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New York International Airport, often known as Idlewild Airport, was dedicated on July 31, 1948. On December 24, 1963, a month and two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport or JFK in his honour. The airport has witnessed several historical events, including the arrival of the jet plane and the rise and fall of Concorde. It has served as a gateway for political leaders, royalty, movie stars, and sports personalities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Idlewild Airport became JFK | 24 December 1963 |
| Reason for renaming | To honour assassinated President John F. Kennedy |
| Previous name | New York International Airport |
| Common name | Idlewild Airport |
| Year of opening | 1948 |
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What You'll Learn
- John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated on November 22, 1963
- Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 24, 1963
- Idlewild Airport was originally named after a resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay
- The airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport
- Idlewild was New York's busiest airport from 1962 to 1967
John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated on November 22, 1963
Idlewild Airport was originally opened on July 31, 1948, as New York International Airport. The airport got its name, Idlewild, from a developer's resort and later golf club on Jamaica Bay. The airport was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after its opening in 1939.
On November 15, 1963, President Kennedy left Idlewild Airport after a short stay in the city. Six weeks later, that airport would be named after him. New York joined the nation in mourning following the televised funeral of President Kennedy on November 25, 1963. Thousands watched the ceremony from a large television screen hanging in Grand Central Terminal.
The airport was renamed in a ceremony attended by Ted Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, NYC Mayor Robert Wagner, and New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes. The airport's codes, IDL and KIDL, were reassigned to Indianola Municipal Airport in Mississippi, and the renamed Kennedy Airport was given the codes JFK and KJFK, the fallen president's initials.
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Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 24, 1963
Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK, on December 24, 1963, in honour of the assassinated 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy. The airport, which opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, was commonly known as Idlewild Airport.
The name Idlewild came from a developer's resort and later golf club on Jamaica Bay. The airport was built on a large area of marshland that included the Idlewild Beach Golf Course.
The renaming ceremony was attended by Ted Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, NYC Mayor Robert Wagner, and New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes. The airport's codes, IDL and KIDL, were reassigned to Indianola Municipal Airport in Mississippi, and the airport was given the new codes JFK and KJFK, reflecting the fallen president's initials.
JFK Airport has been a significant hub for aviation, witnessing historical events such as the arrival of the jet plane and the rise and fall of Concorde. It has served as a gateway for political leaders, royalty, movie stars, and sports personalities travelling through New York City.
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Idlewild Airport was originally named after a resort and golf club on Jamaica Bay
Idlewild Airport, now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), was originally named after a resort and later a golf club on Jamaica Bay. The airport, which opened in 1948, was commonly known as Idlewild Airport, although its official name was New York International Airport.
The name "Idlewild" was first used by a developer for a resort on Jamaica Bay. Later, the name was also used for a golf course in the same area. When an airport was being planned in the 1940s, the name "Idlewild" was used unofficially while the City Council and Mayor LaGuardia debated its official name.
Construction of the airport began in 1942 on the former site of the Idlewild Golf Course in Queens. The airport was designed to be unique and modern, with runways laid out in multiple directions to accommodate changing winds. It was also home to the first jet service offered by an American carrier, Pan American Airways.
On December 24, 1963, Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in honour of the assassinated 35th President of the United States. The renaming occurred just six weeks after President Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963, and was attended by members of the Kennedy family, New York City Mayor Robert Wagner, and New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes.
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The airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport
The airport now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) opened in 1948 as New York International Airport. However, it was commonly known as Idlewild Airport, after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced.
The airport was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after its opening in 1939. In late 1941, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia announced that the city had chosen a large area of marshland on Jamaica Bay for the new airport.
On July 31, 1948, President Harry S. Truman dedicated the new airport, and a squadron of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy planes flew over to mark the event. Idlewild Airport served as a major gateway to the United States for travellers from around the world.
In late 1963, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in memory of the assassinated president. On November 15, 1963, President Kennedy left Idlewild Airport after a short stay in the city. Six weeks later, the airport was renamed in his honour.
Idlewild Airport played a significant role in aviation history, witnessing the arrival of the jet plane and the rise and fall of the Concorde. It has been a hub for many major airlines and has seen political leaders, royalty, movie stars, and sports stars pass through its terminals.
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Idlewild was New York's busiest airport from 1962 to 1967
Idlewild Airport, also known as New York International Airport, was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on December 24, 1963, in honour of the assassinated 35th president of the United States.
Before it became JFK, Idlewild was New York's busiest airport from 1962 to 1967. During this period, it had more airline takeoffs and landings than LaGuardia and Newark combined. In 1967, it peaked at 403,981 airline operations.
Idlewild Airport opened in 1948, and its construction was intended to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after opening in 1939. The airport was built on the site of the Idlewild Beach Golf Course, located in the borough of Queens, over 24 kilometres outside the Manhattan city centre. The airport's common name, "Idlewild," was derived from the golf course's name.
In the years leading up to its peak, Idlewild underwent significant development. Airlines began scheduling jets to Idlewild in 1958-59, and by 1957, the airport was accommodating more than 1,200 departures per week, becoming the second busiest airport in the United States in the 1960s. The first jet airliner to land at Idlewild was an Avro Jetliner in 1950, carrying the world's first cargo of jet airmail. The airport also witnessed the launch of the jet age in 1958 when a Pan-American Boeing 707 departed for Paris.
The expansion of Idlewild continued with the opening of the Pan-American Worldport facility at Terminal 3 in 1960, featuring a unique flying saucer-shaped roof. This was followed by the Trans World Flight Center terminal building in 1962, which boasted a futuristic design that captivated Americans.
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Frequently asked questions
Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK, on December 24, 1963, a month after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The airport opened in 1948 as New York International Airport but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport.
Idlewild Airport was rededicated in honour of the assassinated president, John F. Kennedy.
