There’s now a 512-room hotel at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, housed in a terminal originally built for Trans World Airlines and used from the 1960s until 2001.
The aptly named TWA Hotel recreates the glamour of midcentury air travel while offering modern comforts. Highlights include a cocktail bar set inside a restored Lockheed Constellation, known as “Connie,” and a retro red‑carpeted lounge with its own bar. A lively Departures Hall offers a variety of grab‑and‑go food choices, and flight tube corridors connect the property directly to JetBlue’s Terminal 5. The property also features a shop dedicated to TWA memorabilia and an on‑site museum that traces the terminal’s aviation history.
On the roof, guests can enjoy an infinity pool and observation deck with a bar, providing sweeping views over JFK’s Runway 4. The hotel blends design and retail with branded amenities such as a Shinola watch bar, a leather goods store, a Warby Parker Pencil Room offering custom postcards and pencils, and a Phaidon and Herman Miller Reading Room for quiet moments.
Dining includes a 200‑seat, full‑service restaurant that serves throughout the day. Additional facilities comprise a fitness center, flexible event spaces and a ballroom, creating a range of options for both leisure travelers and event planners. The overall concept has been particularly well received by aviation enthusiasts and design lovers alike.
The hotel also offers helicopter transfers into Manhattan via Blade, providing a fast and convenient link between the airport and the city.
The terminal building was placed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places in 2005 and is celebrated as a symbol of the Jet Age. Work to convert the landmark terminal into a hotel began in late 2016, aiming to preserve its distinctive architecture while adapting it for contemporary hospitality use.
“The preservation and conversion of this world‑renowned landmark offers a one‑of‑a‑kind destination for international visitors and New Yorkers alike,” said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “As we celebrate this one milestone, we look forward to many more, as this is just the beginning of JFK’s transformation into an airport that’s as welcoming, impressive and iconic as this beautiful new hotel.”