New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that a plan to build a new state-of-the-art international terminal on the north side of John F. Kennedy International Airport will resume.
A revised agreement between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with the JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) – including JetBlue Airways, will give way to the project that was initially supposed to break ground in 2020. The restructured deal marks a major step forward in the plan to transform JFK into a “unified 21st Century global gateway”, Cuomo’s office said.
“The transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway is another distinct testament to New York’s comeback and to our determination to build back better,” Cuomo said. “This historic private investment will not only fortify New York’s reputation as our nation’s front door to the world but also sets an example for how this country can tackle bold infrastructure projects that will jumpstart our economy with thousands of good-paying jobs even amid profound challenges like the pandemic.”
As part of the agreement, the Port Authority will enter into a lease agreement with JMP for the construction of the $3.9 billion, 1.2 million square foot new terminal, which will be built on the site of former Terminal 6, demolished in 2011, and aging Terminal 7, which will be torn down after British Airways relocates to Terminal 8. The full expense of the building will be privately financed by the JFK Millennium Partners consortium.
The new terminal will connect to Terminal 5 and be equipped with capacity for 10 new gates, as well as check-in halls and arrival spaces, and 100,000 square feet of commercial dining and retail amenities, lounges, and recreational spaces. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2022, with the first new gates scheduled to open in 2025.
“This agreement to build a new Terminal 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport demonstrates the commitment of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and our private partners to deliver for our region through some of the most difficult times in our agency’s 100-year history,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “Moving forward with a new Terminal 6 will create thousands of good-paying construction jobs critical to our recovery from the pandemic while building the foundation of economic growth for decades to come.”
The airport is one of the region’s most powerful economic engines, supporting nearly 300,000 jobs that pay $16.2 billion in wages annually while generating $45.7 billion in yearly sales. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport set a record with 62.6 million passengers in 2019.