The New York metropolitan area took another step closer to completing the massive redevelopment of its airports when New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey broke ground on the $4.2 billion project to develop a new Terminal 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Feb. 24, 2023.
The 1.2 million square foot, state-of-the-art new terminal on the airport’s north side will feature 10 new gates – including 9 wide-body gates – and will create 4,000 jobs, including 1,800 jobs in construc-tion. This project is the final piece of the JFK Vision Plan to break ground, and it will complete the transformation of the airport into a 21st century global gateway.
The new Terminal 6 is a public-private partnership between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners — a consortium that includes Vantage Airport Group, an industry leading investor, developer, and manager of award-winning global airport projects, including LaGuardia’s Terminal B; American Triple I, a certified minority-owned investor, owner, developer, and manager of infrastructure assets, which has a 30-percent equity stake in the project; New York real estate operating company RXR; and JetBlue Airways, the project’s airline sponsor.
JFK Millennium Partners is developing the new terminal in two phases, with the first new gates opening in 2026 and construction completion in 2028.
The new terminal will create an anchor for passenger travel on JFK’s north side, spanning the sites of the former Terminal 6 and the existing Terminal 7.
JFK Millennium Partners is managing Terminal 7 until the 50-year-old facility is demolished to make way for the second phase of construction.
The new Terminal 6 arrivals and departures hall will feel spacious, bright, and airy thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and high ceilings throughout the new terminal.
Public art by New York-based artists and architectural elements depicting New York landmarks will create a unique sense of place.
Passengers will enjoy more than 100,000 square feet of shopping and dining featuring locally based restaurateurs, craft beverage options and Taste of NY stores.
Touchless technology from check-in to gates and digital sys-tems will streamline the passenger journey throughout the terminal. Advanced security systems will include automated TSA security lanes, biometric-based access control systems and a flexible design to accommodate future technology or regulatory changes.
A convenient taxi plaza as well as designated for-hire vehicle pick-up areas will be shared with Terminal 5, substantially reducing traffic congestion on the terminal road frontage and maximizing connectivity across the airport.
As part of the agreement with JFK Millennium Partners, the Port Authority will commit $130 million in capital funding to build enabling infrastructure for the new Terminal 6, including airside improvements and utility enhancements such as electrical support for the project. Enhanced airside air-craft circulation will reduce con-gestion and delays, while roadway improvements will optimize airport traffic flow.
JMP is committed to meeting and exceeding the Port Authority’s goal of 30 percent participation by Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises and creating opportunities to foster and grow local businesses through the development, said the official announcement.
The Terminal 6 project is part of the Port Authority’s $18 billion transformation of JFK and it is just one component in the overall $30 billion commitment to creating world-class facilities at all of the region’s airports.
In addition to JetBlue, Lufthansa Group will also make its home in the new Terminal 6, operating international flights out of several gates and creating a world-class lounge experience for guests traveling on its airlines, which include Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.
[Ed. Note: TMI understands that the new Terminal 6 will be in addition to JetBlue’s current operations at Terminal 5 at JFK.]
