According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, John F. Kennedy International Airport saw on-time arrivals fall to 76.43 percent and on-time departures to 77.99 percent in 2015. Despite these declines, JFK still outperformed nearby competitors LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports. JFK also recorded the longest wait times among the 10 busiest international U.S. airports, particularly in Customs, where passengers waited an average of 25 minutes — a 13 percent increase from 2014 — based on data compiled by the Global Gateway Alliance. This increase reversed a two-year trend of improving wait times that followed the installation of Automated Passport Control kiosks.
Poor rankings and longer waits have not curtailed overall growth. Combined passenger traffic at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark increased by 7 million passengers year-over-year, reaching a total of 124.2 million. JFK led the three airports in domestic, international and total passenger counts, serving 26.8 million domestic travelers and 30 million international travelers. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey reports that this combined traffic generates about $80 billion in annual regional economic activity and supports more than 570,000 jobs.
“Our mandate to modernize our airports under a decade-long $8 billion capital program is enhanced by yet another year of passenger growth. Efforts already well under way will not only deliver new innovations and increased services for our traveling public but also will power our regional economy and fuel job growth for the next generation of airport-based employees and businesses,” said Pat Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Passengers at JFK are already seeing some of these improvements. In January, three terminals implemented a facial recognition system developed by Unisys Corp. The system captures live facial images and cross-references passport data to help identify travelers attempting to enter the United States with fraudulent or stolen documents.
An artist’s rendering of animal holding stalls at The Ark at JFK © PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
Under development and scheduled to open mid-2016, The Ark at JFK is a $48 million, 14.4-acre private animal cargo terminal being built after ARK Development leased Cargo Building 78 from the Port Authority. Once open, The Ark will be the only private animal cargo facility in the world with direct taxiway access and an aircraft parking ramp. The facility will feature a USDA-approved, 24-hour quarantine for household pets, birds, horses and livestock; a luxury boarding service with spa and training amenities; and a veterinary hospital.
Planned infrastructure upgrades include a major overhaul of Runway 4R-22L, which will undergo a complete resurfacing during a 90-day closure. The project also includes construction of a new high-speed taxiway adjacent to the runway to reduce ground delays.
Airline route changes are also boosting JFK’s offerings. TAP Portugal planned new service from JFK to Lisbon beginning July 1. Delta Air Lines extended seasonal service to Reykjavík’s Keflavík International Airport through September, and Air Serbia launched service between JFK and Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport this year. These additions reflect ongoing airline interest and continued investment in improving capacity and connections at JFK.