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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