New York JFK Redevelopment The Costliest Program Ever

<B>New York JFK Redevelopment The Costliest Program Ever</B>

By Frank Rosci

In what is being heralded as the nation's largest public-private airport redevelopment program, JFK International Airport--"Where America Greets the World"--steadily is being transformed.

More than twice the size of other recent airport projects in other major U.S. cities--including Boston, Denver, Miami and San Francisco--the $9.3 billion dynamic redevelopment process has several major components already completed, with target dates for other improvements extending through 2006.

A number of separate projects will be tackled, including new and renovated terminals, new roads and parking garages and public transportation.

"Business travelers, with their hectic schedules and technological needs, will appreciate the state-of-the-art facilities and efficient terminal designs now underway at JFK," said Cristyne Lategano, president and CEO of the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Work that has been finished to date includes the rebuilding of Terminal 1, a $435 million effort by the Terminal One Group Association, a partnership among Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Lufthansa. The renovation was completed in 1998 and spearheaded the entire redevelopment plan, which includes $1.5 billion for AirTrain (see story, page 32), $1.9 billion for Port Authority infrastructure improvements and $5.3 billion in Port Authority and airline funds to redevelop each of JFK's nine passenger terminals.

Among the ongoing projects are the renovations of Terminals 4, 7 and, jointly, 8 and 9. At Terminal 4, the airport's new International Air Terminal, the West Concourse B, recently opened. The new concourse replaces the old west wing of the former International Arrivals Building. Partial demolition of the west wing already has begun. Initially, Concourse B will offer passengers six spacious departure lounges linked to gates via windowed ramps affording full views of parked aircraft, said Alain Maca, deputy general manager of JFK International Air Terminal. The 1.5 million-sq.-ft. concourse also includes 100,000 square feet of retail space.

When the Headhouse, or main terminal building, opens in 2001, the A and B Concourses will provide 10 gates, expanding to 16 gates in 2002 and possibly to 20, a Port Authority spokesman said. The new gates will accommodate the largest jetliners in service today, such as the 747-400, 777-300 and A340, as well as aircraft still on the drawing board, such as the Airbus 600-passenger double-decker, Maca said. Completion of Terminal 4, at a cost of $1.1 billion, is expected next year.

Meanwhile, in a joint venture between British Airways and the Port Authority, the renovation and expansion of Terminal 7 progresses on schedule, a spokesman for the airline said. "We renovate as we go along, keeping the terminal open and services up, but major work remains to be done," he said.

Elements of the makeover that have been completed include the opening of a new Concorde lounge and a new Terraces lounge for first and business class passengers. The lounges feature workstations and business centers. New meeting space is being added. More Terminal 7 changes will occur when duty free shops and restaurants open by the end of the month.

Access from the Van Wyck Expressway, which is being redone as part of the airport's redevelopment, eventually will lead directly to the terminal, and there will be a new multi-level parking garage outside with convenient links to the terminal.

Also in JFK's Central Terminal Area, American Airlines continues its $1.4 billion effort to convert Terminals 8 and 9 into one 56-gate terminal that, when completed in 2006, will be the largest at the airport. Highlights of the work, which began officially on Nov. 9, 1999, will include four concourses, three of them extending from the structure's Central Terminal Area and one linked to the terminal by a 320-ft. underground tunnel with moving sidewalks. The concourses will provide a total of 56 gates--38 for all types of large jets operated by American and other carriers, and 18 with covered jet bridges for regional jets operated by American Eagle. The finished terminal will be able to accommodate as many as 40,000 passengers a day.

For departing passengers, there will be 24 curbside checkin positions and 200 checkin positions at the main ticket counter. For passengers arriving from overseas, there will be a customs and immigration facility large enough to serve up to 2,400 persons an hour. The new terminal also will feature two Admirals Clubs, two Platinum Business Centers, a First Class arrivals lounge, a 10,000-sq.-ft. lounge for use by other carriers and a 2,500-vehicle, short-term parking garage.

Another probable terminal project, the Port Authority spokesman said, involves JetBlue Airways, which began service from JFK to Fort Lauderdale (three times daily) on Feb. 11, and service to Buffalo (twice daily) six days later. The airline's $130 million start-up investment includes $60 million in terminal improvements at JFK, the spokesman said.

Other parts of the airport's redevelopment include the ongoing renovation of the TWA terminal, 26 miles of new roadways and additional parking garages.