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John F. Kennedy International Airport, more commonly known as JFK Airport, is named after the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. The airport, located in Queens, New York City, was originally known as Idlewild Airport, after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced. Following Kennedy's assassination in 1963, the airport was renamed in his honour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous name | Idlewild Airport |
| New name | John F. Kennedy International Airport |
| Date of renaming | 24 December 1963 |
| Reason for renaming | To honour the assassinated President John F. Kennedy |
| Proposer of renaming | Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. |
| New airport codes | JFK and KJFK |
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What You'll Learn
John F. Kennedy's assassination
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is a major international airport serving New York City. The airport was renamed in tribute to John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, following his assassination in 1963.
On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The day started with Kennedy and the First Lady arriving at Dallas Love Field at 11:40 a.m. They boarded a 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible limousine to travel to a luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart. The motorcade included Secret Service agents, Bill Greer and Roy Kellerman, as well as Governor Connally and his wife, Nellie. Four Dallas police motorcycle officers accompanied the motorcade.
During the morning of the assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin, carried a long package into the Texas School Book Depository where he worked. The package, which he claimed contained curtain rods, was later believed to contain Oswald's disassembled rifle.
At 2:38 p.m., Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was administered the oath of office aboard Air Force One, with Jacqueline Kennedy at his side. Johnson had refused to leave Dallas without proof of Kennedy's death and insisted on waiting for Jacqueline Kennedy, who did not want to leave without her husband's body.
Kennedy's assassination shocked the nation and sparked numerous conspiracy theories and alternative scenarios. It was the first of four major assassinations during the turbulent 1960s in the United States, followed by the assassinations of Malcolm X in 1965, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the brother of John F. Kennedy, in 1968.
The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 ordered that all assassination-related material be housed under the supervision of the National Archives and Records Administration. In 2025, President Donald Trump directed the release of previously withheld records, making them accessible to the public.
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Idlewild Airport
On December 24, 1963, a month and two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Idlewild Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in his honour. The renaming was proposed by Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr., and the airport was given the codes JFK and KJFK, the fallen president's initials.
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NYC's busiest airport
New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK Airport, is the busiest airport in the city. It is one of the two airports in New York City, the other being LaGuardia Airport (LGA). JFK Airport is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in the Queens neighbourhood of Jamaica, 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan. Covering 5,200 acres, it is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area.
JFK Airport is a major international airport, serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. Over 90 airlines operate from JFK Airport, serving all six inhabited continents with nonstop or direct flights.
The airport was opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport, named after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in tribute to him.
JFK Airport is a hub for major airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue. The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways. It is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway).
JFK Airport has seen significant growth and improvements over the years. In 2022, the airport experienced an 80% increase in passenger numbers compared to 2021, with 55.5 million passengers passing through. The airport aims to expand its footprint with new terminals, targeting a capacity of 100 million passengers annually by 2050.
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Tribute to JFK
John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK Airport, is located in New York City and was renamed in tribute to the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, following his tragic assassination in 1963.
The airport, which opened in 1948, was originally named New York International Airport, but it was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. The name "Idlewild" is believed to have been inspired by the fact that the site was initially wild, and the area served as a recreational facility for the wealthy.
However, following Kennedy's assassination, there was a desire to honour his legacy, and the airport was officially renamed on December 24, 1963, just over a month after his death. The new codes, JFK and KJFK, reflected the fallen president's initials.
The renaming of the airport was a fitting tribute as it was the largest and busiest airport in the Northeast USA at the time. Thousands of New Yorkers mourned the loss of President Kennedy, and the name change served as a constant reminder of his impact and influence.
While some locals expressed mixed feelings about the name change, with some suggesting alternatives such as "John F. Kennedy/Idlewild International Airport", the airport has proudly borne the name JFK for over six decades, keeping the memory of President Kennedy alive for travellers from all over the world.
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Renaming controversy
John F. Kennedy International Airport, more commonly known as JFK Airport, is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. The airport was renamed from Idlewild Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 24, 1963, a month and two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The renaming of Idlewild Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport has sparked some controversy and debate among locals and Americans alike. Some people have expressed fatigue and annoyance at the renaming, especially those who were not politically aligned with Kennedy or did not feel a strong connection to him. There is a sentiment that the name change took away the local flavour and identity of the airport, replacing it with a tribute to an out-of-town politician.
Some have suggested that Boston Logan International Airport would have been a more appropriate choice for renaming, given its association with Kennedy's home state of Massachusetts. Others have proposed alternative names, such as honouring another notable figure or combining the new name with the original Idlewild name to preserve its history.
The renaming of the airport is part of a broader trend of renaming places and institutions after notable figures, and there is a recognition that, over time, these names may be contested or changed again as social and political values evolve.
Despite the controversy, the airport has become an integral part of New York City's infrastructure and is widely known by its new name, JFK Airport, reflecting the desire to honour President Kennedy's legacy.
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Frequently asked questions
John F. Kennedy International Airport was renamed to memorialize President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.
The airport was originally called New York International Airport, but it was commonly known as Idlewild Airport.
The name Idlewild is believed to be inspired by the fact that the site was wild, and the hotel and park constituted a recreational facility for the idle rich.
The airport was renamed on December 24, 1963, a month and two days after Kennedy's assassination.
The airport codes for JFK airport are IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, and FAA LID: JFK.
