The days may be numbered for the two oldest passenger terminals at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took a first step yesterday in planning the replacement of Terminals 2 and 3, which were state-of-the-art buildings when they opened in the early 1960s but are now overcrowded and obsolete.
The authority, which operates JFK, said it would spend $20 million planning for a new mega-terminal that would have modern security features, space for new amenities and many more gates.
Both existing terminals are now operated by Delta Air Lines Inc., which is partway through a major expansion at JFK.
The airline, which would be a partner in the construction of the replacement terminal, has projected that it will be flying 18 million passengers through JFK by 2017, about twice the number it served last year and well more than triple the 5 million it handled in 2002, Port Authority officials said.
Port Authority aviation director William DeCota said the reconstruction would be a "huge undertaking," but necessary if the airport is to accommodate planned growth in air travel. |
