Bloomberg, Port Authority and JetBlue cut ribbon for JFK terminal

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive director Chris Ward and JetBlue Airways CEO Dave Barger cut the ribbon on the airline's new $875 million passenger terminal at JFK International Airport, set to open in October. The new 26-gate terminal has the capacity to support 250 flights a day and 20 million passengers a year, doubling JetBlue's current operating capacity. Deputy mayor for economic development Robert Lieber, senator Charles Schumer, congressman Gregory Meeks, congressman John Hall, Queens Borough president Helen Marshall and Bermuda Progressive Labour Party and minister of Tourism and Transport Premier Ewart Brown joined the mayor and JetBlue at the event at JFK Airport. "JetBlue's new terminal represents a major investment in N.Y.C. and is a tremendous vote of confidence in our future," said Bloomberg. "JetBlue is a classic New York success story, and we've worked hard to help it grow by marketing our city to tourists around the world. Expanding our tourism industry - last year we hit a record 46 million visitors - is an important part of our effort to diversify New York City's economy, and as Wall St. stumbles, that effort is more important than ever. We have set a goal of reaching 50 million visitors annually by 2012. Private investments in state-of-the-art terminals like this one will help us meet that goal - and create thousands of new jobs for New Yorkers in all five boroughs." "Eero Saarinen's terminal 5 is recognized as an icon of aviation history in New York and beyond," said Barger. "As New York's hometown airline, we are proud to literally connect our new home terminal five to our shared aviation architectural history in Saarinen's TWA Flight Center. Our new home will bring the best of the JetBlue Experience from the air to the ground. More passengers passing through JFK travel on JetBlue than any other airline, which is quite an achievement since the airline launched just over eight years ago. We will now be able to offer our customers amenities, comfort and an experience befitting a top-rated customer service company." The 26 gates of the 635,000 s/f terminal are distributed throughout concourses on three levels. The new terminal has a 55,000 s/f retail area with 22 food concessions and 35 specialty retail stores, two ticketing areas with e-ticket kiosks flanking what will be the largest single security check-point in the U.S. capable of accommodating 20 screening lanes, an automated baggage system and electronic displays that direct customers to their gates where they may access a free wireless network. The terminal building team was lead by Arup (planners and design managers) and supported by Gensler (terminal architects), DMJM Harris (airside/landside civil engineers), Rockwell Group (interior architects) and Turner Construction (construction management). The Port Authority master plan was developed by William Bodouva & Associates.