T he latest phase of the expansion of Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York — which includes the addition of eleven gates featuring enclosed jet bridges with climate control and approximately 75,000 square feet to Concourse B — was officially unveiled earlier today by representatives of Delta Air Lines, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and JFK International Air Terminal LLC.
Although the unveiling of the latest expansion of Terminal 4 occurred earlier today, it was actually opened to passengers as early as Saturday, January 10, 2015, according to this discussion launched by FlyerTalk member gigafishing.
The $175 million project is part of the $1.2 billion investment by Delta Air Lines towards enhancements at its hub in New York with the significant enhancement of the experience of approximately 12 million customers annually at both Terminal 4 and Terminal 2 — which includes but is not limited to relocating a majority of flights operated by Delta Connection aircraft from Terminal 2 to the aforementioned expanded Concourse B in Terminal 4.
The development of Terminal 4 first opened in May of 2013, which featured nine new and seven renovated international gates; improved and renovated areas for customers to check in for their flights, including a dedicated Sky Priority area; a centralized security checkpoint; new dining and retail offerings; a new 24,000 square-foot flagship Delta Sky Club with the first Sky Deck outdoor terrace, about which I first reported in this article on January 28, 2013; dual taxiways for less congestion and shorter taxi times; and improved Customs and Border Protection and baggage claim facilities.
Along with the news in this article posted on July 12, 2013 that Delta Air Lines had recently celebrated the grand opening of a brand-new concourse costing $180 million at Terminal 4 — complete with a preview site in lower Manhattan — came the news of the closing of Terminal 3, which was otherwise known as the old Pan American Airlines Worldport building, which closed exactly 53 years after it opened. Although the demolition of the historic building itself was completed last summer, select artifacts from the building were preserved. For example, the old DELTA AIR LINES sign from Terminal 3 is currently on display at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta, about which you can read more in detail in this article from June 17, 2014; as well as this article from June 19, 2014.
According to a press release I received earlier today from a representative of Delta Air Lines, the new gates at Terminal 4 will offer customers “proximity to a flagship Sky Club and chef-driven restaurants. The expansion also facilitates intra-terminal connections with the addition of a new JFK Jitney bus stop at the end of Concourse B in Terminal 4 near the new gates. This will complement the existing stops located by gate B18 at the base of Concourse B in Terminal 4 and by gate C60 at Terminal 2.”
The bus stop at Terminal 2 will be refreshed, with escalators and elevators installed sometime during the second quarter of 2015.
Over the course of the past six years, Delta has invested nearly $2 billion in the airports which serve the greater New York City metropolitan area, “leading the way in improving the traveler experience by bringing state-of-the-art technology, award-winning chefs and exceptional customer service to New York passengers.”
Due to all of the construction which had been going on at the terminals at which the gates to flights operated by Delta Air Lines were located, I can say that I tried to avoid it as much as possible, as the experience from gate to bus stop was generally unpleasant. Although I was unable to attend the unveiling ceremonies earlier today to which I was invited, I expect to be using Terminal 4 as a customer of Delta Air Lines within the next 90 days; and I intend to let you know my personal thoughts about Terminal 4 when that happens.
Top photograph: A pilot of Delta Air Lines makes his way to one of the new gates as Delta Air Lines — along with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK International Air Terminal LLC — unveiled the next phase of a Terminal 4 expansion at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Photograph courtesy of Michelle McLoughlin/Newscast Creative via Delta Air Lines.
