Last October JFK Airport’s AirTrain ditched its outdated practices and finally began accepting tap-and-go (OMNY) payments, but this summer you may not have to tap anything at all!
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton recently stated that he’s considering doing away with the $8.50 AirTrain fare this summer as a record-breaking number of straphangers is expected. The reason: the airport’s $19 billion construction project.
JFK Airport currently has two new terminals in the works: Terminal 1 and Terminal 6.
Both Terminal 1, which is projected to be JFK’s largest terminal to date, and Terminal 6, which will include 100,000 square feet of shopping and dining, are expected to open their first new gates by 2026. The project overall, however, won’t be complete until 2030.
The hope is that the $19 billion redevelopment, which beyond the new terminals includes expanding taxiways and centralizing ground transportation, will modernize the 80-year-old airport.
The issue with renovations, however, is that they come with their inconveniences.
This summer alone 18 million people are expected to fly in and out of JFK Airport–700,000 more than last year.
Even more, TSA is expecting approximately 12,000 more travelers per day this Memorial Day weekend alone–an 11.5% increase compared to last year (2023).
And considering 2023 was the busiest year on record for NYC airports, let’s just say that’s a lot of travelers expected to crowd up the airport.
Ergo, Port Authority noted that they’re considering offering discounted AirTrain rides this summer, and possibly even making it free altogether, to serve as an incentive to get travelers to use mass transit, though a final decision has not yet been made.
Airport officials are strongly advising travelers to use mass transit to travel to JFK, and Port Authority is urging travelers to get dropped off at the Lefferts Boulevard lot, which offers free AirTrain rides to the airport’s terminals. Beginning this June the Lefferts lot will be a free waiting area.
On the bright side, Cotton believes that “once travelers see the new JFK everyone will agree that the pain will be worth the gain.” And considering JFK Airport is one of the worst in the US for delays and is among the top 10 most stressful airports in the world, we’re welcoming these renovations with open arms.