JFK international airport is located on Jamaica Bay in the southeastern section of Queens County, New York City. The airport is located 15 miles by highway from midtown Manhattan. It is run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, under a lease with the City of New York since June 1, 1947. In 2004, the Port Authority and the City of New York concluded an agreement that ensures the Agency’s continued operation of JFK and LaGuardia airports through 2050.
JFK has six operating airline terminals, surrounded by a dual ring of peripheral taxiways. More than 125 aircraft gates serve the terminals. The Central Terminal Area also includes a central heating and air-conditioning plant.
JFK airport has an AIRTRAIN which opened in 2003, the light-rail service AirTrain connects JFK with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and New York City subway and bus lines. At the airport, AirTrain provides fast, free connections between terminals, rental car facilities, hotel shuttle areas, and parking lots. In 2012, 5.7 million passengers used AirTrain JFK. Recent improvements include digital signage; expanded closed-circuit televisions; track, switch, and third-rail heaters to improve reliability in cold weather; and a digital audio recording system for monitoring critical communications in real time.
JFK is one of the world’s leading international air cargo centers. The airport offers nearly 4 million square feet of modern, state-of-the-art cargo warehouse and office space. The entire air cargo area is designated as a Foreign-Trade-Zone. JFK serves the world’s key air cargo markets though a strong mix of long-haul, direct and nonstop all-cargo aircraft and wide-body passenger aircraft flights.
JFK covers 4,930 acres, including 880 acres in the Central Terminal Area. JFK’s terminals, parking lots and hotels operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and cover more than 880 acres. The airport has more than 30 miles of roadway. About $150 million was expended on original construction. The Port Authority has invested about $7 billion in the airport.
JFK airport contributes about $30.6 billion in economic activity to the New York/New Jersey region, generating approximately 213,000 total jobs and about $11.3 billion in wages and salaries. Roughly 35,000 people are employed at the airport.
Total runway length is nine miles. Taxiways total 25 miles in length. All runways have high-intensity runway edge lighting, centerline and taxiway exit lighting and are grooved to improve skid resistance and minimize hydroplaning. A 500-foot by 150-foot aircraft arrestor bed has been installed at the end of Runway 4R, the first such arrestor bed in the world. In addition, the Bay Runway reconstruction project expanded 13R-31L from 150 to 200 feet wide in 2011.
When arriving to the airport by car be assured you will find a parking spot in the 15,000 parking-spaces available in a variety of places, including: multi-level parking garages, surface spaces in the Central Terminal Area, a long-term parking and cell phone lot. A reservation system was introduced in 2011.
Ways to Pay for Parking
Pay for on-airport parking using cash, credit, debit or E-ZPass. To save time and exit quickly, use your credit or debit card at an Express Pay machine or have E-ZPass Plus activated on your E-ZPass tag and pay in the designated lane when exiting a lot.
Passenger Drop-off and Pick-up
There is no parking in front of or next to any of the terminals, not even for a moment. Terminal frontages are for active loading and unloading only. Unattended vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.
When dropping off or picking up a passenger, we recommend you park your vehicle in one of their parking garages.
As an alternative for those picking up a passenger, we also recommend using their free Cell Phone Lot. This lot is located less than five minutes from all terminals and provides a convenient place to wait for arriving flights, while helping to keep traffic at the airport moving smoothly.
If you choose to enter the terminal with the passenger, please be aware that only ticketed passengers will be allowed past the security checkpoint. However, you may enjoy any of the areas before security.
As an alternative, you may drop off your passengers at the Kiss and Fly located at the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station where they can ride AirTrain free of charge to their terminal in just 10 minutes.
Electric Vehicle Charging
Air travelers who own electric vehicles can charge them at Kennedy International.
There is a wide variety of hotels and motels conveniently located near JFK – many of which offer hotel courtesy shuttles. To connect with a courtesy shuttle, take AirTrain to Federal Circle Station.
Take the following steps to ease your travel experience during the Holiday season:
-Leave additional travel time to get the airport and clear security
-Reserve parking in advance
-Consider using public transportation
-Take advantage of our Parking coupons
-Have appropriate ID and your boarding pass out and ready to go. Standard screening requires that you take your laptop out of your bag.
-Follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule. Wear shoes you can get off and on easily.
Make sure to check the TSA guidelines if you have questions on what you are able to pack.
go to JFK Airport
see their Twitter feed @JFKairport