Lois Larson
John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK, is one of the largest and busiest airports in the USA. However, it wasn't always known as JFK; when it opened in 1948, it was known as New York International Airport, but was commonly referred to as Idlewild Airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous Name | Idlewild Airport |
| Previous Alternative Name | New York International Airport |
| Year of renaming | 1963 |
| Date of renaming | 24th of December |
| Reason for renaming | To honour President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated |
| Previous name's origin | Named after the Idlewild golf course, which the airport replaced |
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What You'll Learn
Idlewild Airport was renamed JFK after John F. Kennedy
Idlewild Airport was renamed JFK International Airport after John F. Kennedy, the assassinated president of the United States.
The airport, which opened in 1948, was originally known as New York International Airport, but it was commonly referred to as Idlewild Airport, a name derived from the golf course and luxury accommodation on which it was built.
Following Kennedy's assassination and funeral in November 1963, there were immediate calls to memorialize the president in New York City. On December 4, less than two weeks after Kennedy's death, Mayor Robert Wagner announced his intention to submit a bill to the city council to rename Idlewild Airport after the late president. The bill was passed, and on December 24, 1963, the airport was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport during a ceremony attended by various dignitaries, including Wagner, New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes, and agency Chairman S. Kennedy's brother, U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, and sister, Jean Kennedy Smith, were also present to honor their brother's memory.
The renaming of the airport was met with some criticism, with some arguing that the name change was too hasty and that the airport should have been named after someone with a stronger connection to New York, such as a local figure or a veteran of World War II. Despite this, the airport has become known globally by its new name, JFK International Airport, a fitting tribute to the beloved president.
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Idlewild Airport opened in 1948
Idlewild Airport, now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport, opened in 1948 as New York International Airport. It was commonly known as Idlewild Airport because it was built on the former site of the Idlewild golf course and luxury accommodation of the same name.
The airport replaced the Idlewild Beach golf course, the summer hotel, and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport. The IATA code for the airport was IDL, reflecting its location on the site of the Idlewild golf course.
In the 1940s, while the airport was being planned, the City Council and Mayor LaGuardia debated what to call it. The name "Idlewild" was a developer's name for a resort and later a golf club on Jamaica Bay. It was used as the unofficial name for the airport during its construction.
Idlewild Airport officially opened on July 1, 1948, and quickly became a major hub for international travel. By 1954, Idlewild served the highest number of international operations, and its lush green grass, flowering trees, and floral landscapes gave visitors the feeling of being in a different country.
The airport was later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in honour of the slain president. Following President Kennedy's assassination, there were calls to memorialize him by renaming New York's largest airport. On December 24, 1963, just over a month after Kennedy's death, the airport was officially renamed, with the ceremony attended by dignitaries including New York City Mayor Robert Wagner, New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes, and agency Chairman S. Kennedy's widow also gave permission for the name change.
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The airport was renamed in 1963 after Kennedy's assassination
Idlewild International Airport, serving the globe-trotting residents of New York City since 1948, underwent a name change in 1963. This alteration served as a tribute to the recently assassinated John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. The decision to rename the airport was made by the authorities in New York, just 24 hours after the tragic events in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. The swift action reflected the deep impact Kennedy had on the nation and the desire to honor his legacy.
The airport, located in Queens, New York City, was originally named Idlewild after the eponymous golf course and country club that previously occupied the site. While the name Idlewild International Airport was used officially for a number of years, many New Yorkers referred to it simply as Idlewild Airport or just Idlewild. This name was derived from the surrounding Idlewild Beach, a popular recreational spot in the early 20th century.
The idea to rename the airport after Kennedy came from an unlikely source. A New York City newspaper columnist, Murray Kempton, suggested the idea in his column just one day after the assassination. Kempton's proposal gained traction, and New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller supported the initiative. The New York City Council and the New York State Legislature quickly passed a bill to make the name change official, and Governor Rockefeller signed it into law on December 24, 1963.
The renaming of the airport was a significant gesture, as it was one of the first major public institutions to bear Kennedy's name. The new name, John F. Kennedy International Airport, reflected the late president's commitment to international diplomacy and his vision for a more interconnected world. Kennedy himself had a strong connection to aviation, having served as a naval aviator during World War II and later advocating for the expansion of commercial aviation as president.
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The name change was announced by Mayor Robert Wagner
The name change of Idlewild Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport was announced by Mayor Robert Wagner on December 4, 1963, less than two weeks after President Kennedy's assassination. The airport, which opened in 1948, was New York's largest and busiest airport in the Northeast USA.
Mayor Wagner stated that he would submit a bill to the city council to honour Kennedy with a name change. The bill was passed a few weeks later, with the official name change taking place on Christmas Eve, 1963. The airport was renamed to pay tribute to the slain president and join the nation in mourning.
Prior to being named after President Kennedy, the airport was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. This name was derived from the former Idlewild golf course and luxury accommodation upon which the airport was built. The name "Idlewild" was a developer's name for a resort and later a golf club on Jamaica Bay.
While the name change honoured President Kennedy, it also obliterated the memory of another great American. There were those who had supported naming the airport after Major General Alexander E. Anderson, a decorated veteran of World War II.
The renaming of Idlewild Airport is not the only instance of a New York City landmark being renamed after a member of the Kennedy family. In 2009, the Triboro Bridge was renamed after Robert F. Kennedy, over 40 years after his assassination.
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The airport was originally built on Idlewild Beach golf course
John F. Kennedy International Airport, more commonly known as JFK Airport, was originally built on the Idlewild Beach golf course. The airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, but it was often referred to as Idlewild Airport. This name was derived from the Idlewild Beach golf course and luxury accommodation on which the airport was constructed.
The name "Idlewild" dates back to a developer's name for a resort and later a golf club on Jamaica Bay. The golf course, along with a summer hotel and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport, were all replaced by the airport when it was built.
Idlewild Airport served as New York's largest and busiest airport in the Northeast USA, handling the highest number of international operations as early as 1954. The airport was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in December 1963, just a few weeks after the assassination of President Kennedy. The renaming was intended as a tribute to the beloved president, with the support of his widow.
The decision to rename the airport was met with some criticism, as it erased the memory of another notable American, Major General Alexander E. Anderson, a decorated veteran of World War II, who some believed deserved the honour. Additionally, there were those who felt that renaming the airport after President Kennedy was a hasty decision, attaching his name to a "miscellaneous collection of public works". Despite this, the name JFK Airport has now become synonymous with the busy international travel hub, with the IATA code JFK reflecting this change.
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Frequently asked questions
Kennedy Airport was originally called Idlewild Airport.
The airport was named Idlewild because it was built on the site of a former golf course and luxury accommodation of the same name.
The airport was renamed in December 1963, less than two months after the assassination of President Kennedy.
New York City Mayor Robert Wagner announced that he would submit a bill to the city council to change the name to Kennedy Airport.
The airport is now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport, often abbreviated to JFK International Airport or simply JFK Airport.
