New Details Emerge in JFK's $13 Billion Renovation, BA Moving to Terminal 8 and More
Last October New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $13 billion dollar overhaul to New York's JFK Airport, and today major airlines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey revealed details of how some of those renovations will look once they're completed over the next seven years.
For the last 50 years, British Airways has called New York's JFK's Terminal 7 its home base in the Big Apple. Over the last decade its invested more and more cash into the terminal and recently announced a $65 million injection in the dated building to update its lounges among other upgrades to the general terminal.
Today it's announced that it will be moving to Terminal 8, American Airlines' busiest terminal in the New York area and home to many long-haul and transcontinental flights. British Airways and American Airlines are Oneworld partners but also operate a joint-venture for transatlantic flights, along with Iberia and Finnair.
American and British Airways will invest $344 million to expand Terminal 8 by 70,000 square feet and refurbish an existing 57,500 square feet of the terminal, which currently measures in at 1.58 million square feet according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. That includes five more gates that can handle wide-body aircraft. Renderings released don't show much of an actual footprint expansion, but show long jet bridges to accommodate new aircraft at Terminal 8. A remote stand and transformed regional jet gate will serve as two of the new widebody gates.
"Changes to the terminal will include additional stands, enhanced state-of the-art baggage systems, new lounges, premium check-in areas and upgraded concessions," British Airways said in a release.
The overhaul of JFK includes the creation of two new more centralized mega-terminals and the demolition of others. British Airways will continue to operate out of Terminal 7 until 2022 when the space will then be demolished to allow for JetBlue's Terminal 5 to expand.
JetBlue's new terminal, which will cover the areas of the current Terminal 5, Terminal 6 (which was demolished in 2011) and Terminal 7, will include widebody gates to accommodate its partners, like Emirates — meaning some gates would have to be large enough to accommodate Emirates A380s.
To minimize walking times, the terminal will utilize both the T5 and and T7 AirTrain stations and there will be two check-in and security areas, with the goal being to limit the walking distance to under 1500 feet, reports NYCAviation. The expansion will break ground in 2020, and it will then partially open in 2023 with a target for a full open in 2025.
Terminal 1, home to international carriers like Lufthansa, Korean and Air France will be demolished and a new mega-terminal will take its place. This terminal will be located in the place of Terminal 1, Terminal 2 (Delta's smaller, mostly domestic terminal) and Terminal 3 (demolished in 2013 which essentially now serves as a parking lot for Delta jets). It will more than double the amount of widebody gates to up to 22, twelve more than the gates currently serving Terminal 1.
JFK's AirTrain will be relocated to drop passengers off inside the new terminal, similar to how Terminal 4 is currently designed — officials said they also want to limit walking distances in T1, but to under 2500 feet, noting the lengthy journey it travelers in Terminal 4 concourse B have to complete to get to some gates. Terminal 1 currently measures in at approximately 800,000 square feet and the new mega terminal will be a whopping 2.9 million square feet.
$12 billion of the funds for JFK's renovation come from the airlines and private investment while the final $1 billion is funded by the Port Authority, which runs JFK.
American's and BA's joint venture provides up to 70 flights per day between the US and London, and once the two airlines are under the same roof at JFK, customers will be able to make more seamless connections between partner airlines.
Terminal 8 is home to other Oneworld airlines like Cathay and LATAM, and those departing in premium cabins on these partner airlines will have more lounge options, including new lounges that British Airways plans to build there.
Additional reporting provided by Wallace Cotton.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.