Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Governor David A. Paterson and Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson today unveiled plans for the redevelopment and expansion of the Delta Air Lines Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Work on the $1.2 billion project, which was approved by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey last week, will begin this September and create a state-of-the-art space for the airline and more than 10,000 jobs over the next three years; and also further establish New York City as a major tourist destination. Today’s announcement coincides with news that New York City is on track to hit record tourism numbers in 2010. The Mayor, Governor and Richard Anderson were joined at the City Hall announcement by the Dutch Minister of Transportation, Camiel Eurlings; Congressman Meeks; Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson; Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm A. Smith; Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver; City Council Speaker Christine Quinn; Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward; Jos Nijhuis, CEO of Schiphol Group; Alain Maca, President of JFKIAT; and NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta.
Delta Air Lines is a key source of inbound air traffic to New York City for both leisure and business travel. The aviation industry supports nearly 500,000 jobs throughout the tri-state region and accounts for $57 billion in economic activity annually, including $23 billion in spending on the region’s airports. Ensuring that the area’s airports are equipped to handle the demands of 21st Century air travel is essential to the continued growth of the region’s economy.
Currently at JFK, Delta operates predominantly out of Terminal 2 for its domestic flights and Terminal 3, internationally. The expansion of Terminal 4 – which has been successfully managed by JFKIAT for over a decade – will replace outdated facilities and enhance the customer experience for the 11 million passengers Delta serves at JFK annually. The $1.2 billion project will generate an additional 10,000 on-airport and construction-related jobs by 2014, bring $500 million additional personal income into the region, and create $1.6 billion of economic output from the purchases of goods and services. The expansion of Terminal 4’s Concourse B includes the addition of nine new international gates sized to accommodate larger aircraft; the construction of a connector between Terminal 2 and Terminal 4; an expanded baggage claim area; Customs and Border Protection; and ultimately, the demolition of Terminal 3, which will be paved for aircraft parking beginning in July 2015. Construction is scheduled to begin on Terminal 4 in September 2010, with anticipated completion of phase one of development and full relocation of Delta’s Terminal 3 operations in May 2013. In addition, new, dual taxiways will result in reduced taxi times and better on-time performance. When completed in 2015, the total economic impact of Delta’s New York operation will contribute over $19 billion annually.
“Welcoming a quarter of JFK Airport’s 46 million passengers every year, the new Delta terminal will create a 21st century aviation hub for millions of domestic and international travelers as well as create thousands of new jobs at a time when our city needs them most,” said Speaker Quinn.
As the leading international carrier in New York, Delta currently offers non-stop service to 98 global destinations from JFK and offers more than 1,000 weekly JFK departures. International service includes non-stop service to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, with new service being offered to Tokyo and Tel Aviv, among other destinations.
The preliminary visitor volume results show that New York City received approximately 23.5 million visitors in the first half of 2010, a 8.75 percent increase over the same period in 2009. New York City remains on course to host approximately 47.5 million visitors by the end of 2010 – a 4.2 percent increase over 2009. The tourism industry remains New York City’s fifth largest industry contributing to more than 300,000 jobs and nearly $30 billion in direct spending across the City’s five boroughs.
Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 369 destinations in 67 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 70,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry&apos;s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline&apos;s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world&apos;s largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 45 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.