As the New Terminal One at JFK Airport prepares to reopen in 2026, the airport announced this week that JLL will oversee the terminal’s operations. From maintaining its all-electric grounding fleet to sustainable air conditioning systems, JLL’s management will be critical to ensuring the high-tech solutions behind New York’s cutting-edge airport project run smoothly. But what will the final terminal look like when completed in 2030?
Modern technology for modern travellers
A US$19 billion investment funded entirely by financial sponsors, the redevelopment of JFK’s Terminal One is the largest public-private partnership in US history. The terminal will exclusively host international flights, and will process 23 million passengers a year when fully operational — greater numbers than most airports can expect to welcome across their entire footprint.
Technology is essential to New Terminal One: a biometric system is one of the biggest investments, meaning travellers can pass through the airport document-free. Self-service bag drop and automated gates are other features that will help tech-savvy passengers breeze through JFK.
At the same time, that the terminal is committed to providing in-person assistance to those who need it. The goal is to provide a personalised experience to each visitor where everyone can find the support and services they prefer to build an enjoyable airport experience. Accessibility has been prioritised in the redesign, with reserved lounge spaces and tech call systems making it easier than ever for travellers to find quiet spaces or seek extra assistance.
Lisa Reifer, Executive VP, Chief Commercial Officer, explained in an interview at World Aviation Festival 2025:
We recognise that there’s many different types of passengers, and they all have very unique needs. Our goal is to provide an environment that supports everyone, whether you’re a family travelling with children, someone with religious observations, or someone who needs special assistance.
To make sure all the tech elements are functioning to standard ahead of opening, New Terminal One have developed a rehearsal space in partnership with SITA. This terminal replica helps staff and partners simulate an airport experience and identify potential bottlenecks well ahead of time. Check-in, security, and baggage delivery are among the processes tested at the Long Island Facility to make reopening as smooth as possible.
A terminal to reflect New York’s cultural diversity
For many, New Terminal One will be travellers’ first or final experience of New York — and the US. With that in mind, the team behind the upgrade are integrating local culture into the terminal’s design. Seven renowned artists have been invited to create works under the theme, ‘We Travel Under One Sky’. Murals, sculptures, and mosaics will give New Terminal One a unique identity and showcase New York’s diversity.
Additionally, 300,000 square feet of retail and dining will provide travellers with a final taste of New York culture before departure. Designed to mirror the city’s famous streetscapes, the commercial programme will offer global brands alongside regional specialities.
Will New Terminal One succeed?
New Terminal One will reopen in phases, beginning in 2025. Upon winning Business Traveller’s 2024 North American Airport of the Year award, Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said that he hopes to transform JFK into an airport that “rivals the best in the world”.
American airports have so far failed to match the luxurious feel travellers can find at rival hubs in the Middle East and Asia, such as Singapore Changi. Airports in the US have historically relied on limited public investment, leaving services feeling outdated and tired.
The latest technology and avant-garde art from the New Terminal One’s public-private investment fund certainly represent an upgrade. Hemmed in by the urban sprawl of New York and Long Island, there are limits on JFK’s expansion that other developing airports don’t have — for example, the new Dubai World Central, under construction in the middle of the Emirati desert.
As New Terminal One starts to welcome passengers again in the New Year, it will be interesting to see whether the tried-and-tested technology can build greater efficiency, especially given American airports’ reputation for long lines and tedious security protocols. Achieving a 5-Star Skytrax rating is one of the terminal’s key aims, and we’ll be watching closely to see if this is achieved.
Join us at Aviation Festival Americas 2026, where airport industry leaders will be discussing innovation in aviation.
For more like this, see:
