
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. With a total area of 4,930 to 5,200 acres, it is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area. Over 70 to 90 airlines operate out of JFK, serving flights to and from 162 destinations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
| Location | Southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City |
| Size | 4,930 acres or 5,200 acres |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Number of Terminals | 5 |
| Airlines Operating | Over 70 or 90 or 74 |
| Destinations | 162 |
| Accessibility | Car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) |
| Ranking in the US | Sixth-busiest airport and ninth-biggest airport |
| Ranking in North America | Busiest international commercial airport |
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What You'll Learn
- John F. Kennedy International Airport is the sixth-busiest airport in the US
- It is the busiest international commercial airport in North America
- The airport covers 5,200 acres, making it the largest in the New York metropolitan area
- Over 90 airlines operate from JFK, with flights to all inhabited continents
- The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways

John F. Kennedy International Airport is the sixth-busiest airport in the US
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is the sixth-busiest airport in the United States. It is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. Located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, JFK Airport covers 5,200 acres (2,104 ha), making it the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area.
JFK Airport is a hub for several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue. The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways, with over 90 airlines operating nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents. It is accessible primarily by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway).
The airport's history dates back to 1948 when it opened as New York International Airport, commonly known as Idlewild Airport. In 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the airport was renamed in his honour. Over the years, JFK Airport has undergone various renovations and expansions, including the addition of new terminals and the development of the AirTrain JFK people-mover system, which connects the airport to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road.
JFK Airport is known for its impressive size and diverse range of facilities. It houses everything from an abandoned hotel to a special runway reserved for Air Force One. The airport also features a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options for travellers, making it a major gateway for international travel to and from the United States.
In terms of cargo, JFK Airport plays a significant role in the United States. In 2021, the airport handled around 1.43 million metric tons of cargo, contributing to the total of 46.00 billion ton-kilometers of cargo moved by air across the country that year.
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It is the busiest international commercial airport in North America
John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK, is the busiest international commercial airport in North America. It is one of the seven airports in the New York airport system and is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. The airport covers 5,200 acres, making it the largest in the New York metropolitan area.
JFK is a hub for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue. Over 70-90 airlines operate from the airport, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents. The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways. Terminal 1 opened in 1998, and Terminal 2, the $1.4 billion replacement for the International Arrivals Building, opened in 2001. JetBlue's Terminal 5 incorporates the TWA Flight Center, and Terminals 8 and 9 were rebuilt as Terminal 8 for American Airlines.
The airport is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). The AirTrain JFK people-mover system, which opened in 2003, links each airport terminal to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road at Howard Beach and Jamaica. The airport also has parking facilities, including multi-level terminal garages and a long-term parking lot.
JFK is known for its impressive size, housing everything from an abandoned hotel to a special runway reserved for Air Force One. It is currently being redesigned and modernised, with a focus on improving the passenger experience. Despite being one of the biggest and busiest airports, JFK has a reputation for lengthy and strict security checks.
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The airport covers 5,200 acres, making it the largest in the New York metropolitan area
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. Covering 5,200 acres, it is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area. The airport is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. It is approximately 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan.
JFK Airport is the primary hub for JetBlue and a major hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Over 70-90 airlines operate from the airport, serving flights to and from 162 destinations across all six inhabited continents. The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways. Terminal 1 opened in 1998, while Terminal 4, a $1.4 billion replacement for the International Arrivals Building, opened in 2001. JetBlue's Terminal 5 incorporates the TWA Flight Center, which operated as the airport's head house from 1962 to 2001. Terminals 8 and 9 were rebuilt as Terminal 8 for American Airlines.
JFK Airport is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). The airport also has its own dedicated rail network, AirTrain JFK, which connects each airport terminal to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road at Howard Beach and Jamaica. The AirTrain also serves Federal Circle, the JFK long-term parking lot, and two rapid transit stations.
JFK Airport is not only the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area but also one of the busiest. It is the sixth-busiest airport in the United States and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. In 2021, the airport handled 1.43 million metric tons of cargo.
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Over 90 airlines operate from JFK, with flights to all inhabited continents
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. Covering 5,200 acres, it is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area.
JFK Airport is the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. Over 90 airlines operate from JFK, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents. The airport has five active passenger terminals and four runways.
JFK is a hub for several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue, which is the second-largest airline at JFK. The airport is easily accessible via car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit, primarily through the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway).
The airport has a rich history, opening in 1948 as New York International Airport and was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. In 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the airport was renamed in his honour. Over the years, it has undergone several expansions and renovations, including the addition of new terminals and the redevelopment of existing ones.
JFK Airport offers flights to over 200 destinations across the US and worldwide, making it a major gateway for international travel to and from the United States.
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The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. The airport is the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America.
JFK Airport is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). The airport also has its own dedicated rail network, the AirTrain JFK, which links each airport terminal to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road at Howard Beach and Jamaica. The AirTrain also serves Federal Circle, the JFK long-term parking lot, and two rapid transit stations: Howard Beach and Jamaica.
Over 70-90 airlines operate out of JFK Airport, serving flights to and from 162 destinations. It is a hub for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue, and a former hub for many other airlines. The airport covers 5,200 acres (2,104 ha), making it the largest in the New York metropolitan area.
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Frequently asked questions
No, JFK is the ninth-biggest airport in the US and the sixth busiest. The biggest airport in the world is King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, covering 485 square miles.
No, JFK is the ninth-biggest airport in the US. The biggest airport in the US is Denver International Airport, which covers 85 square miles.
Yes, JFK is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area, covering 5,200 acres. It is also the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system.
JFK airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, commonly known as Idlewild Airport. It was renamed in 1963 after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

















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