If you’re flying in or out of the New York metro area anytime soon, the ground is shifting — literally. JFK is in the middle of the most significant terminal overhaul in its history, Newark’s AirTrain is offline on weekdays until summer, and the calculus for getting to your gate on time has changed. Here’s what you need to know right now.
JFK Airport: New Terminal 6 Is Open — What It Means for You
JFK’s brand-new Terminal 6 is officially open, with its first phase of gates welcoming passengers as part of the $4.2 billion public-private redevelopment led by JFK Millennium Partners and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The terminal is physically connected to Terminal 5 and brings 10 modern gates — nine of them widebody-capable — to JFK’s north side.
Airlines operating from Terminal 6: JetBlue, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Avianca, TAP Air Portugal, Norse Atlantic, Icelandair, Kuwait Airways, Frontier, Condor, and ANA (All Nippon Airways).
If you’re flying on any of these carriers, double-check your terminal assignment before you go. The road access patterns around JFK’s north side have changed with T6’s opening — rideshares and taxis drop off at a new curbside configuration, and the AirTrain connection points are different from the old Terminal 6 footprint.
What’s coming next: The entirely new Terminal One is scheduled to open its first 13 gates in June 2026. The 2.6-million-square-foot facility will house Air France, Korean Air, Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airways, China Airlines, and several other international carriers currently spread across older terminals. If you have international travel booked this summer, your airline may be moving terminals.
Newark (EWR): AirTrain Weekday Outage — and When It Comes Back
The Newark AirTrain — the connector between NJ Transit’s airport rail station and the terminals — remains unavailable Monday through Friday from 5 AM to 3 PM as part of the Port Authority’s $3.5 billion AirTrain Newark Replacement Program. If you’re catching an NJ Transit or Amtrak train to the airport on a weekday, you’ll exit at Newark Airport Station and board a shuttle bus to your terminal rather than the AirTrain.
The good news: the Port Authority has committed to pausing construction disruptions during peak summer travel — the AirTrain should be back to full weekday service by late May, ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. Summer travelers can expect normal AirTrain access through Labor Day.
Getting to EWR right now (weekday mornings):
- NJ Transit train + shuttle bus: Take any NJ Transit train on the Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line to Newark Airport Station — shuttle buses run continuously to all terminals. Add 15–20 minutes.
- Rideshare/taxi: Waze and Google Maps are routing around the construction disruption. Budget extra time on weekday mornings.
- Express bus: NYC Airporter and other coach services pick up from Midtown Manhattan and deliver directly to EWR terminals — no rail or shuttle needed.
LaGuardia (LGA): No Major Disruptions, But the AirTrain is Still Pending
LGA’s post-renovation terminals are running smoothly. The airport’s own AirTrain light-rail link — long planned to connect LGA to Willets Point and the 7/LIRR corridor — has no confirmed completion date. For now, getting to LaGuardia means a cab, rideshare, Select Bus Service (M60 from 116th St, Q70 from Jackson Heights), or the NYC Airporter from Midtown.
LGA tip: The Q70 Select Bus Service from Jackson Heights (74 St-Broadway, where the 7, E, F, M, and R trains meet) is the fastest and cheapest public transit option to LaGuardia — about 10–15 minutes to the terminals, $2.90 fare.
TSA and Security: What’s Working
TSA PreCheck and CLEAR wait times at JFK and LGA have been running well in recent weeks. Standard security lanes are longest at JFK Terminal 4 (the busiest international hub) and Terminal 8 during morning pushes. If you don’t have PreCheck, budget 45–60 minutes for security at JFK on weekday mornings and Sunday afternoons.
At Newark, security has been faster than usual in the post-renovation Terminal A, which handles most domestic flights. Terminal B and C (international) remain the longer waits.
Commuter Tip: If you’re flying out of JFK this weekend, check which terminal your airline has moved to. Terminal 6’s opening and the coming Terminal One launch mean several international carriers have shifted — or will shift — terminal assignments. A wrong terminal can cost you 20–30 minutes on the AirTrain loop. Confirm your gate terminal on your airline’s app the night before you fly.
Ground Transport Quick Reference
JFK: AirTrain to Jamaica Station (LIRR to Penn/Grand Central) or Howard Beach (A train). Typical door-to-Midtown time: 60–75 minutes. Rideshare pickup at designated lots — follow the JFK app for current terminal instructions.
EWR: NJ Transit to Newark Airport Station + shuttle (weekday mornings through late May). Rideshare from Midtown runs about 35–50 minutes depending on traffic.
LGA: Q70 bus from Jackson Heights or M60 from Manhattan. Rideshare from Midtown: 20–40 minutes depending on time of day.
