John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is New York’s busiest international gateway, operating from Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. It is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, and JetBlue’s primary operating base. The airport handles frequent departures to London, Paris, Los Angeles, Miami and San Juan, with arrivals from cities across Europe, the Caribbean, Asia and the Americas. Use an online flight board before travelling, as airlines are spread across separate terminals and the AirTrain links terminals with subway and LIRR connections.
How do I get to and from John F Kennedy International Airport?
JFK is linked to New York City by the AirTrain, which connects all passenger terminals with subway and Long Island Rail Road services at Jamaica and Howard Beach. Travellers also use taxis, ride-hailing pick-up areas, airport buses, hotel shuttles, and rental cars. Road travel can be slow at peak times, so allow extra time for traffic and terminal access.
How do the terminals work at John F Kennedy International Airport?
JFK has several separate passenger terminals, each used by different airlines and alliances, with both domestic and international flights spread across the airport. Check your airline and terminal before travelling, as walking between terminals is generally not practical. The AirTrain provides landside connections between terminals, parking, and ground transport, while transfers after security depend on airline and terminal arrangements.
Tips for flying from John F Kennedy International Airport
JFK is a major international gateway and can be very busy, especially during holidays, evenings, and bad-weather periods. Arrive early for long-haul or international flights, and allow time for check-in, security, and passport control. Ongoing construction and road congestion may affect access, so follow airline updates, use the AirTrain where practical, and leave generous connection time.
Frequently asked questions
The IATA airport code for John F Kennedy International Airport is JFK.
The ICAO code for John F Kennedy International Airport is KJFK.
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is located in New York, United States.
The local time zone at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is America/New_York (GMT-4).
About 1,810 scheduled departures were counted at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) when flight schedules were last measured on July 19, 2026.
For international flights, arrive at least 3 hours before departure; for domestic flights, about 2 hours.
The board on this page shows arrivals and departures for John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). It re-checks for updates while the page is open, and every board states how old its data is — busy hubs are refreshed within hours, quieter airports less often.