Elected leaders and officials gather to inaugurate the first construction phase of the world-class NTO terminal, slated to open to the public in 2026.
New Terminal One will serve as a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and aim to set a new standard for world-class design and service, aspiring to be among the top ten airport terminals in the world.
The New Terminal One (NTO)– a consortium of labor, operating and financial partners – today joined a groundbreaking event to inaugurate the official first construction phase of a new world-class terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), along with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, local elected leaders, key sponsors of the project, Ferrovial, Carlyle, JLC Infrastructure, and Ullico, as well as union leadership and site workers.
With today’s groundbreaking, the New Terminal One begins construction of the $9.5 billion, 2.4 million square foot terminal, which is expected to generate over 10,000 total jobs, including more than 6,000 family-sustaining construction positions.
The start of construction follows a revised agreement late last year between the Port Authority and NTO. With Ferrovial becoming a lead sponsor of the project in June, alongside Carlyle, JLC Infrastructure, and Ullico, NTO’s financial close became the largest private investment ever committed to a U.S. airport terminal. The innovative partnership and intentionality have made today’s announcement a possibility.
Once fully built, the New Terminal One will serve as a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and aim to set a new standard for world-class design and services. The reimagining of the international passenger experience at JFK generates opportunities for local, minority and women-owned business enterprises, as well as for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOB). The state-of-the-art NTO will be the largest international terminal at JFK and is grounded in a commitment to engaging the local southeast Queens community, generating opportunities, and reaching its 30% minority or women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) participation goal with intentionality.
“We are proud to be part of the New Terminal One consortium and motivated to work with our partners and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to make this iconic project a success,” said Rafael del Pino, Chairman of Ferrovial.
Before commencement of construction, NTO had already contracted with 101 MWBE firms and paid more than $64.7 million for delivering professional services through key engineering, planning, construction, and design work. NTO paid over $46 million to 71 MBE firms and over $18.5 million to 30 WBE firms. The terminal will be built by union labor under a project labor agreement that will generate family-sustaining careers, assist in small business development, and drive workforce participation across Queens and western Nassau Counties.
NTO will be built on the sites of the current Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and the former Terminal 3. NTO will be built in phases, with full completion anticipated by 2030. Sustainably designed and future focused, the terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit public spaces, cutting edge technology, and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience and compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world. With more than 300,000 square feet of dining, retail, lounges, and recreational space, The New Terminal One will remind passengers of everything that makes New York special and offer a uniquely New York sense of place.
“Today marks a historic new chapter for our city, for our state, and for the community of Queens and Southeast Queens in particular,” said Dr. Gerrard P. Bushell, Chief Executive Officer of the New Terminal One. “When it is complete, this project will bring a world-class terminal that is sustainably designed and future focused, and a new gateway to the world’s greatest city. Through our extensive partnerships with the community and labor, we will seek to drive historically high MWBE participation goals and deliver jobs and real economic opportunity for this community for generations to come. Many thanks to my sponsors for their vision and steadfast commitment to getting this project out of the ground. And to the Port Authority, its staff, and Executive Director Rick Cotton, we thank you, and look forward to continuing our partnership.”
Overseen by leading global infrastructure operator Ferrovial, construction and design of the project will be led by AECOM Tishman, which has managed the development of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, as well as Gensler, a leading global design and architecture firm. Ferrovial brings 70 years of experience in infrastructure construction, including nearly 25 years of experience investing in, constructing, and managing sustainable, award-winning airports and projects, such as London’s Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, Glasgow Aberdeen and Southampton Airports in the United Kingdom, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.
JLC Infrastructure, an investment firm, proponent for community engagement, and a strong MWBE partner, has a 30% stake in the project. Ullico, a privately held, labor-owned, insurance and investment company, is driving NTO’s labor commitment and is a key project sponsor.
