Commuters may be entering the height of holiday travel, but it happens to be coinciding with the more than $19 billion redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“We’ve finished expansions at Terminal 4 and Terminal 8. We’ve opened new gates, new passenger lounges and new concessions,” Rick Cotton, executive director for the Port Authority, said. “But we’re now in the phase of the heaviest construction.”
What You Need To Know
- The $19 billion transformation is 75% privately funded and will result in a Terminal 1 twice the size of LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B
- The Port Authority is urging passengers to use mass transit because the overhaul includes an update of the airport's road network, which is also leading to traffic headaches
- There is one more holiday season of headache to go before JFK has new terminals filled with gourmet local restaurants and vendors when the road network and the first phase of Terminal 1 and Terminal 6 are complete in 2026
The whole road network in the airport is being overhauled and a new Terminal 6 and Terminal 1 is being built.
When completed, Terminal 1 is expected to transform JFK like Terminal B did for LaGuardia Airport and will be double the size, with gourmet food options from local vendors and other amenities. But it’s a problem for travelers right now.
“This produces a really unprecedented challenge, and that is our message to the traveling public,” Cotton said. “Historic volumes of passengers, record numbers of passengers. It’s no question this Thanksgiving weekend will be the highest number on record.”
The Port Authority will have its hands full with 8.7 million travelers expected to use its airports and crossings this holiday travel period which is Monday through Dec 2. As well as 3.2 million passengers are expected at the area airports with more than 1.3 million alone at JFK Airport — 25,000 more than last year, which set a record.
“Leave at least three hours to get to the airport and we urge everyone if you’re traveling to consider public transportation,” Cotton advised travelers.
It seemed that many were already taking that advice. Even for-hire vehicle drivers say they don’t want to stick around.
“Honestly, JFK is just always super congested,” Daniel Disla of Manhattan said. “I just take the train.”
“Construction is very heavy traffic right now,” Uber driver Sachin Mason said. “I just drop off the customer, if I got a ride right away so I can go to pick up, otherwise I get out from the JFK and work from the five boroughs.”
There will be only one more holiday season to get through. The first phase of Terminal 1 and Terminal 6 will open in 2026, which is also when the roadwork will be completed.
The whole redevelopment will be done in 2030.