JFK International Airport Facts and History

HISTORY
Construction began in April 1942, when the City of New York contracted for the placing of hydraulic fill over the marshy tidelands on the site of Idlewild Golf course. Planned at first for 1,000 acres, the airport grew to five times that size.
First commercial flights began on July 1, 1948. The airport was formally dedicated as New York International Airport on July 31, 1948. It was re-dedicated on December 24, 1963 as John F. Kennedy International Airport, following action of the Mayor and Council of the City of New York and a resolution of the Commissioners of the Port Authority.

INVESTMENT
About $150 million was expended on original construction. The Port Authority has invested more than $3 billion in the airport. EMPLOYMENT & ECONOMIC

IMPACT
There are over 37,000 people employed at the airport. JFK contributes approximately $22 billion in economic activity to the NY/NJ metropolitan region generating some 207,700 jobs and $7.1 billion in wages and salaries.

JFK REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The redevelopment program at JFK consists of various major projects undertaken by the Port Authority and its airline and airport partners. Already completed is the construction of Terminal 1, on the site of the former Eastern Airlines facility; and Terminal 4, on the site of the former International Arrivals Building. Projects underway are the expansion and upgrade of Terminal 7 by British Airways; construction of a new mega-Terminal by American Airlines 8 and 9; a light rail transit system that will connect airport passengers to New York mass transit; and new and improved roadway systems and utilities.

CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA
The Central Terminal Area (CTA) consists of nine airline passenger terminals numbered 1 to 9, surrounded by a dual ring of peripheral taxiways. Initially 655 acres, the CAT was enlarged to 880 acres by relocation of the taxiways to provide space needed for expansion of the passenger terminals.
To further assist travelers, a color coding system (green, blue, orange and red) is used on all roadway signs leading to each terminal-from the entrances to the airport to parking near each terminal.

JFK TERMINALS
In 1994, a consortium of airlines-Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and Lufthansa-spearheaded the era of dazzling new terminals with the construction of Terminal 1. The new Terminal 1, completed in May 1998, consists of 634,000 square-feet, 11 aircraft gates, retail shops, restaurants, and a dual level frontage.
Delta Airlines is located in Terminals 2 and 3, built in 1962 and 1960 respectively. Delta has completed its $150 million program to modernize and expand the two terminals with redesigned first-class and business-class lounges, new ticket counters, new shops, new lighting and flooring, as well as jetbridges, new baggage facilities, additional gates, and new food courts. In May 1997, a long-term lease was signed with JFK International Air Terminal LLC to operate and redevelop Terminal 4. In May 2001, the new Terminal 4, a masterpiece of design and passenger comfort, opened. The impressive $1.4 billion terminal (originally opened in 1958), dramatically improves passenger service through the use of separate levels for departing and arriving passengers; consolidated ticketing and baggage operations; improved customs facilities, duty free and retail shops, bistros and other eateries all in a mall like environment. Terminal 5, (Trans World Airways) opened in 1962 and is currently temporarily closed.

Terminal 6 (Formerly TWA, and now jetBlue) opened in 1969. JetBlue and the Port Authority have committed to more than $12 million worth of improvements to Terminal 6 including wider roads, new ticket counters and refurbished restrooms, new baggage systems, and enhanced shops and restaurants.
Terminal 7 (British Airways) opened in 1970. In April 1997, British Airways, together with the Port Authority, invested $100 million in the complex, which included an additional building expansion with new retail outlets and concessions, new access roadways and improved parking facilities. Construction of this project began in 1998. The expansion program, so far, has added 140,000 square-feet to the original area, and the terminal now consists of 350,000 square-feet with three additional wide-body gates for a total of 12 gates. Substantial improvements were made to both the departure and arrivals roadways and the terminal frontages. The parking lot in front of the terminal was also expanded significantly through the construction of a new deck over the existing lot. United Airlines is a joint tenant, occupying six gates in Terminal 7.

Terminal 8 opened in 1960 and houses American Airlines' international flights. Terminal 9 was built in 1959 and serves American's domestic destinations. American Airlines began construction in November 1999 of a new $1.4 billion terminal complex to replace Terminals 8 and 9. The complex will serve both domestic and international passengers with 220 check-in counters, three concourses-one for arrival and baggage handling, one for departures and another for clubs, lounges and offices-and 56 gates-38 for large jets and 18 gates with covered jetbridges for regional jets. Large enough to hold Giants Football Stadium, the new complex will also include a customs and immigration facility that can serve up to 2,400 people per hour, a 10,000 square-foot retail and concession space, and a new short term 2,500 space parking garage in front of the building. The complex will be constructed in four stages to allow for uninterrupted passenger service. The 2.2 million square-foot terminal will be the largest at JFK and is scheduled for completion in 2006.

PARKING
The airport's parking totals over 11,000 public spaces including an employee lot, a 1,400 space parking garage, the long-term lot and an additional 3,200 spaces in the Central Terminal Area. In response to the increased demand for parking generated by the growth in traveling customers, a new three level parking structure opened in the Green area in May 1998. A new parking deck across from Terminal 7 opened in November 2000, adding 750 more parking spaces on airport. An additional parking garage is under development, as part of the Terminals 8 and 9 construction project. By the end of 2002, parking will be more convenient at JFK with the introduction of the EZPass parking payment system currently being installed at JFK's parking plazas.

RUNWAYS
The runway system consists of two pairs of parallel runways: 4L-22R, 4R-22L, 13L-31R, and 13R-31L aligned at right angles. Total runway length is nearly nine miles. All runways have high intensity runway edge lighting, centerline and taxiway exit lighting, and are grooved to enhance safety.

Runway 4R-22L is 8,400 feet long by 150 feet wide and is equipped at both ends with Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Approach Lighting Systems (ALS) with sequenced flashers, and touchdown zone (TDZ) lighting.

Runway 4R is a Category III a/b ILS runway, permitting landings with a visibility of 600 feet or more by qualified aircrews. Runway 22L ILS allows landings down to a visibility less than a half-mile. Takeoffs can be made with visibility of one-eighth of a mile.
Runway 4L-22R is 11,351 feet long by 150 wide and is also equipped with ILS at both ends down to threequarters of a mile visibility and takeoffs can be conducted with one-eighth of a mile visibility.

Runway 13L-31R is 10,000 feet long by 150 feet wide and is equipped at both ends of the runway with ILS and ALS systems. Runway 13L has two additional visual aids for landing aircraft, a Visual Approach Slope Indicator System (VASI) and a lead-in lighting system (LDIN). The ILS on 13L has Category II capability and, along with TDZ lighting, allows landings down to half a mile visibility. Takeoffs can be made with visibility of oneeighth of a mile

Runway 13R-31L is 14,572 feet long by 150 feet wide and is the longest commercial runway in North America. Visual landing aids on 13R, including VASI and LDIN light systems, allow visibility conditions down to three-quarters of mile. Takeoffs on R/W 13R and 31L can be made with visibility of one eighth of a mile.

TAXIWAYS
Taxiways total over 25 miles in length. Standard width is 75 feet, with 25-foot heavy-duty shoulders and 25-foot erosion control pavement on each side. The taxiways have centerline lights and are generally of asphaltic concrete composition 15 to 18 inches thick. An illuminated sign system provides directional information for taxiing aircraft.