See inside JFK airport’s new $9.5 billion international terminal

Introduction to JFK’s New Terminal 1

The new, $9.5 billion Terminal 1 at John F. Kennedy International Airport is taking shape, with its first phase slated to open in mid-2026. It will replace the current terminal, which opened in 1998. The terminal, which will be JFK’s largest, is now weather-tight, with winding baggage conveyor belt structures installed, and future ticket counters, where customers flying carriers like Turkish Airlines, Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways, Air China, Taiwan’s China Airlines, and others will set down their luggage and show their passports to ticket agents.

Construction Progress and Design

The terminal — set to be roughly the size of the two new LaGuardia Airport terminals that opened in the past decade combined — will be dedicated solely to international travelers, which the developers said is key to the design. "From the very first pen to paper … we had the international customer in mind," Jennifer Aument, CEO of the New Terminal One, the company developing the project, said at a press conference at the airport last month. The new baggage transport system has been installed, and the departures hall, security lanes, and customs will be on the same level of the three-floor terminal, which features a wall of slanted windows.

Features of the New Terminal

The terminal’s design, led by architecture firm Gensler, is supposed to conjure the image of a butterfly, with the body splitting the terminal down the middle. The AirTrain, which connects the airport’s terminals and parking lots with train stations in Queens, is already running through the construction site and will stop at the terminal when the facility opens. The terminal will have a capacity for 14 million passengers a year, with 23 gates — 22 wide-body gates and one narrow-body gate — for planes like an Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737s — when the rest of the project is complete, currently scheduled for 2030.

Amenities and Sustainability

The final version of Terminal 1 will also have more than 300,000 square feet of dining, retail, lounge, and recreational space, with more than half, 180,000 square feet, just for retail and dining. The airport will be the only one in the U.S. with a cash-and-carry duty-free shopping. Generally, customers will make duty-free purchases that are then returned to them before they board their flights, but in this format, they can take them right away. The new terminal will also have its own microgrid, with solar panels on the roof, that the developer said will enable the facility to have "full resiliency and maintenance of 100% [of the terminal’s] operations in the event of power disruptions."

Conclusion

The new Terminal 1 at JFK is set to open in mid-2026, and it will be a significant improvement over the current terminal. With its modern design, advanced baggage transport system, and ample amenities, it will provide a better experience for international travelers. The terminal’s focus on sustainability, with its own microgrid and solar panels, will also make it a more environmentally friendly option.

FAQs

Q: When is the new Terminal 1 at JFK scheduled to open?
A: The first phase of the new Terminal 1 is scheduled to open in mid-2026.
Q: What airlines will be operating out of the new Terminal 1?
A: The new Terminal 1 will be home to carriers like Turkish Airlines, Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways, Air China, Taiwan’s China Airlines, and others.
Q: How many gates will the new Terminal 1 have?
A: The new Terminal 1 will have 23 gates — 22 wide-body gates and one narrow-body gate — when the rest of the project is complete, currently scheduled for 2030.
Q: What amenities will the new Terminal 1 have?
A: The new Terminal 1 will have more than 300,000 square feet of dining, retail, lounge, and recreational space, with more than half, 180,000 square feet, just for retail and dining.
Q: Will the new Terminal 1 have any sustainable features?
A: Yes, the new Terminal 1 will have its own microgrid, with solar panels on the roof, that will enable the facility to have "full resiliency and maintenance of 100% [of the terminal’s] operations in the event of power disruptions."