Inside New York JFK's new Terminal One, a massive $9.5 billion flagship terminal
It’s been years in the making, and the finish line is now within sight: The transformed John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is just a little more than 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 transformation project across the entire airport. The project includes two brand-new terminals, renovated concourses at existing terminals and a fully optimized roadway structure.
Highlighting the redevelopment project is no doubt the airport’s new flagship Terminal One, which will become the largest and perhaps most iconic portal to the international airport that is the gateway to New York. (In fact, it'll be nearly 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 nicest in the entire country.
While the first phase of the new Terminal One won’t open until 2026, work is well underway — it's nearly 50% there, according to the Port Authority — with major upcoming milestones, including the terminal becoming weathertight, slated to happen in the coming weeks.
As construction progresses, the Port Authority invited select media outlets for a hard-hat tour of the new Terminal One on Monday.
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Against the backdrop of what’s poised to be the airport’s busiest — and most annoying — holiday travel season ever, there’s lots of excitement building up. Here’s everything you need to know.
JFK's new Terminal One
When complete, the new Terminal One will measure a whopping 2.4 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK and among the largest nationwide.
It'll sit on the site of the existing Terminal 1, as well as the former sites of Terminals 2 and 3.
Right now, construction is focused on the main departures and arrivals headhouse and the first concourse of gates, which will open in 2026. (The rest of the terminal will open in 2030.)
Stepping inside the new Terminal One reveals a stunning new facility that's likely to impress even the most sophisticated frequent flyers who've passed through the likes of Dubai and Singapore.
The departures area, which will be on the third level of the headhouse, is drenched with natural light and supported by visually appealing columns that make for a dramatic entrance.
There will be four check-in islands servicing multiple airlines, as well as a centralized security area that'll funnel into the second level of the headhouse.
The existing security setup in Terminal 1 is perhaps the worst in the country, so this one will undoubtedly be an upgrade. (After all, simply adding more capacity would be enough to upgrade the existing setup.)
After clearing security, you’ll descend one level to the airside departure area. This is where you’ll find plenty of concessions and a handful of to-be-announced airline lounges.
This main area will then be connected to two concourses, each with 10 wide-body-capable gates. The headhouse itself will have three gates 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, won’t be constructed until the existing Terminal 1 is demolished.)
The gate areas will feature two levels: a main level for passengers and another for airline lounges. This layout should be largely reminiscent of the setup in JFK’s existing Terminal 4.
While it's hard to get a sense of how the terminal will look once complete, I love the use of glass to maximize the amount of natural light that streams into the space.
Plus, if you squint hard enough, you may even catch a glimpse of Manhattan in the distance.
Another big upgrade will be the location of the Customs and Border Protection facility, which will be on the third level of the terminal.
This means arriving passengers won't be funneled into some basement dungeon in the bowels of JFK as their first entry point into the U.S.
After clearing immigration, passengers will take escalators down to the arrivals level, where customs, baggage claim and ground transportation will be located.
The new Terminal One will be connected to the AirTrain via the existing stop for the old Terminal 1. The Port Authority is building a climate-controlled bridge connecting the station to the new terminal.
Speaking of ground transportation, the Port Authority is currently building a new roadway network at JFK that includes a new parking garage and expanded terminal frontages. Until this work is complete in 2026, travelers are advised to expect long delays when arriving or departing by car.
Holiday traffic chaos
While the new Terminal One will likely be worth the wait, Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority, is reminding passengers that "this is the largest infrastructure project in the country."
With that, he expects "unprecedented challenges" when it comes to navigating around JFK during the busy holiday season (the Port Authority is forecasting 25,000 more passengers during Thanksgiving week compared to last year's historic high) and into next year.
"We are rebuilding JFK while maintaining full operations," Cotton said, reminding passengers once again to check out the agency's travel tips if they're 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 ride-hailing services at three airport terminals (4, 5 and 7), along with frequent lane closures and permanent reroutes until the transformation project is complete.
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At the end of the day, "we know that travelers will see that the pain is worth the gain," but in the meantime, be sure to pack your patience and arrive early if you're flying from JFK.
New Terminal 6
The other new terminal being constructed at JFK is Terminal 6. While no media previews were offered, this space is also expected to open in 2026.
Once complete, this $4.2 billion project will span 1.2 million square feet and offer 10 new gates — nine of which can handle wide-body jets. The new terminal is being built adjacent to the existing Terminal 5, which is home to JetBlue Airways' JFK hub.
Once complete, the two terminals will be connected airside, giving flyers a more seamless connecting experience.
When it first opens in 2026, only five of the terminal's 10 gates will be ready; the remaining five are due to be completed by 2028.
Bottom line
JFK airport officials took the wraps off the construction happening at the airport's new Terminal One, which is sure to be a major upgrade to the airport experience.
Even though much work still needs 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 travelers will suffer through lots of traffic and roadway closures for the foreseeable future.
But it'll be worth the wait.
For more about the new JFK, be sure to check out:
- JFK's new Terminal 6 just hit key redevelopment milestone amid major airport makeover
- Chase's interesting new JFK lounge is now open — here's a first-look tour
- First look: Delta's revamped JFK terminal with 11 new gates and 2 new Sky Clubs
- Big disruptions coming as New York-JFK redevelopment begins next week
- Big changes coming to JFK as 60-year-old Terminal 2 closes for good
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- 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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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.