Inside JFK's new Terminal 6, set to open early next year

The transformation of New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) continues to surge ahead. This week, the airport reached a substantial milestone when the brand-new Terminal 6 finished its curtain walls and enclosed the new terminal for the first time.

It's a major milestone, and the airport is on track to hold a grand opening early next year.

TPG was one of only two media outlets that got a tour of the new terminal, which will be a major step forward for airport infrastructure in the Northeast.

"With the curtain wall now complete, Terminal 6 is fully enclosed—bringing us one step closer to redefining the travel experience," said JFK Millenium Partners COO Karen Ali. "Terminal 6 is built to inspire, putting people at the center of every detail. We're excited to welcome passengers to a new era of travel at JFK."

TPG also got a first look at a newly unveiled art installation that will greet passengers as they arrive at the airport. You can see what that spectacular mural will look like in the illustration below.

The 12,000 square foot "JFK Global Panorama" is a custom-designed, 3D ombre artwork featuring iconic New York City-based imagery and flight routes illustrating global connectivity.

A transformed JFK Airport and brand-new Terminal 6

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs JFK, is in the middle of a $19 billion project to transform the airport. When it's done, there will be several brand-new terminals, as well as new roads and ramps to make getting to and from the airport much easier.

The team behind the fabulous Terminal B at New York City's totally redone LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is also building Terminal 6 at JFK.

JFK Millennium Partners gave TPG a tour of the new Terminal 6 and told us about how Terminal 7 next door will eventually get torn down. In its footprint, another four gates for the second phase of the project will become part of an expanded Terminal 6. The second phase is expected to open in 2028.

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The new terminal will be a whopping 1.2 million square feet and offer 10 new gates, several of which will be built to handle wide-body jets. You can get a good idea of the size of the space when you look out over the new central hub of the new terminal.

"This success supports other upcoming milestones, including adding permanent power and live testing the building," JFK Millennium Partners said in a press release.

The press release continued: "More than 1,200 local workers are currently on site to ensure a smooth opening for more than a dozen carriers that will be relocating to the new terminal, among them: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, ANA, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Condor, Frontier, JetBlue, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic, and SWISS."

The new Terminal 6 at JFK

Beginning at departures, passengers can look forward to the new terminal's digital-first guest experience, with a massive light-filled hall filled with digital billboards and blond wood accents.

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The departures area will feature one of the longest departures curbs at JFK, with airline-branded passenger drop-off zones.

They are completely reconstructing the roadway system in front of the terminal, too. It will have more logical entry and exit spots, as well as easy access to two different AirTrain stations.

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In the end, it will be less than a five-minute average walk from the TSA security checkpoint exit to all gates.

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Once through security, you will be able to enter the giant welcome hall, the Grand Hall, which will feature a massive skylight and 100,000 square feet of New York City-inspired shopping and dining outlets.

It's an awe-inspiring space, even if it still looks like a construction zone.

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You can tell how glorious it will eventually be. Here are some renderings of what the final product might look like.

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New Terminal 6 rendering. JFK MILLENNIUM PARTNERS

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Terminal 6 will have five airline lounges airside, plus an arrivals lounge. JFK Millennium told me there is not yet a confirmed airline to host the first-ever arrivals lounge at JFK Airport (so if you're an interested airline, there's still time to grab the space).

It's hard to tell in the photos below, but this is where Lufthansa is opening a massive new lounge in Terminal 6, which will have a dedicated entrance via escalators. While we don't yet have all the details, we expect it will include dedicated Lufthansa first-class, business-class and Senator lounges.

Cathay Pacific is going to open its first-ever JFK lounge in this space, too. A huge announcement about one of that lounge's cool features should come soon.

Aer Lingus has also confirmed that it will have a dedicated lounge in Terminal 6; it will be reachable via a set of stairs you can see in the photo below.

In the photo above, you can see that the left side is where you'll walk toward Terminal 5 once construction is complete.

The new terminal will be connected both land- and airside to the adjacent Terminal 5, which is home to JetBlue Airways' JFK hub. By the time the project is done, you'll be able to go back and forth between terminals 5 and 6 for shopping and even lounge hopping.

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Terminal 6 and JetBlue's Terminal 5 will actually share a customs hall. You can see the photos of the new customs area in the gallery below; it will feature wide-open spaces and natural light coming from the walls and ceiling above.

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The baggage system is impressive. It begins with biometric bag drops at check-in. From there, luggage gets carried through a complex system of conveyer belts and scanned by robots.

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Another thing to note about the project is its environmental focus. The terminal uses sustainably sourced building materials, rooftop solar power, and energy-efficient systems and operating practices throughout. JFK Millennium Partners told me it is aiming to have LEED Silver or Gold certification for the project.

Bottom line

When finished, the transformed Terminal 6 will be a sight to behold. From the dramatic skylights to the massive Grand Hall, the biometric screening and bag drops to the robotic baggage handlers, this airport terminal will be quite a revelation.

It could end up being one of the country's best airport terminals — and the new JFK will give LGA and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) a real run for best tri-state airport once it's all done.

For more about the revamped JFK, be sure to check out the latest below.

• Exciting details emerge about JFK's newest terminal, home to Lufthansa, JetBlue
• Capital One will open a new lounge at New York's JFK
• Reviewing the new Delta One Lounge in New York, a stunning masterpiece
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations