JetBlue Airways breaks ground on new International Arrivals Terminal at New York JFK

JetBlue Airways (New York) yesterday (October 1) broke ground on the extension to its home at John F. Kennedy’s Terminal 5 to pave the way for an international arrivals facility. Set to open in early 2015, the new space includes six international arrivals gates – three new and three converted from Terminal 5 – and an International Arrivals Hall with full U.S. Custom and Federal Inspection Services (FIS) to deliver a seamless travel experience for customers arriving from international flights on JetBlue and select partner airlines.

JetBlue’s President and CEO Dave Barger along with the airline’s executives and crewmembers joined Homeland Security Chairman Peter King; Queens Borough President Helen Marshall; City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer; U.S. Custom and Border Protection JFK Port Director Susan Mitchell; Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Aviation Director Susan Baer; and representatives from the JFK airport community to commemorate the announcement. Business partners working jointly with JetBlue on the project, including Gensler, Ammann & Whitney, Arup, AECOM, Gleeds USA, Turner Construction, were also on hand.

Event attendees enjoyed New York centric treats including fresh waffles courtesy of Wafels & Dinges famed local food cart and I HEART NEW YORK co-branded cookies from the airline’s neighbor in Long Island City, Baking For Good, which donates 15 percent of all net proceeds to charitable causes. Guests also enjoyed a first look at renderings of the new international arrivals terminal procured by the airline’s design architect partner Gensler.

Some highlights of the international arrivals terminal extension include:

A design created by Gensler that mirrors the existing Terminal 5’s bright and friendly look and feel, supportive of JetBlue’s brand aesthetic and the company’s commitment to bringing humanity back to air travel
An overall constructed area of approximately 150,000 square feet
Two additional baggage claim belts and a U.S. Custom and Border Protection, Federal Inspection Service (FIS) facility designed to accommodate up to 1,200 customers per hour
International Arrivals hall space featuring glass walls that allow for abundant natural daylight and a design that is modern, timeless, and clean
Sustainable sensibilities, making the most of current building technologies to reduce T5i’s environmental impact throughout its lifespan
Circulation paths designed to move customers through gates and Customs in the most efficient way possible with walking time and travel minimized

Environmentally-friend design elements include:

Abundant natural daylight, notable in areas where that is not typically experienced—such as in the Immigration Hall and in the corridor connecting the aircraft to the hall
Concrete reclaimed from the aircraft apron is recycled and reused as a base for the concrete within the building
Low VOC materials inside of the terminal
Efficient HVAC system to optimize performance
Low flow water fixtures
Overall focus on indoor air quality and emphasis on health and wellness

JetBlue Airways: