DLCorpGal

We will be putting out a release this morning to announce our next phase of expansion at JFK -- a $180 million project that will include 11 more gates and an additional 75,000 square feet to Terminal 4’s Concourse B. This is, of course, in addition to the ongoing $1.2 billion project at T4 that will open in May.

With the new expansion, Terminal 4’s Concourse B will house 27 Delta gates and completely replace Delta’s current Terminal 2 regional jet operation. Each of the new gates will feature a dedicated boarding counter, seating area and jet bridge, eliminating the need for the ramp level boarding that currently exists at Terminal 2. All gates will be designed to accommodate two-class regional jets as well as provide flexibility for gating additional mainline aircraft.

The first phase of construction at T-4, which is now 90% complete, features nine new and seven renovated international gates; improved and renovated check-in areas, including a dedicated Sky Priority check-in area; a centralized security checkpoint; new dining and retail offerings; a new 24,000 square-foot flagship Delta Sky Club with the first ever Sky Deck outdoor terrace; dual taxiways for less congestion and shorter taxi times; and improved Customs and Border Protection and baggage claim facilities.

When the new Terminal 4 opens in May, we will more than double the current shuttle bus operation for passengers connecting between Terminals 2 and 4 Ten buses will operate between the existing bus holdrooms in Terminals 2 and 4. By September 2013, Delta will open a new 8,000 square-foot bus holdroom facility adjacent to gate B20.

Thanks,
DLCorpGalNYC

ClipperDelta

Thanks DLCorpGalNYC for the update. Couple of questions about Delta at T4 if you don't mind:

1) Any timeline yet for the completion of the 11-gate extension?
2) Any idea yet when in May Delta will move ops over to T4?
3) Will Delta be sharing Concourse B with other non-Skyteam carriers (e.g., today, Swiss, ELAL, Transaero, Etihad, etc., all use the B concourse gates)
4) Will there be anything special (besides the SkyDeck) planned for the flagship SkyClub (e.g., noticed that the map/floor plan actually showed a "Spa Area" and there are two massage rooms in that area)
5) How much bigger will the immigration area be? Today, T4 immigration is already crowded when all the foreign flags come in with their A380/777-300ERs, unloading masses of humanity into the area...

OK, so that was more than a couple...

lamont2718

Great to see continued progress at JFK. Thanks for keeping us informed!

DLCorpGal

Here's the release: http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=43&item=1882

DLCorpGal

1) the 11-gate extension should be complete by summer 2015
2) Late May - before Memorial Day weekend
3) Yes, when we open in May there will three gates on Concourse B that are not exclusively Delta.
4) Let's talk about this more later, when I have concrete info to share.
5) The new immigration area will be able to process 3,100 passengers/hour with 72 inspection booths. Additionally there will be seven baggage claim units at the International baggage claim area and two new claim devices added for domestic baggage claim.

NYCflip

Thanks! Can't wait for May! At least it's progress in the right direction IME.

menton1

Wow, no more walking outside down that narrow, curved sidewalk with luggage from T3 to Airtrain!! Yippee!

I guess that "Pan Am Terminal" was pretty cutting edge in the 60s!

ClipperDelta

Thanks for the quick responses ^. Came in to JFK yesterday through T4 and walked around the Departures area - everything looks like it's coming together nicely - the SkyPriority check-in area was still under construction so couldn't sneak a peek there, but the expanded security area looks good and should alleviate the current peak-time congestion...
Looking forward to late May!

jspira

Additional coverage here:

Delta Announces Next Phase of JFK’s Terminal 4 Expansion

N830MH

What is next phase III construction of T4 extension? So when is that?

bennos

I vaguely remember some talk of an airside connector between T2 and T4... am I misremembering? It sounds like we'll have airside shuttles until 2015, when presumably T2 closes down.

adamj023

Connector has been scrapped. They shouldn't have announced it to begin with. Was too long and was for a terminal that will be phased out.

Terminal 4's expansion made sense.

JFK Airport is a constant work in progress but at least with T3 phased out, just having domestic at T2 which will eventually be phased over to T4 won't be as bad as customers had to endure while they had to use that horrible T3 terminal for international flights.

monitor

The replacement of the disgraceful "RJ Farms" is the only real news here. It is a shame that it will take so long to eliminate what is a vestige of the long-ago past.

It is even a greater shame that they are not quickly attacking the same problem at LGA. It is even worse over there since they offer only sky-high "B" fares for those terrible Chautauqua nonstops to the various medium range destinations that they took from US on the swap deal. Forcing high-fare business travelers out into the weather into one of those decrepit buses on the frequently foul-smelling tarmac is not the way to retain much loyalty.

adamj023

It is only temporary. Progress always goes on.

Problem at LGA? I thought the work at LGA was completed already.

Delta's terminals are a work in progress, but lets face it the biggest obstacle was T3 and after that is finally phased out in May, Delta's transcon and international flights will make the airport that much better for passengers across the spectrum.

T2 will just have some domestic flights and won't require customs or immigration services. And there will be customers without requiring transfers between the two.

smachiz

Conversely, since I admittedly fly non-mainline jets rather infrequently, I always get a kick out of the opportunity to get up close and personal with the jets and out onto the tarmac.