Originally Posted by orlandodlplat

First of all, at JFK each terminal is operated by the airline(s) that are tenants, based on proprietary leases from PANYNJ that give them control over the building and facilities. (T8 is AA, T5 is B6, etc.)

The T4AC is a group of airlines that built the "new" T4 about 15 years ago, before which it was an old dumpy common use facility called the International Arrivals Terminal (IAT). The consortium now includes (an is dominated by) DL, because DL is putting the finishing touches on a huge $1B+ expansion of the B pier, and plans to relocate there in May from the old, dumpy T3.

As for the original security question: T4 has a very impressive shopping/food area, built before 9/11 to be before security. (Think the movie "The Terminal.") There were small and inefficient checkpoints at the entrance of each pier, after all the retail. With post-9/11 lines and liquid restrictions, the retail really suffered because no one is willing to waste all that time before security. So part of the DL project has been to relocate a central security checkpoint before the retail; this connects the A and B piers AFTER security.

This part of the project is almost finished - I believe they have the new central checkpoint open by now, but someone will have to confirm this.