Ruth Haines
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is one of New York City's three major airports. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving approximately 60 million passengers annually. The airport was originally known as Idlewild Airport, which opened its first flight in the presence of then-US President Harry S. Truman. The name Idlewild is believed to be derived from the fact that the site was wild, and a recreational facility for the rich. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the airport was renamed in his honour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Name | Idlewild Airport |
| Other Former Names | New York International Airport, Anderson Field, Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport |
| Renamed After | John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States |
| Year Renamed | 1963 |
| Year Opened | 1948 |
| Location | New York City, United States |
| Number of Terminals | 8 (5 in operation) |
| Number of Passengers | 60 million per year |
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What You'll Learn
- John F. Kennedy International Airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport
- The airport was commonly known as Idlewild Airport
- Idlewild Airport was renamed after President Kennedy's assassination
- The airport is one of New York City's three major airports
- JFK Airport is featured in several TV shows and films
John F. Kennedy International Airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport, more commonly referred to as JFK, is one of New York City's three major airports. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving approximately 60 million passengers per year. The airport is served by more than 70 airlines and has eight terminals, with five currently in operation.
JFK Airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport. However, it was commonly known as Idlewild Airport, a name inspired by the fact that the site was wild, and a hotel and park constituted a recreational facility for the idle rich. The name Idlewild was originally given to a resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay.
In 1943, the Idlewild Airport project was renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport to honour a Queens resident who had commanded a Federalized National Guard unit in the southern United States and died in late 1942. In early 1948, the New York City Council changed the official name to New York International Airport, Anderson Field. The airport was officially dedicated on July 31, 1948, and the first commercial arrival was a Peruvian International Airlines flight from Santiago, Chile, on July 9, 1948.
Following the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in his honour. The rededication ceremony took place in December 1943 and was attended by Ted Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, NYC Mayor Robert Wagner, and New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes.
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The airport was commonly known as Idlewild Airport
The name Idlewild was also inspired by a developer's resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay. The airport replaced a historical summer hotel and golf course. In 1943, the Idlewild Airport project was renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport, honoring a Queens resident who had commanded a Federalized National Guard unit and died in late 1942.
In early 1948, the New York City Council changed the official name to New York International Airport, Anderson Field. Despite the official name change, many people continued to refer to the airport as Idlewild. The airport has been featured in numerous TV shows and films, including Steven Spielberg's 2002 film "Catch Me If You Can" and Martin Scorsese's 2019 film "The Irishman."
On November 15, 1963, President John F. Kennedy arrived at Idlewild Airport, six weeks before it was renamed in his honor following his assassination. New York joined the nation in mourning, and calls immediately rose to memorialize the president in the city. On December 24, 1963, Idlewild was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK Airport, as it is commonly known today.
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Idlewild Airport was renamed after President Kennedy's assassination
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is one of New York City's three major airports and the second-most popular destination for Airbus A380 operations in the US. It is also the busiest airport in the New York Airport system, serving approximately 60 million passengers per year.
The airport was originally called Idlewild Airport, which was inspired by the fact that the site was wild, and a hotel and park constituted a recreational facility for the idle rich. The name Idlewild was also used for a resort and later a golf club on Jamaica Bay. The airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, but this name was changed to Idlewild Airport by common usage.
On November 15, 1963, President Kennedy left Idlewild Airport after a short stay in the city. Six weeks later, on November 22, he was assassinated. On November 25, 1963, New York joined the rest of the nation in mourning the president, as thousands watched his televised funeral ceremony from a large television screen hanging in Grand Central Terminal. Traffic stopped in Times Square, and buglers played taps from atop the old Hotel Astor. All airport traffic at Idlewild stopped at noon.
Calls immediately rose to memorialize the president in the city, and on December 24, 1963, Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in honour of the assassinated president. The airport's new name was chosen to immortalize Kennedy's legacy.
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The airport is one of New York City's three major airports
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is one of New York City's three major airports. The airport is located in the northeast and is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving approximately 60 million passengers per year. It is also the US airport with the highest international passenger traffic, served by more than 70 airlines, and has eight terminals, with five currently in operation.
JFK Airport has a rich history with several name changes. The airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. The name Idlewild is believed to have originated from the fact that the site was wild, and there was a hotel and park that constituted a recreational facility for the idle rich. The airport was also briefly renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport in 1943 to honour a Queens resident who had commanded a Federalized National Guard unit and died in late 1942.
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was assassinated. Six weeks after his departure from Idlewild Airport on November 15, 1963, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in his honour. The rededication ceremony took place on December 24, 1963, and was attended by prominent figures, including Ted Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, and New York City Mayor Robert Wagner.
JFK Airport has been featured in numerous television shows and films, including Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can" and Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman." The airport has also undergone significant construction and enlargement over the years, with Terminal 1 opening in 1998 and Terminal 4, a $1.4 billion replacement for the International Arrivals Building, opening in 2001.
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JFK Airport is featured in several TV shows and films
John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK, has been featured in several TV shows and films. The airport was initially called New York International Airport but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport.
One of the most notable films featuring JFK Airport is Steven Spielberg's 2004 film, *The Terminal*, starring Tom Hanks. The film tells the story of a wayward traveller stuck in immigration limbo, unable to return to his home country due to a political uprising and unable to enter the United States as his country no longer technically "exists". While the film ostensibly takes place at JFK, the terminal where Hanks' character resides is a patchwork of locations, including Montreal-Mirabel Airport in Canada and an empty hangar at Palmdale Airport outside Los Angeles.
Another film that features JFK Airport is the 2002 crime drama *Catch Me If You Can*, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. In the film, DiCaprio's character, a con man, assumes various roles, including an airline pilot for Pan Am, and can be seen walking through JFK Airport, with a glimpse of the Eero Saarinen-designed TWA Terminal.
In addition to films, JFK Airport has also been featured in TV shows. The airport is a central location in the National Geographic show *To Catch a Smuggler*, which follows the intense and emotional stories of the US Customs Patrol at some of the busiest airports in the world, including intercepting drug smugglers and investigating suspicious activities.
JFK Airport has become a recognisable landmark in popular culture, and its appearance in films and TV shows has contributed to its prominence.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was originally called Idlewild Airport, named after a resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay.
The airport was renamed to memorialize John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963.
JFK Airport was renamed on December 24, 1963, six weeks after President Kennedy's assassination.
JFK Airport is one of New York City's three major airports and is currently the busiest airport in the New York Airport system. It is also one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving approximately 60 million passengers annually. The airport has also been featured in numerous TV shows and films, such as Catch Me If You Can and The Terminal.
![Idlewild [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719io-P3X5L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
