The first phase of a $9.5-billion project to expand and reconstruct Terminal 1 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is less than a year away from being completed.
However, several other major building projects are slated to continue through 2030 at the venue, including the replacement of nine gates and addition of one more to replace a temporary gate.
The new terminal is a key component of an ambitious $19-billion plan by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to transform the sprawling airport into a world-class gateway. Upon completion, the airport will have two new terminals, two expanded terminals, a new ground transportation centre, and entirely new, simplified roadway network.
The new structure will be the largest terminal at JFK and the largest standalone international terminal in the nation. It is being built on sites presently occupied by Terminal 1 and former terminals 2 and 3. The existing terminal will be demolished once the new one is up and running.
Jennifer Aument, CEO of New Terminal One, which is the private company overseeing the project, said construction of the 2.6-million-square-foot terminal is moving along rapidly.
“We topped off in March, and construction is on schedule,” she noted. “We are progressing the build of critical systems. In the coming months, work will intensify in our terminal’s interior.
“As we get ready to open the doors, we are testing the terminal’s technology at our pre-production centre in Bohemia on Long Island, ensuring that all systems are fully integrated and tested.”
The terminal will be the largest at JFK. The work will create more than 10,000 jobs, including 6,000 union construction jobs.
The terminal is being constructed by a design-build team led by AECOM Tishman and Gensler, a leading global design and architecture firm.
Upon completion, the terminal will have 23 gates and more than 300,000 square feet of retail, dining and lounge space enclosed by floor-to-ceiling windows. All in, more than 33,000 tons of structural steel will be used to build the terminal – the equivalent of five Eiffel Towers.
A solar microgrid being installed on the roof of the structure will enable operations at the terminal to continue in the event of power disruptions.
“In September, we announced with our partner AlphaStruxure, the start of construction on our micro-grid featuring New York City’s largest solar array with more than 13,000 panels,” explained Aument. “The microgrid will make our terminal more resilient and help us reduce carbon emissions.”
Another defining feature of the terminal will be its scale. It will be nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport’s two new terminals combined. The JFK AirTrain will run through the core and a third-floor ticket hall will soar above the aircraft ramp and planes beyond.
Architectural renderings show a grand, light-filled structure with a roof that slopes down into the middle. It was inspired by the wings of the butterfly. The building will be relatively transparent. From the drop-off area, travelers will be able to see through the terminal to the aircraft apron.
Construction is presently ongoing in the interior of the building. Crews are building shops, restaurants, lounges and other space. Six lounges are planned for inside the terminal building.
The terminal will be decorated with artwork. A celestial piece is planned for a customs and border protection area. There will also be concessions situated throughout the structure.
The departures level will be stationed on a lower level of the terminal. Arrivals will deplane and proceed to border control on a third level. Once travelers are processed, they descend to pick up their luggage in a basement area.
The airport recently announced that a 4,200-square-foot, round-the-clock Plaza Premium lounge will open in the pre-security area and feature business-class services while a 9,300-square-foot Plaza Premium First lounge will be located beyond the security checkpoint and open all the time.
Qatar Airways has also announced it will be setting up a 15,000-square-foot lounge in the terminal which will offer direct access to the boarding gate.
In a statement, Qatar Airways Group CEO Mohammed Al-Meer, said the airline is looking forward to launching operations at Terminal 1.
With the addition of the new terminal, Aument says the airport will be in prime position to cater to international customers.
“We’ll partner with several world-class brands to bring unique shopping and dining experiences to the terminal,” she said. “We’re looking forward to opening our doors to the public in 2026 and providing a world-class experience for our partner airlines and passengers.”
In June, the port authority successfully issued $2.5 billion in green bonds, reaffirming investor confidence in the new Terminal 1. JFK also announced several partnerships with airlines.
The terminal will be home to leading airlines such as Air France, KLM, Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines, Korean Air, EVA Air, Air Serbia, SAS, Neos, Philippine Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air New Zealand, Royal Air Maroc, Air China, China Airlines, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways and EGYPTAIR.
