New York JFK’s $19B rebuild: The giant, new Terminal One is just a year away
John F. Kennedy International Airport’s $19 billion glow-up is nearing its first major milestone: the opening of two new terminals next year.
The largest of those, the new Terminal One, is set to open in June 2026, Jennifer Aument, CEO of New Terminal One (the private company overseeing the project) said at an event Monday announcing China Airlines as a tenant in the facility. The eventually 2.6 million square-foot space will house at least 15 airlines, including Air France, China Airlines, Etihad Airways, Korean Air and Turkish Airlines, when the 13-gate (plus one temporary gate) first phase opens.
“Building a new terminal the size of LaGuardia Airport is no small feat,” Manny Ciminiello, deputy general manager of JFK Airport at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said at the Monday event. The new Terminal One alone is the same size as the new terminals B and C at LaGuardia combined.
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Across the sea of construction at JFK, the 1.2 million square-foot new Terminal 6 is expected to open in early 2026. Air Canada, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Cathay Pacific, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue and Lufthansa are among the anchor airlines in the new 10-gate terminal.
All told, Aument expects around 50 airlines to change terminal locations at JFK in 2026 — or more than two-thirds of those at the airport.
The two terminal projects together, plus updates to JetBlue’s Terminal 5 and American Airlines’ Terminal 8, make up the more than $19 billion in improvements underway at JFK that, when all said and done, aspire to turn what once was among America’s worst airports into one of its best.
And that is a big deal for international travelers: JFK is by far the largest international air gateway to the U.S. It saw 17.5 million international travelers arrive at its gates in 2024, or nearly 50% more than the next largest gateway, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics data shows.
Following the China Airlines announcement, Aument led one of the last hardhat tours of the new Terminal One before it opens in a year’s time.
Check out JFK’s new Terminal One
The first thing any visitor notices is the sheer scale of the new terminal. It envelops the JFK AirTrain that runs through its core, with the ticketing hall soaring above the aircraft ramp and planes beyond.
The terminal itself is a large, light-filled box with a roof that slopes down to a central axis. The design by Gensler was inspired by a butterfly, but is also reminiscent of a bowtie, said Aument.
The building is weathertight and work outfitting the interior — the shops and restaurants, lounges, and other spaces — is underway.
Terminal One will feature 300,000 square feet of “dining, retail, lounges and recreational space” when complete, according to specifications from New Terminal One. Six lounges are planned, including five “airside,” or post-security, and one landside for arriving travelers.
Air France-KLM, Korean Air and Turkish Airlines will operate three of the five airside lounges.
Aument declined to name any of the planned concessionaires, saying they would be unveiled soon. She did, however, indicate that they would highlight both beloved New York brands and international cuisine.
The centerpiece of the new Terminal One is the third-floor ticketing lobby or, as Aument put it, a “very grand space.” At 100,000 square feet it is massive and, thanks to the sloping ceiling supported by massive structural “trees,” is designed to intuitively guide travelers through the space, to security, and on to the gate areas and world beyond.
The design emphasizes what has become a hallmark of contemporary airport architecture: transparency. In theory, travelers will be able to see from the drop-off curb through the terminal building to the aircraft apron beyond, giving them a sense of the journey to come from the moment they enter the new Terminal One. That view is possible today; however, the future Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint could obstruct that panorama.
The checkpoint will feature 14 screening lanes at the back of the ticketing hall when complete.
Missing from the very much under construction space is any artwork. A signature “Instagrammable” piece visible throughout the terminal will be installed at the end of the central axis after security, said Aument. More art is planned throughout the space, including a “celestial” piece in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hall.
Following security, travelers will descend to the departures level where they can go shopping, check out a lounge or proceed to their gate.
One of the most notable — and unique — features of the new Terminal One is the CBP waiting area. Like at many global gateways, arriving international travelers will deplane and proceed to border control on the upper level of the concourse. But unlike many other airports, they will not then drop down to the basement for CBP; instead, arriving travelers enter a third-floor customs hall filled with light from the skylights above. Only after that do they descend to the basement to claim their luggage and exit to the U.S.
“This is where we officially welcome people to New York,” Aument said of the customs hall. “There is no basement CBP.”
The final stop on the tour was baggage claim. Tucked in the basement, this space truly feels subterranean, even with the high ceilings. However, donut-shaped lighting fixtures are already installed and will brighten the space when complete.
When complete, phase A of the new Terminal One will sit on the site of the former terminals 2 and 3 at JFK. Once it opens, work will begin on demolishing the existing Terminal 1 that dates to 1998 where phase B with an additional nine gates, plus one replacing the temporary gate, is scheduled to open in 2030.
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- 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 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. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.