JFK Airport: an overview of one of the largest air harbors in New York

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

For many foreign tourists, the abbreviation JFK is incomprehensible. But any American student can easily decipher it for you. These are the initials of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States. The airport was named after him in December 1963, only a month after his assassination. But the hub began serving passengers and cargo much earlier.

While JFK Airport may not be New York City's first and oldest hub, it is certainly now the main airfield for receiving guests from abroad. This is one of the largest air hubs in America. In terms of international passenger and freight traffic, it is the first in the country. And this hub looks like a small town. How not to get lost here? About the airport terminals, its services and services, as well as how to get from it to the city center, read our article.

Small historicalhelp

It's hard to imagine, but back in the early forties of the last century, where JFK Airport now operates in a busy rhythm, there were magnificent, grassy golf courses. This club was called by the elite sports game "Idlewild". In the late forties, New York City's main air gate, LaGuardia, could no longer keep up with the growing passenger traffic. To help him, they decided to build a new airport.

At first he inherited the name of the golf courses. But Idlewild Airport lasted less than twenty years. After the assassination of John F. Kennedy, it was decided to name the main air harbor after the President. This happened in December 1963.

Naturally, since that time the airport has been repeatedly rebuilt and modernized according to the requirements of modern aviation. GFC became the first hub in America to receive the giant A-380 liner. Now this airport serves over fifty-three million travelers a year. And although it is inferior to the air harbors of Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta in terms of passenger traffic, GFC remains the most important air hub in the United States of America.

Where is JFK Airport located

Former golf courses, and now the largest air harbor in New York, is located in the Queens area. This is the southeast of the metropolitan area, but still a part of the city. The center (the so-called Downtown, which in New York is considered to be Manhattan) is located twelve miles (or twenty kilometers) from the airport. When the decision was made in 1942 tobuilding a new airport, the plans were more than modest. It was planned to build one terminal. But after the airport received its first flight in July 1948, it was decided to give it international status.

Now the hub consists of eight terminals. Due to the growing popularity of the air harbor, the authorities of New York have taken care to build a sufficient number of transport routes to it.

How to move between terminals

JFK is the seventeenth busiest airport in the world. More than ninety airlines use its services. And although it has international status, flights are also made from here around the country.

The airport now has eight terminals. Some of them, especially the Fifth, are masterpieces of modern architectural thought. To look at the Winged Seagull, excursions to the GEF-Kay airport are even organized. You can move between terminals quickly and, most importantly, for free.

In December 2003, the mini-metro "Air Train" was opened on autopilot. This train stops at all terminals, as well as large parking lots. But the main advantage of this mode of transport is that the Air Train connects to regular city subway stations, as well as to the Long Island Commuter Rail Station.

Services

New York's main air harbor, JFK Airport, meets all standards for international passenger traffic. However, since the 2001 attacks, security screening and passport control have been carried outvery meticulous. This can create queues.

Otherwise, the terminals have everything a traveler needs: currency exchange, left-luggage offices, ATMs, restaurants, cafes, shops (including duty-free), VAT refund points and much more. True, access to Wi-Fi is paid and significantly hits the pocket: almost eight dollars per hour. All terminals have waiting rooms, but some of them look more like shopping centers, consisting of duty-free boutiques. By the time you go around them, there is no time left to sit - do not be late at least for landing.

There are plenty of taxi stops around all terminals. But in order not to be deceived, sit only in the yellow car. Government taxis are metered, but a trip to the city center will still cost you at least forty dollars.

How to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan by public transport

The AirTrain automatic monorail takes you to one of the two regular metro stations free of charge and quickly. If you need line A, you need to get off at Howard Beach, and if you need E, J or Z, you need to go to Sutphin Blvd / Archer Av. But at the entrance to the city subway, you will have to pay seven and a half dollars to go further. You can also get to JFK Airport on the Long Island commuter trains. Get off at the Jamaica station. And from there, get to the terminal you need on the free monorail.

It is possible to come to Grand Central Station by New York Airport Express bus. A ticket for such a shuttle costsseventeen dollars.