Ruth Haines
John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) is a major international airport located in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens, New York City. It is situated on the southwestern shore of Long Island, bordering Jamaica Bay. The airport is approximately 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan and is accessible via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). JFK Airport serves as a primary gateway to New York City and its metropolitan area, offering direct flights to destinations worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) |
| Location | Queens, New York City, New York |
| Owner | City of New York |
| Manager | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| Number of terminals | 6 |
| Terminals | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 |
| Number of gates | 128 |
| Gate numbers | 1 to 8 (excluding 3 and 6) |
| Number of employees | 37,000 |
| Number of airlines | More than 80 |
| Cargo facilities | DHL, FedEx Express, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Nippon Cargo Airlines, United Airlines, Korean Air Cargo, American Airlines |
| Power supplier | Kennedy International Airport Power Plant, owned and operated by Calpine Corporation |
| Public transport access | AirTrain JFK, NYC Subway System, MTA Bus, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) |
| Accessibility services | TSA PreCheck security lane, CLEAR security lane, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyards program |
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What You'll Learn
- John F. Kennedy International Airport is in Queens, New York City
- The airport is accessible via the Van Wyck Expressway or JFK Expressway
- The AirTrain JFK connects the airport to New York City's public transport network
- The airport is owned by the City of New York and managed by the Port Authority of New York
- JFK is one of the nation's leading international gateways
John F. Kennedy International Airport is in Queens, New York City
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is located in Queens, New York City. It is one of the leading international gateways in the United States and is named after John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the country. The airport was previously known as Idlewild Airport until 1963 when it was renamed in honour of President Kennedy.
JFK Airport is a bustling transportation hub, serving both domestic and international flights for over 80 airlines. It is the busiest international airport in the United States and the third-biggest freight gateway in terms of shipment value. The airport features six operating airline terminals, including Terminal 1, which was opened in 1998 in collaboration with Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and Lufthansa. Terminal 2, opened in 1962, is now solely used by Delta Air Lines, while Terminal 5 serves as the base for JetBlue Airways and opened in 2008. Terminal 4 is a significant international hub for Delta Air Lines and is the primary gateway for international arrivals at JFK. Terminal 7 is managed by British Airways, and Terminal 8, designed by American Airlines, is the largest terminal at the airport.
The airport is conveniently accessible via various transportation options. The AirTrain JFK provides easy and quick connections within the airport, linking all terminals to parking lots, the rental car centre, hotel shuttle pickup areas, and New York City's public transportation network. The AirTrain also connects to the Howard Beach and Jamaica stations, where passengers can transfer to the New York City Subway, Long Island Rail Road, and MTA Bus services. Additionally, buses operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) offer a cost-effective, albeit longer, commute option to and from the airport.
JFK Airport is known for its efficient operations and passenger-centric services. It offers a TSA PreCheck security lane in every terminal and provides specialised assistance for passengers with restricted mobility, medical conditions, or other special circumstances. The airport also has a Lost and Found service exclusively available at Terminal 4, where passengers can file claims for lost items. With its range of facilities and efficient transportation links, JFK Airport plays a vital role in facilitating travel to and from New York City.
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The airport is accessible via the Van Wyck Expressway or JFK Expressway
John F. Kennedy International Airport is located in the southeastern portion of Queens County, New York, United States. The airport is situated on the Jamaica Bay waterfront, about 12 miles southeast of Lower Manhattan.
Due to its proximity to New York City and its position as one of the main airports serving the metro area, JFK Airport is easily accessible from various parts of the region. One of the most convenient ways to access the airport by road is via the Van Wyck Expressway or the JFK Expressway, depending on your direction of approach.
The Van Wyck Expressway, officially the Interstate 678, is a major expressway that runs through the New York City boroughs of Queens and the Bronx. The expressway stretches for about 10.89 miles, connecting the Whitestone Expressway in the north to the John F. Kennedy International Airport and the South Ozone Park neighborhood in the south. If you're coming from the north, including areas like Flushing, Corona, or the Bronx, the Van Wyck Expressway is a direct route to the airport. It passes through central Queens, providing access to the airport from neighborhoods like Rego Park, Forest Hills, and Jamaica. As you approach the airport, the expressway becomes the JFK Expressway, leading directly to the airport terminals.
On the other hand, if you're coming from the south, including Brooklyn and other parts of southern Queens, you would take the Belt Parkway and then get onto the JFK Expressway, which leads directly to the airport. The JFK Expressway is a shorter roadway, about 4 miles long, that begins at the Belt Parkway and runs north, intersecting with the Van Wyck Expressway and continuing as a direct route to the airport terminals. This expressway provides a quick and efficient route to JFK Airport for travelers coming from the southern parts of the city.
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The AirTrain JFK connects the airport to New York City's public transport network
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) is located in Queens, New York City. The airport is served by the AirTrain JFK, a people mover system and airport rail link. The driverless AirTrain operates 24/7 and consists of three lines and nine stations within Queens. It connects JFK Airport's terminals and parking areas with the New York City Subway at the Howard Beach station in the eponymous neighbourhood, and with the Long Island Rail Road and the subway in Jamaica.
Alstom operates the AirTrain JFK under contract to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The system was originally projected to carry 4 million annual paying passengers and 8.4 million annual inter-terminal passengers. However, it has consistently exceeded these projections since its opening. In 2024, the AirTrain carried a total of 9,930,400 passengers, or about 30,700 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025.
The AirTrain JFK provides convenient connections to New York City's public transport network. From Midtown Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn, travellers can take the Long Island Rail Road and the AirTrain to reach the airport. Those outside Midtown Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn can opt for the subway and the AirTrain, which costs \$8.50 in addition to the subway fare. The AirTrain fare can be paid using OMNY or a MetroCard.
The Jamaica Train route, represented by the colour red on the official map, starts and ends at the Jamaica station, which is adjacent to the Long Island Rail Road platforms. This route connects to the Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport station on the New York City Subway's E, J, and Z trains. The AirTrain and LIRR stations at Jamaica offer transfers to the subway as well as ground-level bus routes.
The Howard Beach Train route connects to the New York City Subway at the Howard Beach station. Both the Howard Beach and Jamaica routes merge at Federal Circle, where passengers can access car rental companies and shuttle buses to hotels and the airport's cargo areas. South of Federal Circle, the routes share a track for a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) section before entering a tunnel, after which the tracks separate for the 2-mile (3.2 km) terminal loop.
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The airport is owned by the City of New York and managed by the Port Authority of New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in the borough of Queens in New York City. The airport is owned by the City of New York and has been managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a long-term operating lease since 1947.
The Port Authority has encouraged foreign airlines to use JFK Airport, and it has since become one of the nation's leading international gateways. It is the busiest international airport in the United States and the third biggest freight gateway in terms of the value of shipments.
JFK Airport is easily accessible via various transportation options. The AirTrain JFK, which began operating in 2003, connects all airport terminals to parking lots, the rental car centre, hotel shuttle pickup areas, and New York City's public transportation network at Howard Beach and Jamaica Stations. From these stations, passengers can connect to the New York City Subway, Long Island Rail Road, and MTA Bus services. The AirTrain system operates 24/7 and provides complimentary travel within airport property, while external transfers are paid for via OMNY or MetroCard.
Vehicles can access the airport via the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) or the JFK Expressway, both of which connect to the Belt Parkway and various surface streets in South Ozone Park and Springfield Gardens. For those travelling to and from the airport, ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available.
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JFK is one of the nation's leading international gateways
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is one of the nation's leading international gateways. Located in the borough of Queens in New York City, it is the busiest international airport in the United States and the third biggest freight gateway in terms of the value of shipments. Over 80 airlines operate domestic and international flights from JFK, which was renamed in 1963 after the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.
JFK is owned by the City of New York and managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a long-term operating lease. The Port Authority has been leasing the JFK property from the City of York since 1947. The airport was originally known as Idlewild Airport, but the name was changed in 1963 to reduce the volume of traffic at LaGuardia Airport, which was the only other airport in New York City at the time.
JFK has six operating airline terminals with 128 gates numbered 1 to 8, excluding Terminals 3 and 6. Terminal 1 is served by a variety of international carriers, including Air France, China Eastern Airlines, Korean Air, and Lufthansa. Terminal 4 is a major international hub for Delta Air Lines and the primary gateway for international arrivals at JFK. Terminal 5, which opened in 2008, serves as the base for JetBlue Airways and Cape Air. Terminal 7 is managed by British Airways, while Terminal 8, designed and constructed by American Airlines, is the largest terminal at JFK.
The airport is easily accessible via the AirTrain JFK, which connects all the airport terminals to the parking lots, rental car centres, hotel shuttle pickup areas, and New York City's public transportation network at Howard Beach and Jamaica Stations. The AirTrain system operates 24/7 and offers connections to the New York City Subway System, buses, and the Long Island Rail Road. Additionally, MTA buses provide a cheap way to commute to the airport, with buses Q3, Q5, and B10 serving JFK from various places like Brooklyn and Long Island.
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Frequently asked questions
John F. Kennedy International Airport is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay.
You can get to JFK airport via the AirTrain, which connects the airport's rail network to each passenger terminal and the New York City subway. You can also take the bus, with the MTA Bus being a cheap option.
JFK airport is approximately 16 miles from Midtown Manhattan.
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