JetBlue Terminal 5 at JFK to Open Next Month

Well, October is nearly here, and JetBlue will be opening its new state of the art terminal at its JFK home hub. The airline issued a series of press releases last week about this momentous occasion.

Terminal 5 has 50 percent more concession space than its current Terminal 6 operation. It will include nine full-serve restaurants, bars and cafes; a gourmet food hall featuring eight quick-serve eateries; grab-and-go gourmet markets; three coffee bars; six bars/lounges; and an innovative gate area program called re:vive that offers table service dining. Through a revolutionary new concept, passengers will utilize touch-screen monitors to order meals to be delivered to the gate area, as they enjoy comfortable seating options and power outlets for charging electronics. (Click through for a list of concessions)

Sounds great to us. JetBlue even invited the press to a lavish event on the 22nd, which included demonstrations by their partners, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus, as well as 1937 TWA Lockheed Electra, in honor of the Terminal’s TWA roots, and a TWA uniform fashion show. Shame we missed it. (Click through for more information on this event)

“JetBlue has brought a national landmark back to life and put it at the epicenter of air transportation here in New York and for the entire world. Terminal 5 will give New Yorkers the state-of-the-art air travel hub we need and deserve. I am grateful to JetBlue who has in word and in deed followed through on its commitment to New York and to ensuring that all New Yorkers, upstate and down, have low-cost travel options. I look forward to continuing to watch JetBlue thrive and grow here in New York and will do everything I can to make sure New York’s air transportation system is as safe, affordable, and efficient as possible.” – Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

jetBlue Airways — Image by matt.hintsa via Flickr

The 26-gate facility, unlike their current home, was designed with post 9/11 security needs in mind. Which means no crunching of space around the security checkpoint, for one. Forty tickets counters and sixty-five e-ticket kiosks are located in both sides of the check-in lobby. In the center of the departures hall is a 20 lane security checkpoint, the largest single checkpoint in the country. They even installed soft rubber flooring and a 225-foot long bench for people to put their shoes back on.The Marketplace area features a 4-foot-tall grandstand and a two-feet tall platform for seating or performances and exhibitions and we look forward to hearing that they are using it. (More on the construction)

Like the old terminal, free wi-fi is provided, as well as outlets, and a visual paging system to supplement and partly replace traditional announcements. We look forward to seeing and using all of it.

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