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John F. Kennedy International Airport

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John F. Kennedy International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPort Authority of New York and New Jersey
ServesNew York City
LocationJamaica, New York
Elevation AMSL13 ft / 4 m
Coordinates40°38′23″N 073°46′44″W / 40.63972°N 73.77889°W / 40.63972; -73.77889
Websitehttp://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/kennedy.html
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4L/22R 11,351 3,460 Asphalt/Concrete
4R/22L 8,400 2,560 Asphalt
13L/31R 10,000 3,048 Asphalt
13R/31L 14,572 4,442 Asphalt/Concrete
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 60 18 Asphalt
H2 60 18 Asphalt
H3 60 18 Asphalt
H4 60 18 Asphalt

John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK), originally known as Idlewild Airport and colloquially known as JFK, is an international airport located in Jamaica, Queens, in southeastern New York City about 12 miles (19 km) from Lower Manhattan.

JFK is the top international air passenger gateway to the United States[2] and is also the leading freight gateway to the country by value of shipments.[3]

The airport is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages three other airports in the New York City metropolitan area, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and Teterboro. Of these, JFK is the largest. It is the base of operations for JetBlue Airways and is also a major international gateway hub for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.

JFK's outbound international travel accounted for 17% of all U.S. travelers who went overseas in 2004, the largest share of any U.S. airport. In 2000, JFK handled an average of about 50,000 international passengers each day. The JFK-London Heathrow route is the leading U.S. international airport pair with over 2.9 million passengers in 2000.[2] Other top international destinations from JFK are Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. Nearly 100 airlines from over 50 countries operate regularly scheduled flights from JFK.

Although JFK is known as the premier international hub for both New York City and the United States, it also handles domestic flights, mostly to the West Coast. In 2005 the airport handled 41 million passengers; Newark Liberty Airport handled about 33 million and LaGuardia Airport about 26 million, making for a total of approximately 100 million travelers using New York's airports as the city's airspace surpassed Chicago's to become the busiest in the United States.

History

The Union News restaurant and coffee shop, TWA Flight Center, Idlewild
The TWA Flight Center building, designed by Eero Saarinen

The airport has been operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a lease with New York City since 1947. About $60 million was spent on the construction of the airport. Currently, estimates predict some $6.6 billion of economic activity and 207,000 jobs in the New York metropolitan region thanks to JFK International.

Construction of the airport began in 1942 with modest ambitions. Only 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land on the site of Idlewild golf course were earmarked for use. The golf course provided the airport's original commonly-used though unofficial name, Idlewild Airport.

The airport saw its first commercial flight on July 1, 1948. It was dedicated as 'New York International Airport on July 31 of that same year, although the name "Idlewild" remained in common use and the official IATA airport code was KIDL.

As aviation grew, so did Idlewild. New York's importance as an international center of business and commerce meant there was an ever-greater need for more and more capacity. 4,000 acres (16 km²) and eight terminals were eventually added to the original airport. Over the years many illustrious US airlines made the airport a major hub, including Pan Am, TWA, Eastern, National, Tower Air, and Flying Tiger Line.

The 1948 Temporary Terminal was the sole terminal until 1957, when the International Arrivals Building opened. Eight other "Unit Terminals" were constructed from 1958 to 1971, each designed by one of the airport's main airlines.

The Worldport (Pan Am), now Terminal 3, opened in 1962. It featured a large, elliptical roof suspended by 32 sets of radial posts and cables. The roof extended far beyond the base of the terminal and covered the passenger loading area. It featured Jetways that connected to the terminal and that could be moved to provide an easy walkway for passengers from the terminal to a docked aircraft.

The TWA Flight Center, now Terminal 5, also opened in 1962. Designed by Eero Saarinen, it was sculpted as an abstract symbol of flight. It is considered one of the most architecturally distinguished airport terminal designs in the world. With the demise of TWA, however, it is no longer in use. The main building will be kept as a part of a new Terminal 5 building built by JetBlue.

The airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963, one month after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The airport received the new IATA airport code of JFK, and since then the airport has become widely referred to by this abbreviation.

In 1970, National Airlines opened their Sundrome, designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. It is now used by JetBlue and is known as Terminal 6. As air traffic in New York continued to grow, both Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 were modified in the 1970s to accommodate new Boeing 747s. The supersonic Concorde, operated by Air France and British Airways, provided scheduled trans-Atlantic supersonic service to JFK from 1977 until 2003, when Concorde was retired by both carriers. JFK had the most Concorde operations annually of any airport in the world.

The cargo operations at JFK were targeted in the 1978 Lufthansa heist and 1967 Air France robbery, inspiring the Nicholas Pileggi novel Wiseguys and Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas.

In 1998, the airport began construction of the AirTrain JFK rapid transit system. Completed in December 2003, the rail network links each airport terminal to New York City subways and regional commuter trains at Howard Beach and Jamaica, Queens.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, JFK was one of the first airports in the United States to be temporarily closed.

On March 19, 2007, JFK became the first airport in the United States to receive the Airbus A380 with passengers aboard. The route-proving flight with more than 500 passengers was operated jointly by Lufthansa and Airbus and arrived at Terminal 1.

Plans

JFK is undergoing a $10.3 billion redevelopment, one of the largest airport reconstruction projects in the world. The airport recently opened a new Terminal 1. The $1.4 billion replacement for the International Arrivals Building, Terminal 4, opened in 2001. Construction has begun on a new Terminal 5, while leaving the current landmark building in place. Terminals 8, 2, and 3 are slated for demolition or reconstruction[citation needed]: Terminals 8 and 9 are currently undergoing redevelopment as one single terminal.

Infrastructure and services

Runways

Two pairs of parallel runways, four in all, surround the airport's central terminal area: 4L-22R, 4R-22L, 13L-31R and 13R-31L. Runway 13R-31L is the second longest commercial runway in North America, at a length of 14,572 ft (4,441 m).

Runway 4R-22L is 8,400 feet long and 200 feet wide. It 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/L ILS runways, permitting landings with a visibility of 600 feet or more by qualified aircrews. The first Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) in North America was installed at the northeast end of the runway in 1996. The bed consists of cellular cement material, which can safely decelerate and stop an aircraft that overruns the runway. The arrestor bed concept was originated and developed by the Port Authority and installed at JFK Airport as a joint research and development project with the FAA and industry. Runway 22L ILS is also a Category III runway. Runway 4L-22R is 11,351 feet long by 150 feet wide and is also equipped with ILS at both ends allowing landings down to three-quarters of a mile visibility. 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 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 one-eighth of a mile.

JFK has over 25 miles of taxiways to move aircraft in and around the airfield. The standard width of these taxiways is 75 feet, with 25-foot heavy-duty shoulders and 25-foot erosion control pavements on each side. The taxiways have centerline lights and are generally of asphalt concrete composition 15 to 18 inches thick. An illuminated sign system provides directional information for taxiing aircraft.

The Air Traffic Control Tower, constructed on the ramp-side of Terminal 4, began full FAA operations in October 1994 and is 321 feet tall. An Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE) radar unit sits atop the tower. A gas-fired electric cogeneration plant generates electricity for the airport, with an output of about 90 megawatts. It uses thermal energy from the capture of waste heat to heat and cool all of the passenger terminals and other facilities in the central terminal area.

Aircraft service facilities include seven aircraft hangars, an engine overhaul building, a 32-million gallon aircraft fuel storage facility, and a truck garage.

Passenger terminals

JFK has eight passenger terminals in operation arranged in a U-shaped pattern around a central area containing parking, hotels, a power plant, and other airport facilities. The terminals are connected by the AirTrain system and access roads. A 2006 survey by J.D. Power and Associates in conjunction with Aviation Week found JFK ranked second in overall traveller satisfaction among large airports in the United States, behind McCarran International Airport which serves the Las Vegas metropolitan area.[4]

Terminal 1 has 11 gates. The original Terminal 1, built as a hub for Eastern Airlines, was demolished, a new Terminal 1 was opened in 1998, 50 years after the opening of JFK.

Terminal 2 was opened in 1962 as the home of Northeast Airlines, Braniff and Northwest Airlines. After the demise of Northeast Airlines and Braniff the building was taken over by Delta Air Lines. The building has 11 gates. Delta hopes to merge its two terminals at JFK (2 & 3) into a single modern terminal in the future.[citation needed]

Terminal 3, built as the (Worldport) in 1960 for Pan American, and substantially expanded for the introduction of the 747 in 1970, has 17 gates.

Terminal 4, the international terminal, is able to handle the Airbus A380 and is managed by the Schiphol Group. It was the first airport terminal in the United States to be managed by a foreign airport operator. Terminal 4 is the major gateway for International Arrivals at JFK. It is the newest structure at JFK that does not incorporate an existing facility. Opened in 2001, the new building was built at a cost of $1.4 billion. The terminal has 17 gates on two concourses. Concourse A has six gates, numbered A2-A7. Concourse B has eleven gates, numbered B20-B31, excluding B21. As Terminal 4 was built during the construction of the AirTrain, the AirTrain station was built inside the terminal building. Other AirTrain stations are built across from terminal buildings.

Terminal 5, also known as the TWA Flight Center, is closed while undergoing reconstruction to become the new terminal for JetBlue Airways.

Terminal 6, built in 1970 as the National Airlines Sundrome, has 14 gates. On June 1, 2006, JetBlue opened a temporary terminal complex that added seven gates onto the terminal and increased the capacity for more flights. Customers access the temporary terminal through shuttle buses after they clear the security checkpoint.

Terminal 7 was built for BOAC and Air Canada in the early 1970s. In 1997, the Port Authority entered an agreement with British Airways to expand the terminal. The renovated terminal has 12 gates.[5]

Terminal 8 will eventually be dismantled now that the new Terminal 9 building is operational.

Air freight

JFK is the nation’s busiest international air freight gateway by value of shipments and the second busiest overall by value including all air, land and sea U.S. freight gateways. Over 21% of all U.S. international air freight by value and 11% by tonnage moved through JFK in 2003.[3]

JFK is a major hub for air cargo between the United States and Europe. London, Brussels and Frankfurt are JFK's three top trade routes.[3] The European airports are mostly a link in a global supply chain, however. The top destination markets for cargo flying out of JFK in 2003 were Tokyo, Seoul and London. Similarly, the top origin markets for imports at JFK were Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei, with London taking the fourth spot.[3]

Some of the cargo imported and exported through JFK includes electrical machinery, woven and knit apparel, medical instruments, footwear, plastics and paper.

Nearly 100 cargo air carriers operate out of JFK,[3] among them: ABX Air, Air France, Alitalia, Asiana, Astar Air Cargo, Atlas Air, CAL Cargo Air Lines, Cargo 360, Cargoitalia, Cargolux, China Airlines, Continental Airlines, DHL, Emirates SkyCargo, EVA Air, Evergreen International Airlines, Execaire, FedEx Express, Gemini Air Cargo, Japan Airlines, Kalitta Air, Korean Air, Lufthansa Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Polar Air Cargo, Prince Edward Air, Singapore Airlines Cargo, United Cargo, UPS, Varig Logística, World Airways, Yantze River Express. Top 5 carriers together transported 33.1% of all “revenue” freight in 2005: American Airlines (10.9% of the total), FedEx Express (8.8%), Lufthansa Cargo (5.2%), Korean Air Cargo (4.9%), China Airlines (3.8%).[6]

Most cargo and maintenance facilities at JFK are located north and west of the main terminal area. The following airlines have dedicated cargo terminals at JFK: Continental Airlines, DHL, Emirates SkyCargo, EVA Air, Evergreen International Airlines, FedEx Express, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Nippon Cargo Airlines, United Cargo, and UPS.

In 2000, Korean Air Cargo opened a new $102 million cargo terminal at JFK. It was the largest air freight facility on the East Coast with total warehouse floor area of more than 55,000 sq ft (16, 764 m²) and capability of handling 200,000 tons annually.

Ground transportation

Main article: Transportation to New York City area airports
Map showing New York City and the locations of JFK (1), LaGuardia (2) and Newark (3).

Rail

JFK is connected to New York's subway and commuter rail system by the AirTrain. AirTrain stops at all terminals, car rental lots, and two subway stations. It is free within the airport and $5 to reach the subway stations outside the airport perimeter. Travel time between JFK and Midtown Manhattan is approximately 45 minutes using AirTrain and the Long Island Rail Road at Jamaica Station.

Bus

Several city bus lines link JFK to the New York City Subway and Long Island Rail Road, including the Q3, Q6, Q7, Q10, and B15, with free transfers provided for subway connections. The buses are handicapped accessible. There are also many private bus lines operating express buses to Manhattan, the Hudson Valley, and Long Island.

Taxi

New York City's yellow cabs, operated by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission, offer a flat rate service of $45 (as of 2007) from JFK airport to Manhattan, excluding tips and tolls. Since November 30, 2006, this flat rate fare (excluding tips and tolls) applies to travel from Manhattan to JFK as well. Depending on the time of day, taxi travel from JFK to Midtown Manhattan can be as quick as 35 minutes. New York Taxi's accommodate 4 passengers except vans which accommodate 5.

Airlines and destinations

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

  • Delta Air Lines (see Terminal 3)
    • Delta Connection operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Richmond)
    • Delta Connection operated by Comair (Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Chicago-O'Hare, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Hartford/Springfield, Montréal, Nashville, Norfolk, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Richmond, Rochester (NY), Syracuse, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan)
    • Delta Connection operated by Freedom Airlines (Albany (NY), Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Binghamton, Burlington (VT), Hartford/Springfield, Manchester(NH), Nantucket, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Syracuse, Washington-Dulles)

Terminal 3

  • Delta Air Lines (Accra, Amsterdam, Aruba, Athens, Atlanta, Barcelona, Berlin-Tegel, Boston, Brussels, Bucharest-Otopeni, Budapest, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Denver [starts July 1, 2007], Dublin, Edinburgh [begins May 1, 2008], Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Istanbul-Atatürk, Kiev-Boryspil, Las Vegas, London-Gatwick, Los Angeles, Los Cabos, Madrid, Manchester (UK), Mexico City, Miami, Milan-Malpensa, Montego Bay, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Mumbai, Nice, Orlando, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Phoenix, Pisa, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Rome-Fiumicino, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (PR), Santiago (DR), Santo Domingo, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Seattle/Tacoma, Shannon, St. Thomas, Tampa, Tel Aviv [begins March 10, 2008/pending governmet approval [1]], Venice, Washington-Reagan, West Palm Beach)
  • US Helicopter (Bridgeport, Downtown Manhattan Heliport, East 34th St. Heliport, Newark)

Terminal 4

Immigration control for incoming passengers at Terminal 4.

Terminal 6

  • JetBlue Airways (Aguadilla, Aruba, Austin, Bermuda, Boston, Buffalo, Burbank, Burlington (VT), Cancún [departures], Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Columbus, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston-Hobby, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Nantucket [seasonal], Nashville, Nassau, New Orleans, Oakland, Ontario, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Ponce, Portland (ME), Portland (OR), Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Santiago (DR) [departures], Santo Domingo [departures], Sarasota/Bradenton, Seattle/Tacoma, Syracuse, Tampa, Tucson, Washington-Dulles, West Palm Beach)

Terminal 7

Terminal 8

  • American Airlines (Bermuda, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, San Juan (PR), San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma)

Terminal 9

  • American Airlines (Aruba, Barbados, Brussels, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Cancún, Caracas, Chicago-O'Hare, Kingston [seasonal], Las Vegas [begins September 5, 2007], London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Los Cabos, Montego Bay, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Port-au-Prince, Providenciales, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata [seasonal], Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, Rome-Fiumicino, St. Kitts [begins November 18, 2007], St. Lucia [begins November 15, 2007], St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San Diego, San Francisco, Santiago (DR), São Paulo-Guarulhos, Santo Domingo, Tokyo-Narita, Zürich)
    • American Eagle (Boston, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago-O'Hare, Cleveland, Halifax, Montréal, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Reagan)
  • Finnair (Helsinki)
  • Malév Hungarian Airlines (Budapest)


Helicopter

US Helicopter operates regularly scheduled flights every hour between Terminal 3 and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. Passengers travelling by helicopter pass through a security checkpoint at the heliport, not at JFK. The flights last 8 minutes and cost $159 each way. On May 14 2007, US Helicopter moved its operations from Terminal 9 to Terminal 3[7].

Accidents

JFK has been the site of several notable air disasters.

Other incidents involving JFK

Wikinews has related news:

As one of the major international gateways in the United States, JFK has enjoyed a high profile in popular culture. The British Invasion began with the arrival of The Beatles at JFK in 1964, who held their first American press conference at the airport. Rapper Notorious B.I.G. references the airport's code name in the song "Going Back to Cali." The theme song of the 1960s comedy TV series Car 54, Where Are You? contained a line reading: "There's a scout troop short a child, [Nikita] Khrushchev's due at Idlewild," referencing the airport's previous name, Idlewild. In his one-man show Red diaper baby, Josh Kornbluth's eccentric communist father insists on referring to JFK as the "Bay of Pigs Memorial Airport". JFK is also mentioned in the U2 song, Angel of Harlem, as well as the song "The City" by Joe Purdy. Many films have used JFK as a setting, including:

See also

References

  1. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for JFK PDF, retrieved 03/15/2007
  2. ^ a b Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation (2002). "U.S. International Travel and Transportation Trends, BTS02-03" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation (2004). "America's Freight Transportation Gateways" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  4. ^ ""Survey: JetBlue is best low-cost carrier"". Associated Press. 2006-06-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ John F. Kennedy Facts
  6. ^ JFK Aviation Traffic reports. The Port Authority of NY & NJ
  7. ^ Delta Cuts Travel Time between Manhattan and JFK to Just Eight Minutes with US Helicopter’s Airport Shuttle Service
  8. ^ Attack on JFK International Airport Codenamed 'The Chicken Farm': June 2, 2007
  9. ^ 4 Charged in JFK Airport Terror Plot on Time.com (a division of Time Magazine)
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