Lois Larson
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is named after John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States. The airport was originally known as Idlewild Airport, which was derived from the name of a golf course and resort in the area. Following Kennedy's assassination in 1963, the airport was renamed in his honour, joining a list of memorials, busts, buildings, and parks dedicated to the late president.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John F. Kennedy |
| Position | 35th President of the United States |
| Year of Assassination | 1963 |
| Date of Renaming | 24 December 1963 |
| Previous Name | Idlewild Airport |
| Other Names | Kennedy Airport, New York International Airport, Anderson Field |
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What You'll Learn
John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States
On November 15, 1963, President Kennedy left Idlewild Airport after a short stay in the city. Six weeks later, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK, in his honour. The official renaming took place on December 24, 1963, with permission from President Kennedy's widow.
New York joined the nation in mourning the fallen president. Thousands watched the televised funeral of President Kennedy on November 25, 1963, from a large television screen in Grand Central Terminal. Traffic stopped in Times Square, and buglers played taps from the Hotel Astor.
JFK International Airport is a hub for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue. It is one of the busiest airports in the New York Airport system and the second-most popular destination for Airbus A380 operations in the US.
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The airport was originally called Idlewild Airport
The airport now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was originally called Idlewild Airport. The name Idlewild came from a developer's name for a resort and later golf course on Jamaica Bay, which the airport displaced when it was built in the 1940s.
The airport was commonly known as Idlewild Airport until it was officially renamed in honour of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy in December 1963.
JFK served as the 35th President of the United States until his assassination on November 22, 1963. Following his death, he was memorialised in dozens of ways, including the renaming of Idlewild Airport, which was the largest and busiest airport in the Northeast USA.
The decision to rename the airport was made quickly. On November 15, 1963, President Kennedy left Idlewild Airport after a short stay in the city. Six weeks later, the airport would be renamed after him.
Some had supported the idea of naming the airport after Major General Alexander E. Anderson, a decorated veteran of World War II. However, these voices were drowned out by the wave of national mourning that followed President Kennedy's assassination.
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JFK was assassinated in 1963
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is named after John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States. The airport was renamed in honour of Kennedy following his assassination in 1963.
JFK Airport, which opened in 1948, was originally named New York International Airport, but it was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. Idlewild was a developer's name for a resort and later a golf course on Jamaica Bay, which was replaced by the airport.
On November 15, 1963, President Kennedy left Idlewild Airport after a short stay in the city. A week later, on November 22, he was assassinated. The airport was officially renamed on December 24, 1963, just a month after Kennedy's death.
The renaming of the airport was one of many tributes to the fallen president. In addition to JFK Airport, the name John F. Kennedy has been used in memorials, busts, buildings, and parks. For example, the launch operations centre of NASA at Cape Canaveral was renamed the John F. Kennedy Space Center.
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The airport was renamed in December 1963
Idlewild Airport was the largest and busiest airport in the northeastern United States. Following President Kennedy's assassination, the airport was quickly renamed in his honour. On 24 December 1963, the airport was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, or JFK.
The renaming ceremony was attended by Ted Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, NYC Mayor Robert Wagner, and New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes. The airport had previously been known as Idlewild Airport by locals, and New York International Airport or Anderson Field officially.
The name change was one of many memorials to the fallen president, including the naming of the launch operations centre of NASA at Cape Canaveral, which was renamed the John F. Kennedy Space Center.
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JFK is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines as well as the primary operating base for JetBlue
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. It also serves as the primary operating base for JetBlue. The airport, located in New York City, is one of the busiest airports in the United States. With a long history dating back to the 1940s, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions over the years.
Originally known as Idlewild Airport, the airport was renamed in honour of President John F. Kennedy following his assassination in 1963. The name change occurred just six weeks after his visit to the airport on November 15, 1963, before his tragic death. The airport authorities, along with the permission of President Kennedy's widow, made the official change to John F. Kennedy International Airport during the mourning period, with the new name taking effect on December 24, 1963.
JFK Airport has played a significant role in the development of air travel in the region. It was built to relieve the overcrowded LaGuardia Field, which had opened in 1939. The airport's construction began in the 1940s, and it officially opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, although it was commonly referred to as Idlewild Airport by locals.
Over the years, JFK Airport has expanded and renovated its terminals to accommodate increasing air traffic and changing aviation needs. Terminal 1, which opened in 1962, is now served by various international airlines and is one of the two terminals capable of handling the Airbus A380 aircraft. Terminal 4, which opened in 2001, replaced the former International Arrivals Building and serves a multitude of international airlines, including Delta Air Lines and JetBlue.
The airport's Terminal 5, operated by JetBlue, incorporates the TWA Flight Center, showcasing the airline's presence at the airport. Additionally, American Airlines has established its hub in Terminal 8, further solidifying JFK Airport as a critical hub for these major airlines. The airport continues to undergo improvements, with redevelopment plans for Terminals 2 and 3, the Delta Air Lines hub, approved in 2008.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport is named after John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States.
The airport was renamed in honour of the slain president, who was assassinated in 1963.
The airport was originally called New York International Airport but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport.
The airport was renamed on December 24, 1963, six weeks after Kennedy's assassination.
