The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that the AirTrain JFK single ride fare will be reduced by 50 percent from June 30 through Labor Day to encourage the use of public transportation to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) this summer, when the airport is forecast to handle a record number of passengers for the second consecutive year while construction of new roads and terminals is at its peak. The reduced AirTrain fare is the latest piece of a multi-pronged strategy to reduce the potential for traffic congestion at the terminal frontages.
The half-price AirTrain JFK fare of $4.25 applies at both the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations, the two off-airport stations that require payment via OMNY or MetroCard. Jamaica is just 20 minutes from Grand Central Madison, Penn Station, or Atlantic Terminal via Long Island Rail Road, and easily accessible from Long Island. Easy subway connections are also available at the Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport and Howard Beach subway stations via the A/E/J/Z lines.
“As we head into a busy summer construction period in our $19 billion effort to build a new JFK International with record traveler volumes, we are once again asking travelers to leave their cars at home and take public transit to the airport. The discounted AirTrain fare is one of a multitude of steps we’re taking to move passengers to and from JFK as quickly and reliably as possible,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “Yes, there will be some temporary inconvenience. But it’s all part of building an airport our region can be proud of — for decades to come.”
“Once again, we are encouraging travelers to use public transit to reach JFK International this summer when we expect a record number of passengers to use the airport while we are also at the peak of construction, including extensive work on the roadways as we build a whole new world-class JFK,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Beginning June 30 through Labor Day, AirTrain JFK fares will be reduced by half as an incentive to use public transit for reliable airport access and to reduce traffic at the terminal frontages. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we promise that a new JFK is just around the corner, with the first new gates opening next year.”
For travelers who must take a car to the airport, the Port Authority operates a drop-off/pickup lot at AirTrain JFK’s on-airport Lefferts Blvd station, which is a free direct 8-minute AirTrain ride to the airport terminals to help passengers avoid heavy congestion on terminal frontages. Parking at the airport will be extremely limited, and passengers planning to park should pre-book at JFKAirport.com in order to guarantee a spot. Anyone who must drive to JFK should plan to arrive three hours before their flight. Access by car to Terminal 7 will be especially challenging this summer while the existing roadway to the terminal is demolished so that steel for a new permanent roadway to Terminal 6 can be erected. Passengers traveling to T7 are highly encouraged to use AirTrain.
From now through Labor Day, the airport will face the formidable dual challenge of record volumes of air travelers combined with the peak of construction activities for the $19 billion redevelopment of JFK, the single largest construction program undertaken to date at a Port Authority airport. Both the summers of 2023 and 2024 saw record volumes at JFK. This summer’s projected increase of 300,000 passengers, combined with last year’s increase of 700,000, means that JFK’s summer passenger volume will increase by 1 million in the two years that airport construction has been at its busiest.
To mitigate the impact of construction and heavy passenger volume, the Port Authority is deploying a multi-pronged strategy, which includes:
Urging passengers to use public transit to JFK:
- Use AirTrain JFK from the Jamaica or Howard Beach stations to avoid traffic; Jamaica is just 20 minutes from Grand Central Madison, Penn Station, or Atlantic Terminal via Long Island Rail Road. Easy subway connections are also available via the A/E/J/Z lines;
- Fare reduction from $8.50 to $4.25 beginning June 30 to Sept. 1 to encourage use of public transit;
For passengers who must use ride apps or car services, passenger pickup has been relocated away from the following terminal frontages:
Terminal 4
- From 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. the for-hire ride app and car service pickup at Terminal 4 is now located at the Lot 66 Ride App & Car Services Pickup;
- Free shuttle buses to the pickup lot depart from the Terminal 4 arrivals level every 1-2 minutes;
- ADA accessible ride apps and taxi service remain at the frontage.
Terminals 5 and 7
- At all times, for-hire ride app and car service pickups at terminals 5 and 7 is now located at a designated lot at AirTrain JFK’s Howard Beach station;
- Passengers can reach the Howard Beach Ride App and Car Services pickup lot by taking the free on-airport AirTrain to the Howard Beach station;
- ADA accessible ride apps and taxi service remain at the frontage.
For passengers being dropped off or waiting for pickups from friends or family, use the free wait lot at AirTrain JFK’s Lefferts Blvd station:
- To avoid traffic at the terminal frontages, passengers should use the free wait lot at the AirTrain JFK Lefferts Blvd station, where they can be dropped off or picked up by friends or family via personal vehicles;
- AirTrain JFK is free between the Lefferts Blvd station and airport terminals, with an 8-minute ride to the terminals;
- Save time and stay clear of congestion at the terminals.
For motorists who plan to drive and park at JFK, pre-book a parking space:
- Given record travel volumes and construction entering a peak phase, congestion is expected, and passengers getting picked up or dropped off directly at terminals should allow for additional time by arriving to the airport at least 3 hours early.
- Parking is extremely limited. To save significantly on cost and to guarantee a spot, travelers should pre-book their parking space at JFKAirport.com.
Proactive traffic management:
- JFK’s airport operations center is staffed 24/7 to support airport-wide coordination and active traffic management, anticipating peak activity and implementing traffic mitigations in response to increased wait or queues;
- Real-time coordination 24/7 for flight activity, traffic delays, public messaging, and mapping platform updates;
- Facilitate adjustments in roadway construction activity to meet operational needs of airport community.
Increased staffing to keep traffic and passengers moving to their destinations:
- Frontline staff will be increased, including Port Authority police officers and Port Authority operations staff, additional traffic managers at terminal frontages, tow trucks pre-positioned, additional taxi dispatchers and parking attendants, and customer service representatives at all terminals and across the AirTrain JFK system.
Increased public awareness:
- This summer, the Port Authority is launching a full-scale media campaign to raise awareness of summer travel volumes and construction-related impacts, and provide actionable recommendations for travelers,using paid search, social, digital, radio and more.
The $19 billion redevelopment of JFK will transform the airport into one of the world’s best global gateways. Two new international terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center and an entirely new airport roadway network that when complete will create a more efficient way to navigate the airport than the current roadway network that meanders confusingly across the terminal area. A new roadway network will be designed to bring travelers to and from their terminals with six miles of new roads, 30 percent fewer driver decision points and far fewer signaled intersections.
