaining 5 are resulting from 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 bound to be a significant improve to the airport expertise.

Though a lot work nonetheless must be performed, the power because it stands as we speak is a harbinger of excellent issues to return for JFK.

After all, the timing of the development course of signifies that vacationers will undergo by means of plenty of visitors and roadway closures for the foreseeable future.

But it surely’ll be definitely worth the wait.

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