Ruth Haines
John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) is a major international airport in the New York City borough of Queens. Located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, it is the busiest airport in the New York airport system and the sixth-busiest airport in the United States. Over 80-90 airlines operate domestic and international flights from JFK, serving all six inhabited continents. The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways, with Terminal 4 being the first in the United States to be managed by a foreign operator.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
John F. Kennedy International Airport's location
John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) is located in the state of New York, serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is situated on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in the borough of Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. The airport is located in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens, approximately 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Midtown Manhattan.
JFK Airport is easily accessible by various means of transportation, including car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit. The primary routes to the airport are the JFK Expressway and Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). The airport is also connected to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road via the AirTrain JFK, a people-mover system that commenced operations in 2003.
As the busiest airport in the New York airport system and the sixth-busiest in the United States, JFK Airport covers 5,200 acres (2,104 ha) and features five passenger terminals and four runways. Over 90 airlines operate at the airport, offering nonstop or direct flights to destinations across all six inhabited continents.
The airport's terminals have undergone various developments over the years. Terminal 1, designed by William Nicholas Bodouva + Associates, is capable of handling the Airbus A380 aircraft. Terminal 4, managed by JFKIAT (IAT) LLC, is the first in the United States to be operated by a foreign airport operator. The air traffic control tower, designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, stands at 320 feet (98 m) tall and began full FAA operations in October 1994.
Fort William's Airport: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Transport to and from JFK
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in Queens, New York City, in the Jamaica neighbourhood. The airport is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway).
There are several options for transport to and from JFK Airport. If you are travelling by car, you can take the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) to reach the airport.
Public transportation is also available. The AirTrain JFK, which opened in 2003, connects each airport terminal to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road at Howard Beach and Jamaica. To get to the AirTrain, you can take the subway and get off at Jamaica Station. From there, take the stairs, elevators, or escalators to the upper level, where you can board the AirTrain. The AirTrain fare is $8.50, and you can use OMNY or your MetroCard to pay at the turnstiles.
Another option is to take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) directly to Jamaica Station and then transfer to the AirTrain. You can board LIRR trains at Penn Station, Grand Central in Manhattan, or Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn. Make sure to check that the train you board stops at Jamaica, as not all trains do.
If you are travelling from outside Midtown Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn, you can also take the subway to Jamaica Station and then transfer to the AirTrain. The subway fare is $2.90, and the AirTrain fare is $8.50.
In addition to public transportation, there are also private shuttle services available, such as GO Airlink NYC, which offers shared and private rides to and from JFK Airport. These shuttles can be booked in advance or on the same day, and they provide curbside pickup directly at your terminal.
Airports and Airlines: A Collaborative Journey
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Terminals and runways
John F. Kennedy International Airport, located in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens, New York City, features five passenger terminals and four runways. The airport, which covers 5,200 acres, is the largest in the New York metropolitan area.
Terminal 1, which opened in 1998, has 11 gates and is one of two terminals at JFK Airport capable of handling the Airbus A380 aircraft. It offers a wide variety of dining and shopping options, including fast-food chains, casual eateries, designer shops, and duty-free areas. T1 is the only terminal with a landside food court and 24/7 eating establishments. The arrivals level hosts the baggage claim area, a concierge desk, a refreshment counter, and a currency exchange, while the departures level features check-in points, gates, and retail facilities.
Terminal 2, commonly known as the Delta Terminal, was built in 1962 and has 11 gates. However, it does not have US customs, so it primarily serves domestic flights. Terminal 2 is planned to be demolished and replaced by the renovated Terminal 1 in the future.
Terminal 4, which opened in 2001, is a massive terminal building with 48 gates spread across two concourses. It serves as the hub for Delta Air Lines at JFK and is the second terminal capable of handling the Airbus A380. Concourse A serves primarily Asian and some European airlines, along with Delta Connection flights, while Concourse B serves both domestic and international flights of Delta and its SkyTeam partners. The arrivals level of Terminal 4 features check-in desks and a baggage carousel zone, while the departures level provides access to the two concourses, where the boarding gates, food court, and shopping area are located.
Terminal 5 is primarily operated by JetBlue but also serves other airlines. It has 29 gates spread across two levels, departures and arrivals, and provides passengers with numerous facilities and services. Terminal 5 incorporates the TWA Flight Center, which was previously a separate terminal.
Terminal 7 is operated by British Airlines and has 12 gates. It is the only terminal in the USA handled by a foreign air carrier. Terminal 8 is a major aviation hub for Oneworld member airlines and is primarily managed by American Airlines. It is an enormous structure, nearly twice the size of Madison Square Garden, and welcomes over 12.8 million passengers annually.
In addition to these terminals, JFK Airport also features four runways surrounding the central terminal area. At the time of its completion in 1994, the air traffic control tower at JFK Airport, standing at 320 feet, was the world's tallest. However, it has since been surpassed by taller towers at other airports.
Gold Coast's Airport Options: How Many and Where?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Accessibility and facilities
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens, New York City, and is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area. The airport consists of 6 terminals, numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8. Terminal 4 (T4) is nearly one mile in length and is ADA-compliant, with wheelchair-accessible restrooms, water fountains, and relief areas for service animals.
JFK provides disability assistance services, including wheelchair assistance, free of charge to disabled passengers. These services should be requested in advance through your airline. All New York City buses are wheelchair accessible, and the AirTrain JFK people-mover system, which connects each airport terminal to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road, is fully compliant with ADA requirements. The AirTrain stops outside each terminal and can be reached by following the signs posted at baggage claim. The primary and most efficient public transportation option, the AirTrain travels as far as Jamaica Station and connects to the Long Island Rail Road (LIR), with service to Manhattan and other NYC boroughs.
In addition to the standard accessibility services, JFK offers complimentary Aira Access to blind or low-vision customers. Through Aira Access, customers can use a smartphone app to connect with an agent who provides visual descriptions on demand. The airport also offers the sunflower lanyard to passengers with hidden disabilities, such as autism, PTSD, or ADHD. The sunflower lanyard communicates that passengers wearing it may need extra help or time.
JFK is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). Several hotels are adjacent to the airport, including the Courtyard by Marriott and the Crowne Plaza. The former Ramada Plaza JFK Hotel is Building 144 and was formerly the only on-site hotel. In January 2017, the Ark at JFK Airport, a $65 million luxury terminal for pets, opened, providing luxurious accommodations for animals being transported.
VRE's Reagan Airport Stop: All You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
History of the airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) is located in the state of New York, on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. The airport is about 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan and is the largest in the New York metropolitan area.
The airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, commonly known as Idlewild Airport (IATA: IDL, ICAO: KIDL, FAA LID: IDL). The name Idlewild came from the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that the airport displaced. The airport was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded since its opening in 1939.
In 1951, the first major permanent structure, a federal building, was opened on the airport's periphery. The following year, an 11-floor permanent air traffic control tower was opened, along with 11 hangars, an air traffic control centre, a large air freight building, and a weather bureau. By the late 1950s, $235 million had been spent on developing Idlewild.
In 1958–59, airlines began scheduling jets to Idlewild, and by 1962, it had more airline takeoffs and landings than LaGuardia and Newark combined. In 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport.
In 1994, a new air traffic control tower, designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, began full FAA operations. At 320 feet, it was the world's tallest control tower at the time.
In 1998, construction began on the AirTrain JFK people-mover system, after decades of planning for a direct rail link to the airport. The new Terminal 1 also opened that year, followed by Terminal 4 in 2001. The rail system opened in 2003, linking each airport terminal to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road.
In 2017, The Ark at JFK Airport, a $65 million luxury terminal for pets, opened. It was supposed to be the only such facility in the US at the time.
Maui Airport Options: Which One Should You Choose?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) is located in the state of New York.
JFK airport is in the borough of Queens, New York City, serving the city and its metropolitan area.
There are five passenger terminals at JFK airport, with four runways.
The airport is primarily accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). There is also the AirTrain JFK rail network, which connects to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road.
JFK airport features a variety of shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants. It also has a luxury terminal for pets called "The Ark" and an adjacent on-site hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott. The airport's air traffic control tower, designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, stood as the world's tallest at 320 feet (98 m) when it was completed in October 1994.
