The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) marked the terminal’s “curtain wall” building enclosure milestone, representing one of the key remaining milestones leading up to the terminal’s planned phase one opening in early 2026. This success supports other upcoming milestones, including adding permanent power and live testing the building. More than 1,200 local workers are currently on site to ensure a smooth opening for more than a dozen carriers that will be relocating to the new terminal, among them: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, ANA, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Condor, Frontier, JetBlue, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic, and SWISS. Additional airline partners are expected to be announced shortly.
Terminal 6 is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $19 billion transformation of JFK International Airport into a world-class gateway, with two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network.
To celebrate its curtain wall milestone and planned T6 opening in less than a year, JMP has released an updated rendering of the future T6 departures roadway artwork that will welcome millions of travelers to the terminal in the years to come. Currently under construction by JMP’s design-build partner, AECOM Hunt, and expected to be erected later this fall, the 12,000 square foot “JFK Global Panorama” is a custom-designed, 3D Ombrae artwork featuring iconic New York City-based imagery and flight routes illustrating the global connectedness that T6 will bring to the world’s travelers.
“Our building enclosure milestone is a proud moment for our T6 team, and especially the 1,200 men and women working tirelessly to prepare the first gates for a safe and on-time opening in 2026,” said Steve Thody, CEO, JFK Millennium Partners. “Together with our design-build partner AECOM Hunt, we look forward to completing the remaining upcoming milestones this summer and delivering New York’s next iconic airport terminal.”
Since breaking ground in February 2023, workers have spent nearly four million construction hours getting the first gates ready for opening in 2026. Construction of the $4.2 billion Terminal 6 will create a total of 4,000 jobs, including 1,800 union construction jobs over the course of the project. In September 2024, workers installed a 121,000 pound, 80-foot oculus skylight – the future center point of the terminal’s shopping and dining concourse. Up to 13,000 pieces of steel weighing 18,000 tons—or the equivalent steel needed to build two medium-sized, NYC skyscrapers—will be erected when the terminal is fully complete in 2028.
Passengers can look forward to T6’s digital-first, boutique guest experience, with a less than 5-minute average walk from the TSA security checkpoint exit to all gates. Additional features include extensive biometric-enabled, self-service bag drop facilities, 100,000 square feet of NYC-inspired shopping, dining, lounges and amenities, curated public art, sustainable operating features, and premium guest experience throughout the terminal.
