The Terminal One Team, comprising Terminal One Group Association (TOGA) and its world-class team of operating and financial partners, today welcomed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s decision to move forward with the redevelopment and expansion of John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport’s Terminal One in accordance with Governor Cuomo’s Vision Plan for JFK. Terminal One Group Association comprises Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Air and Japan Airlines – all of which partnered in 1994 for the original development of Terminal One at JFK. TOGA is joined by a world-class team of operating and financial partners to help deliver one of the largest public-private partnership projects in America. The TOGA team is an innovative coalition of airlines, labor, minority- and women-owned businesses and strong financial partners that includes: The Carlyle Group, together with its dedicated airport platform, CAG Holdings, JLC Infrastructure, Ullico and Munich Airport International.
“The TOGA airlines are committed to providing world-class levels of service to the people of New York State and New York City. The TOGA partner airlines have been serving JFK for more than 60 years,” said Arthur Molins, Managing Director for TOGA. “We have demonstrated our commitment to the New York market for decades, are confident in its growth potential and look forward to our sustained presence here well into the future.”
“Governor Cuomo has thrashed all the myths about minority participation in major infrastructure projects by insisting on a 30 percent standard throughout the project,” said Earvin “Magic” Johnson, co-founder of JLC Infrastructure. “The old excuses – there are not enough minority contractors, not enough minority financing, not enough minority entrepreneurs – have all been tossed out the window with this project.” JLC Infrastructure is a Port Authority-certified minority-owned business and will provide financing for the project.
The new Terminal One will encompass 3 million square feet of terminal space on what is now Terminal One, Terminal 2 and the site of the former Terminal 3 – with 23 new gates (potentially increasing to 27) and additional aircraft parking positions, providing significant additional capacity for millions of passengers.
The Terminal’s architecture will be a unique and iconic gateway, inspired by New York City and all it offers; one such upgrade will be the arrivals corridor, which draws from New York City’s High Line, and will make a grand first impression with clear views of the city’s iconic skyline. The new terminal will bring the current AirTrain inside the facility, improving access and convenience, while offering family-friendly play areas, indoor parks and best-in-class concessions with a strong local Queens flavor.
The facility will offer a seamless, state-of-the-art security experience, cutting down on wait times and providing a more advanced screening process, along with a top-of-the-line baggage claim process to allow passengers to move quickly through the terminal. The new, cutting-edge screening technology will be highly adaptable to combat the ever-evolving threats faced by airports.
The Terminal One Team has also committed to environmental sustainability for its redevelopment of JFK. The redevelopment will reduce energy use in the terminal by 30 percent and switch to 50 percent renewable energy with a target of up to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. The new terminal will also implement 100 percent composting of organic waste and recycling of inorganic waste.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2020 and finish during the second half of 2025, with the new terminal opening in phases to ensure uninterrupted gate capacity and a seamless transition.
“This project will put thousands of union members to work for a long period of time. With union investment in this deal, this is a partnership model that works for workers, management and investors. The Terminal One Team, in line with the objectives outlined by Governor Cuomo and the Port Authority, went the extra mile to make sure this project is a winner for all parties,” said Edward Smith, President and CEO for Ullico Inc.
The Terminal One Team has also made the JFK community an important element of its plan, including a preference for local businesses, jobs for local residents and quarterly job fairs for New Yorkers, paving paths to permanent employment and community development. In addition, the team is establishing an Airport Academy at JFK to help Queens and regional residents learn the skills needed to work in airport operations, whether at JFK, LaGuardia or anywhere in the world.
“We’re supporting TOGA to deliver a world-class travel experience,” said Peter Taylor, Co-Head of Carlyle’s global infrastructure fund. “TOGA has partnered with Labor and Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), including capacity building and training. TOGA’s MWBE goal is throughout the project, from engineering and architecture to financial and legal as well as construction.”
“JFK is the world’s gateway to New York and the United States’” added Amit Rikhy, CEO of CAG Holdings. “Working with TOGA, our collaborative, local and world-class team and plan will deliver a redeveloped Terminal One that is part of the unified, interconnected and premier airport New Yorkers deserve.”