Gov. Hochul Breaks Ground at $9.5 Billion Transformation of JFK’s International Terminal One

 By Yehudit Garmaise

 World travelers who head to John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport will soon get to enjoy the glorious results of a $9.5 billion renovation to Terminal One, announced Gov. Kathy Hochul at the project’s groundbreaking on Thursday.

 The first phase of the construction of a 2.4 million square foot arrivals and departures hall, with 14 new gates for JFK’s international terminal should be completed by 2026, Gov. Hochul said, with construction of the new Terminal's final nine gates to be completed in 2030.

 A group of several private financiers have provided the funding to build the New Terminal One, which will take up twice the space and double the number of gates that Terminals 1 and 2 do now.

 “Bright and airy check-in halls and arrival spaces advanced security technology and a state-of-the-art baggage handling system will enhance the passenger experience,” the governor said about the 300,000 square feet of “world-class, locally inspired dining and retail concessions, as well as lounges, indoor green-spaces, inspiring public art, family-friendly amenities and revamped roadways.”

 “This is New York,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “We may have been hardest hit by the pandemic, but we are going to rise up the farthest.

 “Big projects put a stamp on that and say, ‘Yes, we can do anything.’ We dream big.

 “Let’s make this a world-class hub to welcome people from around the world.”

 Not only will the inside of the terminal look more beautiful, but the Port Authority is working to upgrade the roads and parking that surround JFK.

 Utility upgrades, including a new electrical substation, are also parts of the renovation project.