Summary JFK has more than 90 airlines flying from its 130 gates to over 200 destinations. The airport has five active terminals, with a new Terminal 6 coming online in 2025. Multiple renovation projects and airline moves are underway.
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is one of the nation's busiest hubs, with more than 90 airlines flying from its 130 gates to over 200 destinations across the US and around the world. First opened in 1948 and renamed in 1963 after the nation’s 35th president, the airport has undergone several expansions and renovations, some of which are still ongoing.
The lay of the land The terminals at JFK are arranged in a circular shape around a central area containing parking, a power plant, and other airport facilities, with all terminals connected by the AirTrain system and access roads. There are currently five active terminals at JFK: Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8, and construction on a new Terminal 6 is coming to its conclusion next year. It’s apparent that Terminals 2 and 3 are missing from that list, so what happened to them? Terminal 2 was an 11-gate terminal, originally the home of Northeast Airlines, Braniff International Airways, and Northwest Orient, and later occupied by Delta Air Lines.
However, with the expansion of Terminal 4 nearly ten years ago, Delta moved much of its operations there, and moved out of Terminal 2 completely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The terminal was ultimately demolished in 2023 to make way for the expansion of Terminal 1. Terminal 3 was originally the Pan Am Worldport, built in the 1960s.
By 2013, the terminal had outlived its useful life and ceased operation, being demolished in 2015 to create additional aircraft parking for Delta at Terminal 4. So let’s take a closer look at the terminals at JFK and which airlines fly from them. Terminal 1 Key Facts Opened 1998, currently undergoing significant expansion Gates 14 Airlines Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Serbia, Air Senegal, Asiana, Austrian Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines, Azores Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Cayman Airlines, China Eastern, Condor, Eastern Airlines, Egypt Air, Eva Air, Flair Airlines, Interjet, ITA Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Neos, Norse Atlantic Airways, Philippine Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Swiss Airlines, Swoop, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Viva Aerobus, Volaris Built on the site of the original Eastern Airlines terminal, Terminal 1 plays host to a wide range of international airlines.
It is one of the two terminals at JFK that can accommodate the Airbus A380 and also used to serve the Concordes of Air France until 2003. The terminal is undergoing a significant renovation called New Terminal One (NTO) which began in 2022 and is expected to be finished by 2030. NTO is being constructed on the sites of the existing Terminal 1, the old Terminal 2 (demolished last year), and the former Terminal 3 (demolished in 2013) The new 2.
4 million square feet facility with 23 gates will be built in multiple phases: The first 14 gates on its east side and the departures and arrivals hall are scheduled to open in 2026 on the site of the old Terminal 2. The current Terminal 1 will then be demolished, and in its place, the next five gates on the west side of the terminal will open in 2028, The final four gates will open in 2030, although there is discussion of an additional extension of the terminal on its west side to make it eight gates (including an extra A380 gate). Terminal 4 Key Facts Opened 2001, with the most recent expansion completed in 2023 Gates 48 across two concourses Airlines Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air India, Avianca, Caribbean Airlines, China Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, El Al, Emirates, Etihad, Hawaiian Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, LATAM, Singapore Airlines, Uzbekistan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet, and XiamenAir.
Terminal 4 is primarily the hub for Delta Air Lines , the largest airline at JFK in terms of passengers, with a 30% market share. As a result, the terminal has a strong infusion of Delta’s SkyTeam and codeshare partners, such as KLM, LATAM, and Virgin Atlantic, although Air France is a notable absentee. However, it is also the home base for other airlines not affiliated with Delta, such as Emirates, Avianca, and Singapore Airlines.
Terminal 4 has undergone a massive renovation in recent years, considerably expanding the number of gates. This has transformed it into the largest terminal at JFK and ultimately created enough space for Delta to consolidate its operations from Terminals 2 and 3 in one place. Terminal 5 Key Facts Opened 2008 Gates 29 Airlines JetBlue, Cape Air Terminal 5 is home to JetBlue , the second largest airline at JFK, and just one other airline in the form of Cape Air.
The terminal was redesigned and constructed behind the iconic TWA Flight Center, which closed in 2001 after Trans World Airlines went out of business. However, the building was not demolished because it was declared a New York City designated landmark, so instead, it was incorporated into the current Terminal 5 and converted into the TWA Hotel. The facility opened in 2019 with its jet-age theme and famous rooftop pool that overlooks the JFK runways.
Gaze out over the JFK runway from the rooftop infinity pool and watch planes taking off and landing at the USA's most connected airport. Terminal 7 Key Facts Opened 1970, the most recent renovation completed in 2003 Gates 12 Airlines Aer Lingus, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, ANA, Condor, Ethiopian Airlines, Icelandair, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Norse Atlantic Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines Terminal 7 was initially built to be the home of BOAC and then was subsequently taken over by British Airways . It was here that the British Airways Concordes would arrive and depart up until 2003.
Sadly, though, that rich heritage is long gone: BA has departed for Terminal 8, and Terminal 7 is now the smallest and oldest of JFK’s terminals, the last-ditch home for international airlines that couldn’t get space in a better terminal. The terminal is set to be demolished and replaced by the new Terminal 6. Terminal 8 Key Facts Opened 2007 Gates 31 Airlines American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Level, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian Terminal 8 is home to American Airlines , the third-largest carrier at the airport.
American constructed it to replace the old Terminals 8 and 9, which used to split American’s international and domestic flights. Subsequently, it has become a hub for the oneworld operators at JFK to facilitate more accessible connections between the partners. British Airways and Iberia moved into the terminal in 2019, and Japan Airlines relocated here in 2023.
Coming soon: Terminal 6 Construction on the new Terminal 6 began last year, with the first gates set to open next year and the finalization of the terminal by 2028. The terminal will connect to Terminal 5, and is set to replace Terminal 7, which will be torn down once the first phase of construction is completed. Thus far, Lufthansa has said it intends to move here from Terminal 1, bringing with it the rest of its group airlines - Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and SWISS.
The new facility is expected to be fully operational in 2028..
