Lois Larson
New York City is home to several airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Airport. John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK or Kennedy Airport, is located in Queens, New York, and was officially opened in 1948, though construction began in 1943. LaGuardia Airport, also located in Queens, was established in 1929 and began operating as a public airport in 1939. Newark Airport, located in New Jersey, served as New York's de facto commercial airport in the 1930s due to its accessibility via a new highway connecting it to the city. These airports have undergone expansions and renovations over the years to accommodate increasing air traffic and improve facilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
| Former Names | New York International Airport, Idlewild Airport, Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport |
| Location | Queens, New York City |
| Construction Start Year | 1943 |
| Opening Year | 1948 |
| Opening Date | 1 July 1948 |
| Opening Ceremony Attendees | 215,000 spectators, 500 journalists, President Harry S. Truman, Governor Thomas Dewey |
| Initial Number of Runways | 6 |
| Number of Terminals at Opening | 5 |
| Purpose | To relieve congestion at LaGuardia Airport |
| Cost of Development by the Late 1950s | $235 million |
| Former Land Use | Idlewild Beach Golf Course, a summer hotel, a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport |
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What You'll Learn
John F. Kennedy International Airport opened in 1948
John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK or Kennedy Airport, opened in 1948 as New York International Airport. It was built on the grounds of the former Idlewild Beach Golf Course, which included a summer hotel and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport. The airport was constructed to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded since its opening in 1939.
The airport's construction began in 1943, with about US$60 million in initial government funding. However, the project faced delays due to financing issues, union disputes, and disagreements over rents charged to airlines and access roads. These issues caused the completion date to be pushed back by almost three years. The airport finally opened its doors in the summer of 1948, with six runways and five terminals to serve its passengers.
In its early years, the airport experienced rapid growth, averaging over 70 flights per day by 1950. By 1957, the airport was handling over 1,200 departures per week, and jet flights arrived the following year, making Idlewild the busiest airport in the New York area. The airport's popularity continued into the 1960s, with it becoming the second most used airport in the United States during that decade.
Over time, the airport underwent various name changes and expansions. In 1963, it was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, honouring the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated that year. The airport has continued to evolve, with plans for expansion and renovation announced in 2015 and 2017, respectively, to address the increasing demand for air travel.
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The airport was built on the grounds of the Idlewild Beach Golf Course
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, was built on the grounds of the Idlewild Beach Golf Course. The airport opened in 1948 as the New York International Airport, but it was often called Idlewild Airport, after the golf course it displaced.
In late 1941, New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia announced that the city had chosen a large area of marshland on Jamaica Bay, which included the Idlewild Golf Course, a summer hotel, and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport, for a new airfield. The land was conveyed to the city at the end of December 1941, and construction began in 1943.
The new airport was intended to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after opening in 1939. By August 1945, twelve airlines had signed leases, and the airport was expected to open for preliminary operations in September. However, there were delays due to financing issues, union disputes, and problems with access roads. By August 1946, the airport was still unfinished, and Mayor La Guardia estimated that $50 million more was needed for completion, with an additional $20 million for hangars.
The airport finally opened in 1948, with six runways and a seventh under construction. Only three of the six runways were operational initially, with two more opening in 1949. In its first full year of operation, the airport handled 222,620 passengers and 18,115 aircraft movements. The first permanent structure, a federal building housing Federal Aviation Administration employees, opened in 1951, followed by an 11-floor permanent air traffic control tower in 1952.
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It was officially named New York International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK or Kennedy Airport, is located in Queens, New York. It opened in 1948 and was initially known as both New York International Airport and Idlewild Airport. It was officially named New York International Airport.
The airport was built on the grounds of the former Idlewild Beach Golf Course. The name Idlewild was derived from the golf course, as well as a summer hotel and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport, all of which were displaced by the construction of the airport. Despite the official name change, locals continued to refer to the airport as Idlewild.
The project to build the airport, originally called the Idlewild Airport project, was first renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport in 1943, honouring a Queens resident who had served in the military and passed away in late 1942. However, this name did not gain widespread acceptance. In 1948, the New York City Council changed the name to New York International Airport, Anderson Field.
The airport was built to relieve congestion at the nearby LaGuardia Airport, which had become overcrowded since its opening in 1939. LaGuardia Airport, officially known as LaGuardia and colloquially referred to as LGA, is located in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. It began operating as a public airport in 1939, accommodating primarily domestic airline service with limited international destinations.
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The airport had six runways and five terminals
John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK or Kennedy Airport, opened in 1948 with six runways and five terminals. The airport, which is located in Queens, New York, was originally known as New York International Airport and Idlewild Airport, the latter named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced.
The airport's construction began in 1943, with an initial budget of around $60 million in government funding. However, due to various delays, including financing issues and union disputes, the completion of the airport was delayed by almost three years.
The airport's first major permanent structure was the federal building, which opened in 1951, housing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees. This was followed by the opening of an 11-floor permanent air traffic control tower in 1952, which was planned to be integrated into the future passenger terminal complex.
Over the years, the airport has undergone various renovations and expansions, including the addition of new terminals and the extension of runways. In 2015, British Airways extended its lease on Terminal 7, with plans to spend $65 million on renovations. More recently, in 2017, the New York City governor's office announced a $13 billion renovation plan to address the forecasted increase in demand, which included the addition of new international terminals and the replacement of older terminals.
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LaGuardia Airport opened in 1939
LaGuardia Airport, a civil airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, opened in 1939. It is situated on the northwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Flushing Bay. The airport was established in 1929 on the site of the former Gala Amusement Park, which was owned by the Steinway family, the founders of the piano company Steinway and Sons. The park was torn down in 1929, and the space was converted into an airfield.
The private airport was originally named the Glenn H. Curtiss Airport, after the American aviation pioneer. It was renamed the North Beach Airport in 1935. However, New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, an aviation advocate, pushed for the transformation of the airfield into an airport for commercial flights.
The New York Municipal Airport-LaGuardia Field was dedicated on October 15, 1939, and officially opened for business on December 2, 1939. The airport was a large project, spanning 550 acres and costing over $20 million. Despite initial criticism, the airport soon captured the public's attention, with friends and families flocking to the airport on weekends to watch planes take off and arrive from the skyway observation deck.
Within two years of opening, the airport was a financial success, making over $900,000 annually from entrance fees, parking, concessions, and other non-travel-related revenue. LaGuardia Airport's success contributed to the decline of smaller nearby airports, which couldn't compete. The airport was officially renamed LaGuardia Airport in June 1947, three months before Mayor Fiorello La Guardia passed away.
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Frequently asked questions
Construction for the John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK, began in 1943 on the grounds of the former Idlewild Beach Golf Course. The airport opened in 1948.
The airport was initially known as the New York International Airport and Idlewild Airport.
The airport was built on the grounds of the former Idlewild Beach Golf Course.
