New York’s major airport is finally getting a much-needed upgrade. We’ve already written about some of these terminals, like LaGuardia’s rebuilt Terminal B, JFK’s upcoming new Terminal 1, and Newark’s replacement Terminal A.
Of the many large projects underway, few are bigger than JFK’s Terminal 6, which is scheduled to open in the first half of next year. The $4.2 billion project team invited us to tour the ongoing construction site. We loved the behind-the-scenes look at the major terminals coming together, and it gave us a better idea of what flyers can expect once the terminals are complete.
The passenger experience will be vastly improved compared to JFK’s existing terminal. T6 will showcase JFK’s status as a global airport, attracting long-haul international airlines from multiple continents, along with several domestic and low-cost carriers. The building will be equipped with a variety of cutting-edge technological features, some of which are intended to improve the passenger experience, others to increase the sustainability and efficiency of behind-the-scenes operations. The important thing is that there’s plenty to keep people entertained, including a standout list of lounges, outposts of several popular NYC eateries, and great potential for plane spotting.
Read more about what to expect when JFK Terminal 6 opens in a few months.
Setting the stage for the new Terminal 6
JFK has hosted several iconic terminals throughout its long history. The previous version of Terminal 6 was called Sundrome. Originally built for National Airlines and designed by IM Pei, the building opened in 1969 and was eventually demolished in 2011.
Since then, in place of a functional Terminal 6, a gap has opened up between the JetBlue-dominated Terminal 5 and the multi-airline Terminal 7.
Terminal 7 (left in the image above) is operated by JFK Millennium Partners, the same entity responsible for the upcoming Terminal 6. Since Terminal 6 will eventually occupy the space of Terminal 7, operational duplication is convenient.
Big Picture Terminal Design
The new Terminal 6’s workspace is relatively small because there isn’t much space between roads and runways in this part of the airport. The result will be 10 gates, but almost all of them are designed and optimized for widebody aircraft.
The terminal will be connected to JetBlue’s Terminal 5 both before and after security screening. I wonder if this proximity could increase the possibility of codesharing between JetBlue and some of the long-haul international carriers moving to Terminal 6.
terminal tour
Recently, I had the opportunity to enter from the currently operating Terminal 7 and look around the Terminal 6 construction site.
We will guide you through the main contents of the tour following the flow of departing passengers.
The pre-security portion of the terminal prioritizes functionality and has a stylish design, although it’s not particularly unique or memorable.
To be fair, the front façade doesn’t leave much room for a bold architectural statement. Many things are concentrated in the area in front of the terminal, including three levels of roadways, a ground transportation center, AirTrain lines, and parking lots.
Addressing one of the bigger problems with regular airport terminals, T6 features one of the largest departure curbs of any JFK terminal, with the goal of preventing vehicle congestion in the drop-off area.
Because there is not much space between roads and ramps in terminals, check-in areas must utilize limited space efficiently. The terminal’s check-in area is very flexible, with screens allowing different airlines to utilize specific desks at different times. It’s not a new concept, but it’s one that the T6 relies on more than most other handsets we’ve seen.
One of Terminal 6’s key design strengths is its generous use of natural light. The entire building features a set of huge circular skylights that dazzle passengers with sunlight.
Another cool design feature: When you walk up to the TSA checkpoint, you can catch a glimpse of the ramp. Being able to look at the aircraft and feel excited about flying it *before* the drab security issues is one of the many subtle ways that the T6’s design comes across as thoughtful.
In our opinion, the terminal design shines best in the transit lounge after security. The highlight is the central area, just down past security. Even in its current state, you can see how cool this part of the terminal is.
Below is a rendering of the finished product, which includes several sculptural elements that will enliven the passenger experience.
There are only 10 gates in the terminal, so you don’t have to walk long from security to the gate. In most of the terminals you will find floor to ceiling ramps. The terminal faces runway 13L/31R. That runway will not always be used, but even if 13L/31R does not serve as an active runway, there will still be many interesting aircraft operating on it.
T6 lounge scene
The image above gives you a glimpse of the seats one level above the main departure level. This is one of the premium lounges planned for Terminal 6. Some will be operated by specific airlines, including Lufthansa Group, Aer Lingus and Cathay Pacific. For Cathay Pacific, the Terminal 6 lounge will be the first lounge at JFK Airport. At Lufthansa lounges, you can board directly from the lounge, and the same goes for Cathay lounges. One of the terminal lounges is a shared lounge operated by the terminal for airlines that do not have a dedicated Terminal 6 lounge.
The terminal’s most innovative lounge will be the scheduled arrivals lounge, located in the arrivals area after incoming passengers have cleared customs and immigration. It will provide a space for arriving passengers to shower and grab a bite to eat before heading into the city, helping them start their day more productively. The lounge is scheduled to open alongside one of the later stages of the terminal’s rollout, and we’re looking forward to learning more about this unique concept as the opening date approaches.
Spotlight on local flavors
Without a doubt, the dining area is one of Terminal 6’s greatest strengths. While many U.S. airport terminals focus on national chains, JFK Millennium Partners has done its best to recruit hometown favorites in the NYC area, including some that previously had no airport locations. These include “upscale brine” chicken sandwich shop Fuku, Americana mainstay PJ Clarke’s, Di Fara Pizzeria, For Five coffee, Brooklyn Brewery taproom, and more.
Execution is the make-or-break factor in airport food quality. Because logistics can be much more complex than just a location within a city. But with so many different brands lined up in Terminal 6 by now, we’ll still be planning on going hungry.
Focus on technology and sustainability
Passengers will appreciate cutting-edge technology at several points of their journey through the terminal, including state-of-the-art screening technology at TSA checkpoints. One feature we are particularly excited about is the design of the gate area. Instead of the typical monitor or two that require you to squint to read, the entire area around each gate will be a massive display with larger text and unique images.
The focus behind this is on sustainable operations. The biggest source of carbon emissions in most airport terminals is the fleet of inefficient ground support vehicles. In a significant departure from the norm, Terminal 6 will feature fully electric ground support vehicles. To further increase efficiency, all terminal airlines will use a common vehicle pool instead of each airline operating its own ground vehicle.
The terminal’s design also utilizes rooftop solar panels, advanced transparent insulation to reduce heat loss through large skylights, and sustainable building materials. LEED certification is a work in progress, but designers’ goal is for the terminal to achieve LEED Silver or Gold ratings.
Airlines in Terminal 6
So far, 15 airlines have announced plans to operate from Terminal 6. Overall, there are a variety of airlines across several categories, including long-haul European airlines, Asian airlines, Middle Eastern airlines, and Frontier and Norse, which represent short-haul and long-haul low-cost carriers respectively. Some of the airlines listed below will move to Terminal 6 from day one, while others will move later through the terminal’s phased rollout.
IcelandAir and Avianca are the most recently announced additions not yet included in the graphic above.
Perhaps the biggest Terminal 6 news related to airlines involves airlines that currently do not operate at JFK at all. United Airlines left the airport several years ago to consolidate at its Newark hub, but is eyeing a return. Earlier this year, it announced a “Blue Sky” partnership with JetBlue that includes several JFK slots for United starting in 2027. It is expected to operate out of Terminal 6, which will provide good proximity to JetBlue’s JFK operations.
timeline
Terminal 6 will open in phases. Phase 1, which will include six gates, is scheduled to open in the first half of 2026. Final completion of the terminal is scheduled for 2028. Adjacent Terminal 7 will initially remain operational, but will eventually close and its space will be taken by Terminal 6 as it expands. The final version of the terminal (see left in image below) will be connected to Terminal 5 (see right in image below) both before and after security screening.
If all the photos in this story aren’t enough, check out this video featuring final terminal renderings courtesy of JFK Millennium Partners.
I’d love to see the finished terminal in person! Until then, let me end this story with some forward-looking questions about the future of Terminal 6.
- If the start of United and JetBlue’s partnership goes well, will there be enough room (in terms of JFK slots and T6 gate space) for United to further expand its JFK operations in the future?
- Credit card lounges have become very popular, especially over the past few years. Amex, Chase, and Capital One have lounges in JFK Terminal 4. However, the lounge is known to have serious capacity issues and is not easily accessible even if you are flying from a different terminal. Can a credit card lounge occupy one of the T6 lounge spaces unclaimed? Another possibility is that one of the lounges already announced (including the first shared lounge to be operated by the terminal authority) could become a Priority Pass lounge.
- Once this terminal construction phase is complete, JFK will have Terminals 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8, but no Terminals 2, 3, and 7. Will terminals eventually be renumbered? I’m not sure if renumbering them is worth the work, but until then it’s a bit noticeable that there aren’t three numbered terminals.
- JFK’s terminal department also does not clearly follow the airline alliance. For example, Terminal 6 will have a significant number of Star Alliance airlines, as well as Oneworld player Cathay Pacific and some domestic airlines that are not part of the three major international alliances (Frontier and JetBlue). How will airlines move between JFK terminals over time? In particular, the new Terminal 1 also houses memorabilia from international airlines, and you will see some airlines moving from T1 to T6 and vice versa.
- How will terminals mediate airlines’ competing demands for ground car sharing pools, especially during periods of increased demand or irregular operations?
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