ALBANY, NY – Governor Kathy Hochul and Port Authority officials on Nov. 29 announced the opening of a newly expanded Terminal 8, marking the completion of the first phase of the historic JFK Vision Plan, the airport’s $18 billion redevelopment. The $400 million, privately financed expansion and modernization will allow British Airways to move from its long-time home in Terminal 7 and co-locate with American Airlines in Terminal 8.
The 60-year-old Terminal 7 will be demolished to clear space for a new Terminal 6 that will begin construction early next year.
“The completion of Terminal 8 is the latest milestone in our historic efforts to build a whole new JFK worthy of New York,” Governor Hochul said, congratulating American Airlines, British Airways and the Port Authority “for the first of what will be many milestones to come”.
Operational enhancements of Terminal 8 include five new widebody gates, four new widebody parking positions, and an expanded and upgraded baggage handling system that will together support additional transatlantic flights.
The terminal has also been expanded with approximately 130,000 square feet of additional and refurbished space.
Over the next 18 months, the terminal will also be undergoing a major concessions upgrade including locally-inspired food and beverage options. The expansion project involved the work of more than 115 unique minority- and women-owned businesses that were awarded contracts totaling more than $161 million, exceeding the Port Authority’s commitment to at least 30% MWBE participation at the agency’s capital projects.
Local businesses were awarded nearly $33 million in contracts at Terminal 8.
“This inspiring expansion of Terminal 8, fostering superb hourly services between JFK and London, is an example of what’s to come at JFK, where our vision for a world-class, 21st century airport is now unfolding from one end of the airport to the other”, Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said adding that “this investment by our private partners at Terminal 8 is a vote of confidence in the future of the airport and of the JFK region”.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. who serves as co-chair of the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council with Congressman Greg Meeks, said that “the successful redesigning and reimagining of Terminal 8 is just one of the ways we have been making real progress toward making JFK the single greatest airport in the world”.
“The JFK Airport Terminal 8 expansion details the significance of international travel and infrastructure development in New York. JFK Airport is our country’s door to the world”, Gregory Meeks said. “This project encourages global travel along with supporting New York’s changing economy by providing people with real career opportunities, while still investing in sustainable aviation practices. The continued investment in JFK redevelopment certainly makes it a premier global gateway.”
“Completing these projects will open a gateway to a new era in New York and we celebrate being a step closer in fully modernizing JFK International Airport into the exemplary, world-class transportation hub that New Yorkers, and our visitors, truly deserve”, noted Gary LaBarbera, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President.
Transforming JFK Into a World-Class Global Gateway
In January 2017, the JFK Vision Plan was announced to transform John F. Kennedy International Airport into the world-class airport. Besides the expansion of Terminal 8, three other major components of the airport’s transformation are now underway:
- The $9.5 billion development of a state-of-the-art New Terminal One that will anchor the airport’s south side broke ground in September 2022.
- The $1.5 billion expansion of Terminal 4, led by Delta Air Lines and JFK International Air Terminal, was approved in the spring of 2021, broke ground in the fall of 2021 and is now under construction with completion expected in the fall of next year.
- The $4.2 billion development of a new Terminal 6, which will connect seamlessly to Terminal 5 to anchor the airport’s north side, achieved financial close earlier this month, securing full private financing for the project, and will begin construction in the next 90 days.
