New York JFK Airport Guide: Terminals, Transport and Tips
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, United States: terminals, getting to the city, security, lounges and connections.
Quick answer: As of November 2026, JFK has five open terminals: 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. Terminal 2 has closed. Terminal 6 and the New Terminal One are still being built, and the New Terminal One's opening has slipped to early 2027. AirTrain JFK connects all terminals for free and runs to Jamaica, for the LIRR and subway, and to Howard Beach, for the A train.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
JFK at a glance
| Open terminals | 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Under construction | Terminal 6 (listed as coming soon) and the New Terminal One (operator targets early 2027) |
| Between terminals | AirTrain JFK, free, trains every 5 to 15 minutes, under 10 minutes terminal to terminal |
| Rail to Manhattan | AirTrain to Jamaica, then LIRR or the E, J and Z subway lines; or AirTrain to Howard Beach for the A train |
| Biggest airline bases | Delta at Terminal 4, JetBlue at Terminal 5, American at Terminal 8 |
| Security | TSA PreCheck at the terminals; CLEAR at several checkpoints |
Which airlines use which JFK terminal
Terminal 1: Air France, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Korean Air and other international airlines. This is the old Terminal 1, still in use until the New Terminal One opens next to it.
Terminal 4: Delta's main base, along with Avianca, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, LATAM and many other international airlines. Terminal 5: JetBlue, Cape Air and Sun Country.
Terminal 7: Frontier, Aer Lingus, ANA, Air Canada and others. Terminal 8: American Airlines with its oneworld partners British Airways, Alaska Airlines, Qatar Airways and Iberia.
These are the assignments listed on jfkairport.com in November 2026. Airlines are moving between terminals as the rebuild goes on, so check the terminal on your boarding pass or the airline app on the day you fly.
Before an early flight, check which terminal your airline is in. The terminals are spread around a central loop road with parking in the middle, so going to the wrong one costs time in traffic.
What is changing: New Terminal One and Terminal 6
The New Terminal One is a large international terminal being built on the south side of the airport. The first phase was due in 2026 and has been pushed back: in September 2026 its operator said it expects its first passengers in the first quarter of 2027. Airlines that have signed up to move there include Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Europa, Philippine Airlines and Viva Aerobus. Until it opens, those already at JFK keep their current terminals.
The new Terminal 6 is being built between Terminals 5 and 7, alongside JetBlue's Terminal 5. The developer's plan has the first gates opening in 2026 and the terminal finished in 2028, but in November 2026 the airport still lists it as coming soon. JetBlue, the Lufthansa Group airlines, Aer Lingus, TAP Air Portugal and Air Canada are among those due to move there. Terminal 7 stays open until they do.
AirTrain JFK, the LIRR and the subway
AirTrain JFK loops through all the terminals, the parking lots and Federal Circle, where you catch rental car and hotel shuttles. Riding between terminals is free. Trains run every 5 to 15 minutes, and any terminal is under 10 minutes away.
Two branches leave the airport. The Jamaica branch connects to the Long Island Rail Road, which runs to Penn Station and Grand Central Madison in Manhattan, and to the E, J and Z subway lines. The Howard Beach branch connects to the A train. The LIRR is the faster way to Midtown. The subway is slower but runs all night.
AirTrain sometimes closes overnight for planned upgrades, with free replacement buses. Check service notices on jfkairport.com before a late-night arrival.
Taxis wait at a taxi stand outside each terminal, and app-based rides use marked pickup areas. Without traffic the drive to Midtown takes about 45 minutes, but at rush hour it can take well over an hour.
How early to arrive and security
Airlines generally advise arriving 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. Allow more time on holiday weekends, and when you have to reach the terminal through construction detours on the airport roads.
TSA PreCheck lanes are open at the terminals, and CLEAR operates at several checkpoints. The airport website shows live security wait times for each terminal, which is worth checking before you leave home.
Check-in and bag-drop deadlines for international flights are set by each airline, and many close about an hour before departure. Check your airline's deadline before you leave home.
Lounges by terminal
Terminal 4 has the most lounges: the Delta One Lounge, two Delta Sky Clubs, the American Express Centurion Lounge, the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club with Etihad, the Capital One Lounge, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and the Emirates Lounge.
Terminal 8 has American's Admirals Club and the Chelsea, Greenwich and Soho lounges for premium American and British Airways passengers. Terminal 1 has lounges run by Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Korean Air, plus a Primeclass lounge. Terminal 5 has JetBlue's BlueHouse, and Terminal 7 has an Aer Lingus lounge.
Most lounges let you in only within about 3 hours of departure. Check the entry rules for your ticket or card before you go.
Connecting at JFK
The terminals are not connected behind security. If your connection is in another terminal, you take the AirTrain and go through security again. Allow at least 2 to 3 hours for a connection between terminals on separate tickets.
When you arrive from abroad, you clear immigration and customs at your first US airport, collect your bags and check them in again for the domestic flight. An international-to-domestic connection therefore needs more time than the minimum the airline will sell. Global Entry and the Mobile Passport Control app can shorten the immigration line.
The airport offers free Wi-Fi in all terminals. On a long layover, Terminal 4 has the widest choice of places to eat.
If a delay means you will miss a connection, talk to your airline before you leave the terminal you arrived in.
Route guides from New York (JFK)
- New York to Abu Dhabi flights
- New York to Auckland flights
- New York to Brussels flights
- New York to Budapest flights
- New York to Cairo flights
- New York to Delhi flights
- New York to Doha flights
- New York to Edinburgh flights
- New York to Frankfurt flights
- New York to Istanbul flights
- New York to Johannesburg flights
- New York to London flights
- New York to Madrid flights
- New York to Manchester flights
- New York to Oslo flights
- New York to Paris flights
- New York to Prague flights
- New York to Santiago flights
- New York to Singapore flights
- New York to Tel Aviv flights
- New York to Tokyo flights
- New York to Toronto flights
- New York to Vienna flights
- New York to Warsaw flights
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does JFK have?
As of November 2026, five are open: 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. Terminal 2 has closed. Terminal 6 and the New Terminal One are under construction.
When does the New Terminal One at JFK open?
Its operator now expects the first passengers in the first quarter of 2027, after missing the 2026 target. Until then, the old Terminal 1 stays in use.
Is the new Terminal 6 at JFK open?
Not as of November 2026. The airport lists it as coming soon, and the developer's plan puts the first gates in 2026 and completion in 2028. Check your airline's terminal before you fly.
Which terminal is Delta at JFK?
Terminal 4. American uses Terminal 8 and JetBlue uses Terminal 5.
Is the AirTrain free at JFK?
Riding between terminals, parking lots and Federal Circle is free. You pay when you enter or leave at Jamaica or Howard Beach stations.
What is the fastest way from JFK to Manhattan?
Usually the AirTrain to Jamaica and then the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison. By road, the trip can take over an hour in traffic.
Can I walk between terminals at JFK?
No, use the AirTrain. The terminals are not connected airside, so changing terminals means going through security again.
How early should I get to JFK?
Airlines generally advise 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. Allow more time at peak periods and when construction is disrupting the roads.
