JFK Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is JFK’s primary international gateway, handling around 6 to 7 million passengers on average every year. Unlike other terminals at JFK, Terminal 1 hosts many foreign carriers rather than serving as a hub for a single airline.

Though the construction of the New Terminal One redevelopment project is in full swing, the existing facility continues to operate. The first phase of new gates is likely to open by the end of 2026. Until that transition is completed, the current Terminal 1 will be operating a full flight schedule.

The current terminal building opened in 1998 as a shared effort between four competing international carriers: Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Japan Airlines. As the terminal is a joint venture between these foreign carriers, the lounges feel more like a lineup of global flagship spaces.

Which airlines are operating out of JFK Terminal 1? What are the lounge options and facilities available? Can you connect from this terminal to other terminals? Our JFK Terminal 1 guide will answer all these questions perfectly!

Long before Terminal 1 opened, the same plot of land housed an earlier facility built for Eastern Air Lines. Pan Am briefly shifted its domestic operations there in 1986. Still, the building sat mostly vacant for nearly a decade until its demolition in 1995. Three years later, in 1998, the current Terminal 1 opened in its place.

Terminal 1 represented a major shift in JFK’s overall design strategy. During the 1950s and 1960s “Terminal City” era, major airlines built custom, standalone facilities to showcase their individual brands. Terminal 1 broke that tradition by having four international carriers pool resources under one roof. Today, the New Terminal One will replace it with a massive, unified gateway that continues the shared-terminal approach on a much larger scale.

Terminal 1 currently serves many of the major carriers like Air France, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Korean Air, and EVA Air as anchor tenants, together with other international carriers. These airlines will gradually shift to the New Terminal One as it is expected to start operating in phases. If you are planning to travel from this terminal, don’t assume your airline is operating from the same terminal as on your last trip. Check your boarding pass and confirm your departure terminal within 24 hours of departure. Also, make sure to check the live JFK flight status before heading to the airport. Here is the full list of airlines currently operating from Terminal 1.

Getting to the gates after security is easy, as Terminal 1 is one of the smaller terminals at this airport. All gates are in a single concourse, so after clearing security you can walk to almost every gate in around 1-5 minutes. Ideally, the standard TSA wait times can be around 15-30 minutes during non-peak hours.

However, as the schedule here tilts more toward long-haul international flights, the baggage drop counters and security lines get busy during the late afternoons and evenings, from around 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can locate TSA PreCheck lanes at this terminal, although CLEAR isn’t available. Try to reach the terminal around three hours before your departure time. Check the live JFK TSA wait times before you leave for the airport so that a delay won’t ruin your travel plans.

These are some of the amenities you can find while navigating through this terminal:

Green Garage used to offer parking near the terminal. However, as this garage is closed, you can park at the JFK Terminal 8 Red Garage. The parking rates start at $4 for 30 minutes and can go up to a maximum of $74 a day. For cheaper onsite JFK Airport parking options, you can park your car in the Long-Term Parking or Federal Circle Station lots. Still, you have to pay a daily parking rate of $55. For the cheapest rates for parking at JFK, we always recommend that you park your car in a nearby offsite lot. Parking rates start as low as $7 a day at offsite lots.

These are some lounges at Terminal 1.

Food and retail at Terminal 1 are modest compared to Terminal 4 or 8. As the terminal is making way for the New Terminal One, it’s not getting new investment, so don’t expect much beyond a mix of grab-and-go spots and a few options after security. It may be enough for a pre-flight meal, but not much more. Openings and closures happen frequently as the terminal winds down, so check the current terminal directory instead of depending on what was there last time you flew.

Rideshare and taxi pickup at Terminal 1 currently operate from the arrivals level curbside. Make sure to confirm your exact pickup point in your rideshare app once you land, as construction-related changes can happen suddenly.

To connect to any JFK Airport terminal, parking garage, or rental car center, you must use the free AirTrain. There’s no airside connection between the terminals. If you’re connecting to another terminal, budget extra time for the AirTrain ride and for clearing security again.