John F. Kennedy International Airport’s $19 billion glow is close to its first major milestone: the opening of two new terminals next year.
The largest of the new terminal will open in June 2026, Jennifer Aument, CEO of the new terminal, said in an event announcing China Airlines as a tenant at the facility on Monday. Eventually, the 2.6 million square feet of space will accommodate at least 15 airlines, including Air France, China Airlines, Etihad Airways, South Korea and Turkish Airlines, when the first phase of the 13 doors (plus a temporary door) was opened.
“Building a new terminal is the size of LaGuardia Airport,” Manny Ciminiello, deputy general manager for the Port Authority of New York and the Port Authority of New Jersey, said at the event on Monday. Only the new terminal is the same size as LaGuardia’s new terminals B and C.
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Across the entire building of Kennedy International Airport, the new 1.2 million square feet of terminal is expected to open in early 2026. Air Canada, all Japanese Airlines (ANA), Cathay Pacific, Thailand Pacific, Border Airlines, JetBlue, JetBlue and Lufthansa are one of the new 10-door terminal anchorage airlines.
All in all, Aument expects to change its terminal location at Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 2026, or more than two-thirds of the airport’s dock location.
The two terminal joint projects, along with the latest news on JetBlue Terminal 5 and American Airlines Terminal 8, constitute the $19 billion improvement for Kennedy International Airport (JFK), aspiring to turn everything that was once the worst airport in the United States into one of the best when everyone said and completed.
It’s a big deal for international travelers: Kennedy International Airport is by far the largest international aviation portal in the United States, seeing 17.5 million international travelers reach the gate in 2024, 50% higher than the next largest gateway, U.S. Transportation Bureau statistics show.
After the announcement of China Airlines, Aument opened one of the last Hardhat Tours of the new terminal in a year.
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Check out Kennedy’s new terminal
The first thing any visitor notices is the sheer proportion of the new terminal. It surrounds the core of Kennedy International Airport, and the ticket hall soars above the plane ramp and above the plane.
The terminal itself is a wide, light-filled box with the roof tilted down to the central axis. Aument said Gensler’s design was inspired by butterflies, but it also reminiscent of Bowtie.
The building is Weathertight and equipped inside (shops and restaurants, lounges and other spaces) will begin soon.
According to the specifications of the new terminal, the terminal will feature 300,000 square feet of “retail, retail, lounge and leisure space”. Plan six lounges, including five “Airside”, or the lounge behind Security, and a land that arrives at travelers.
France-klm, Korean Air and Turkish Airlines will operate in three of the five air lounges.
Aument refused to name any of the plans, saying they will make their debut soon. However, she does show that they will focus on beloved New York brands and international cuisine.
At the heart of the new terminal is the box office hall on the third floor, or rather, it is a “very grand space.” At 100,000 square feet, it is huge, thanks to the sloping ceilings supported by a large number of structural “trees” designed to intuitively guide travelers through space, safely to safe areas and gate areas and the world.
The design emphasizes what has become a symbol of contemporary airport architecture: transparency. In theory, travelers will be able to go from the exit curb of the terminal building to the apron that goes beyond the plane, thus giving them a sense from the moment they enter the new terminal. Today’s view is possible. However, future Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) checkpoints may hinder the panoramic view.
Once completed, the checkpoint will have 14 screening lanes at the back of the ticket hall.
What is missing in the construction space is any work of art. Aument said the security signature “Instagramable” works are visible throughout the terminal. More artworks were planned throughout the space, including “Celestial” works in the halls of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
After safety, travelers will drop to departure level where they can shop, check the lounge or head to the gate.
One of the most famous and unique features of the new terminal is the CBP waiting area. Just like in many global portals, international travelers arriving in international cities will be offline and border control will be conducted on the upper floor of the hall. However, unlike many other airports, they do not descend into the basement of the CBP. Instead, arriving travelers enter a third floor customs hall, with the skylight above filled with lights. Only after that did they descend to the basement, demand their luggage and exit the United States
“This is where we officially welcome people to New York,” Emont said of the Customs Hall. “There is no basement CBP.”
The last stop on the tour is a baggage claim. The space is hidden in the basement, and even the high ceilings do feel underground. However, the donut-shaped lighting fixture is already installed and will brighten the space when completed.
Once completed, the A-phase of the new terminal will be located on the sites of Kennedy’s front terminals 2 and 3. After opening, work will begin to be removed from the existing terminal 1, which dates back to 1998, with the terminal planning to open 10 gates in 2030.
