Passengers traveling with Korean Air between Seoul and New York will soon experience a transformed premium in-terminal experience once the new world-class terminal at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport is finished. The guarantee comes after the partners building the new terminal announced a new partnership with the Korean flag carrier.

Pairing a world-class terminal with award-winning services

The SkyTeam alliance member offers premium services with two daily non-stop flights between Seoul's Incheon International Airport and John F. Kennedy Airport, utilizing its Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs. And since it already operates at the existing Terminal 1, it makes sense for the airline to be invited via a partnership to operate out of the anticipated new terminal once it is completed.

Extending this partnership invitation was the New Terminal One - an association of labor, operational, and financial partners building the new terminal at New York's main airport. Under the new collaboration, Korean Air can provide its passengers with an enhanced in-terminal experience that would match its award-winning in-flight services.

Korean Air Boeing 777-300ER
Photo: Rebius | Shutterstock

The partnership will also ensure that the flag carrier seamlessly transitions to the New Terminal One once construction is completed and operational. Dr. Gerrard P. Bushell, President and CEO of The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport, highlighted:

"We are excited to announce this strategic partnership between New Terminal One with one of the top airlines in the world. At the unparalleled world-class terminal we are building here at JFK, we look forward to working together to connect passengers between the Americas and Asia for years to come."

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Completion is expected within this decade

With Korean Air successfully onboard, the New Terminal One continues growing its portfolio of first-class international carriers, including Air France-KLM, Etihad Airways, and LOT Polish Airlines, as the new terminal continues to welcome more members of the global airline community ahead of its forecasted completion. Jin Ho Lee, Senior Vice President and Director of Korean Air Americas Regional Headquarters, said:

"Korean Air is proud to partner with what will be one of the premier gateways to the United States. Working together with New Terminal One, we aim to continue to give our customers traveling through JFK the ultimate travel experience."

Speaking of its expected completion, the New Terminal One only celebrated its first groundbreaking event this past September. The new terminal, which will be built on sites now occupied by Terminal 1, the recently closed Terminal 2, and the former Terminal 3, is currently in the midst of the first phase of construction, which is anticipated to finish by mid-2026 before the other stages can occur.

The-New-Terminal-One-JFK-Rendering-01
Photo: JFK Airport

And once fully completed in 2030, the brand-new facility will house 23 aircraft gates across 2.4 million square feet and serve as a global gateway with a new standard for world-class design and service. Besides being the largest at John F. Kennedy and nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport's two new terminals combined, the New Terminal One hopes to be recognized as among the top five airport terminals worldwide.

  • Korean Air Boeing 787
    Korean Air
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    KE/KAL
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Incheon International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1969
    Alliance:
    SkyTeam
    CEO:
    Walter Cho
    Country:
    South Korea
  • britishairways_216862008867490 (1)
    New York JFK Airport
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    JFK/KJFK
    Country:
    United States
    CEO:
    Rick Cotton (Executive Director of Port Authority of NY and NJ)
    Passenger Count :
    16,630,642 (2020)
    Runways :
    4L/22R - 3,682m (12,079 ft) | 4R/22L - 2,560m (8,400 ft) | 13L/31R - 3,048m (10,000 ft) | 13R/31L - 4,423m (14,511 ft)
    Terminals:
    Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | Terminal 4 | Terminal 5 | Terminal 7 | Terminal 8