I did a search, but couldn't find anything recent on this subject...

How is American's new terminal at JFK coming along? When will they finally close terminal 8 and be able to consolidate into the new Termainal 9 area? Any info on how the project is coming along would be appreciated. Thanks.

Terminal 9 has projected to open it's customs and immigration facility in March, while opening the remaining gates in Terminal 9 around April-May. When this happens terminal 8 will be torn down and the new Terminal 9 will become Terminal 8. Very happy to have at least the customs and immigration area open because the old one is falling apart.

One question remains is whether IB will return to AA's terminal or stay at 7?

I was hopeing that they would build out into the area now occupied by T8 and make it look like a real terminal building instead of something that's half done.

Quoting AA767400 (Reply 1): Terminal 9 has projected to open it's customs and immigration facility in March, while opening the remaining gates in Terminal 9 around April-May. When this happens terminal 8 will be torn down and the new Terminal 9 will become Terminal 8.

So the new Customs facility will be opened in March, but the T8 one will not be closed until April-May???? How will they manage the logistics of that (in terms of staff, etc)?

Quoting NYC777 (Reply 2): I was hopeing that they would build out into the area now occupied by T8 and make it look like a real terminal building instead of something that's half done.

Wasn't that the original plan, back before it was downsized? Is the 'new' plan to leave the new terminal as-is when the current T8 is demolished?

Quoting PanAm330 (Reply 4): Wasn't that the original plan, back before it was downsized? Is the 'new' plan to leave the new terminal as-is when the current T8 is demolished?

Yes I believe that to be the fact. They are trying to reduce their cost post 9/11 and this the terminal is a casualty. They can at a later time complete it to the original design.

Well, the facility looks beautiful, especially from the ramp side, I think they did a great job , even though it's not going to be a large as originally planned. But like others pointed out they can always build out to the original specs.

Quoting NYC777 (Reply 2): I was hopeing that they would build out into the area now occupied by T8 and make it look like a real terminal building instead of something that's half done.

It is too bad that AA won't be opening the grandiose terminal they first showed us in 1999-2000, but the new complex is still head and shoulders above the old T8/T9 nightmare. What's more, they'll have something no other airline at JFK can claim... flexibility to expand as their operations require. I'm sure that Delta, which is still trying to figure out what to do with their T2/T3 conglomeration, would kill for that kind of expansion capability.

If I remember correctly, the next phase (opening in March-April) includes the customs hall, about 10-12 more gates for international flights and an expansion of the ticket hall. Am I right?

Beyond that they still have the ability to add another 10-15 mainline gates (when/if they build the concourse out across the old T8 site). Does the plan still call for someday adding the small wings for American Eagle, or have those been completely eliminated from the terminal design?

Anyone has any photos- or links to photos of AA's new terminal at JFK??

Much appreciated!!

Totally Tropical
AA1818

Quoting Jsnww81 (Reply 7): If I remember correctly, the next phase (opening in March-April) includes the customs hall, about 10-12 more gates for international flights and an expansion of the ticket hall. Am I right?

I think that's about right.

Quoting Jsnww81 (Reply 7): Beyond that they still have the ability to add another 10-15 mainline gates (when/if they build the concourse out across the old T8 site). Does the plan still call for someday adding the small wings for American Eagle, or have those been completely eliminated from the terminal design?

Again right. I suppose if the need rises in the future the ycould add the regional gates. I think with JFK they want to focus on international mainline. They would get trounced by JetBlue on the regional/domestic market out of JFK.

I still think the whole terminal will be completed. The only part not being included from the original plans are the two concourses for AE, but the rest of the terminal will be completed as planned.

AA787

Also coming this summer, when the new concourse (I believe called Concourse B) opens, will be a second Admirals Club and, a first for New York, a new Flagship Loung. The Flagship Lounge is AA's premium lounge exclusively for the use of international and transcon First Class passengers, and it is long overdue for an international station as important for AA as JFK.

AE already has one wing with five gates, 31 A-E. I believe they are building a new wing now where gate 32 was. (That was temporary through the construction process). Not sure how many more Eagle gates will be there. I believe nine new mainline gates are opening in concourse B, and an additional gate or two will be added to the C concourse near the end of the project. The entire operation is to move to the new terminal July 13 or 14, the exact date TBD. Customs and immigration may move to T9 next month, however, if that happens domestic mainline flights will move back to T8.

There was a delay in the construction of the new baggage/ticket area, and without those facilities AA can't handle using all the gates in the new terminal. Last time the information was updated, it was not determined exactly when customs and immigration will move, or what will happen with domestic and international flights. Those dates are still tentative, but AA is sticking with the July 13 or 14 as the final day for T8 ops. As mentioned before, T9 will become T8, and the old T8 will be demolished.

AA had tried to get PANYNJ to take over the old T8 so as to save the expense of tearing it down, but the airport authority didn't want it, so AA has to demolish it. With that in mind, I don't know how likely it is AA will ever complete the new terminal to its original specs, but the space will certainly be there down the line should it become necessary. I wish they would complete it and move all Oneworld ops to the new terminal.

Here's the text from the actual update dated 19Jan07:

"Concourse B with additional gates and concessions is expected to come online May 9th 2007. The main building is expected to be completed and opened on July 13 or 14th. At this point Terminal 9 will become Terminal 8, and our entire operation will fly from the new facility. There is some talk of moving our International Operation to Terminal 9 and the Domestic to Terminal 8, after the Customs and Immigrations area is completed after the beginning of March. We'll advise as soon as we have a firm date."

Im playing Airport manager but here goes, I would...

Complete the AA terminal to full 1999 specifications, moving BA , IB, Qantas, Icelandair, ANA, CX, AC to the completed AA terminal.

Once B6 completes there T-5 project consolidate their operations there.

Move DL to T-7 (International) and T-6 (Domestic), it's not a new terminal but it's better than T-2, T-3.

Replace T-2, T-3 with a single multi-tenent 15-20 gate Domestic terminal, UAL, CO, WN, US, ect.

Quoting STT757 (Reply 13): Complete the AA terminal to full 1999 specifications, moving BA , IB, Qantas, Icelandair, ANA, CX, AC to the completed AA terminal.

I doubt BA would ever consider moving into AA's or anyone else's terminal at JFK. It's quite a sense of pride for BA to own and operate T7.

C.

Quoting STT757 (Reply 13): Complete the AA terminal to full 1999 specifications, moving BA , IB, Qantas, Icelandair, ANA, CX, AC to the completed AA terminal.

BA would never leave their owned T7. As stated above, they really like that place to themselves. And besides, it offers easy connections to OneWorld partner AA, since T8 is right next door.

Quoting STT757 (Reply 13): Replace T-2, T-3 with a single multi-tenent 15-20 gate Domestic terminal, UAL, CO, WN, US, ect.

Why would Delta let UAL, CO, WN, and US have their own brand new terminal? while they are stuck in T6 and T7? Delta wants to grow above anything at JFK, and moving into T7 and T6 is not the way to do that.

If I were JFK's manager:

(keep in mind that AA owns their new terminal) Pay AA to finish T8/T9, then have a joint ownership (port authority and AA).
Lease out unused parts of T8/T9 to who ever wants it (maybe even WN)
Build phase 2 of Terminal 4, and get all T1 airlines to move into T4.
Move Delta international to T1.
Demolish T2, and rebuild as new terminal.
Move domestic Delta into T2 and demolish T3.
Rebuild T3 and give T1, T2, & T3 to Delta.

While JetBlue is in T5, rebuilt T6 and lease it back to JetBlue

So, finally:
T1, T2, & T3 are Delta.
T4 all foreign airlines.
T5 & T6 Jet Blue.
T7 British Airways and United.
T8 & T9 AA and a new airline.

Quoting Kaitak744 (Reply 15): While JetBlue is in T5, rebuilt T6 and lease it back to JetBlue

I think there are provisions to expand T5 where the supposed demolition of T6 would be. I'm not sure there would be another T6.

Another question about the new AA terminal... do both concourses (B and C) have international capability? I was always under the impression that Concourse C (the 'island' concourse) was for domestic flights only. Is there a second sterile tunnel leading from this concourse to the customs hall?

I live in Chicago, which means the only way I can get to JFK to see the new terminal is to take a $550 American Eagle ERJ or Delta CRJ - no thanks!   One of these days when I'm in New York, I'll take the LIRR out to JFK... it's the only major US airport I still haven't ever visited.

Quoting Jsnww81 (Reply 17): Another question about the new AA terminal... do both concourses (B and C) have international capability? I was always under the impression that Concourse C (the 'island' concourse) was for domestic flights only. Is there a second sterile tunnel leading from this concourse to the customs hall?

If I recall correctly I think international departures and arivals go out of the currently dilapated T8. I'll be flying AA to LHR late next month so I'll havea better sense of how things are going then.

Quoting Jsnww81 (Reply 17): do both concourses (B and C) have international capability?

Yes, both B and C have international capability. The outside gates of concourse C (even numbered) are domestic only, but the inside gates (odd numbered, except for 31 and 33) are international capable. For those who have been to the midfield concourse (C), when you walk through the tunnel there are hallways on both sides. One of them is used to exit passengers directly to baggage claim while the other, yet unused hallway, will carry international arrivals to customs and immigration.

As mentioned earlier, AA may begin international arrivals in T9 sometime next month. The customs and immigration facility should be completed in the next couple of weeks, and depending on when AA and FIS work out a transition date, international flights should begin there soon. Again, it will come at the expense of moving some domestic flights back to T8 until the rest of T9 is finished (July 13 or 14).

Quoting Qqflyboy (Reply 19): Yes, both B and C have international capability. The outside gates of concourse C (even numbered) are domestic only, but the inside gates (odd numbered, except for 31 and 33) are international capable. For those who have been to the midfield concourse (C), when you walk through the tunnel there are hallways on both sides. One of them is used to exit passengers directly to baggage claim while the other, yet unused hallway, will carry international arrivals to customs and immigration. As mentioned earlier, AA may begin international arrivals in T9 sometime next month. The customs and immigration facility should be completed in the next couple of weeks, and depending on when AA and FIS work out a transition date, international flights should begin there soon. Again, it will come at the expense of moving some domestic flights back to T8 until the rest of T9 is finished (July 13 or 14).

Thanks for the info. Do you know if AA will ever fill out the terminal on the right side where the old T8 is now standing?

Quoting NYC777 (Reply 20): Thanks for the info. Do you know if AA will ever fill out the terminal on the right side where the old T8 is now standing?

Sadly, AA just doesn't have any money.

Compare that to the original plan:

I believe Intl flights to London, Paris, Rome and Brussels ( i may be missing 1 or 2) go out of T9.

Quoting Nycfly75 (Reply 23): I believe Intl flights to London, Paris, Rome and Brussels ( i may be missing 1 or 2) go out of T9.

True, some int'l flights depart T9, most notably BRU, CDG and NRT. One or two of the LHR flights depart T9 as well. However, none of these flights can arrive in T9 because FIS is not opened yet. For now, it causes confusion for pax, but such is the nature of such a complex merging of two terminals. I can't wait for that merging to be complete... it's a pain for pax and crew alike.

Quoting Puck (Reply 22): Compare that to the original plan:

The original project looks awesome. Imagine being the architect who designed the building, only to see your baby half built. Bummer. Someday, maybe, as traffic and expansion warrant, AA will complete the other side. There are no plans for it now.