USA. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo today revealed a US$10 billion investment plan to upgrade and redevelop John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The plan calls for inter-connected terminals, more flights, road upgrades and improved security technology.
In a Twitter message he said: “We want to welcome you to the JFK Airport @JFKairport of the future: new amenities inside, streamlined transportation outside & new security measures.”
Gert-Jan de Graaff, President & CEO of JFKIAT, which operates JFK Terminal 4, said in response: “Today’s announcement by Governor Cuomo is a long time in the making and I was thrilled to be in attendance on behalf of Terminal 4.
“As the operator of the first privately managed terminal in the country – and one of the most modern and efficient in New York – I look forward to working with the Governor and the Port Authority to implement his tremendous, forward-looking vision of global, world-class standards for all of the terminals at Kennedy Airport.” He said this would provide for “a world-class passenger experience – which T4 has been striving to perfect over the past decade and a half”.
He added: “As someone who has worked in and managed airports on four continents, I share the Governor’s belief that a world-class city such as New York should have a world-class airport as its gateway to the rest of the world.
“Since our opening in 2001, Terminal 4 has grown in passenger capacity – from six million in 2001 to 20 million annual air travellers at the end of 2016 – and has shown an ability to grow and change with that increase.
“With T4’s state-of-the-art baggage system, the centralized security checkpoint, 66 Automated Passport Control kiosks and the Queue Monitoring System which advises passengers of predicted wait times, we have proactively taken steps to accomplish many of the goals the Governor laid out today in his plan for the entire airport.
“We are excited to see what awaits in the years ahead – not only for us, but for the tens of millions of global air travellers for whom JFK is the first stop – and their first impression – of New York and the rest of the country.”
