New York · JFK Airport
JFK terminals & hotel shuttle map (T1, T4, T5, T7, T8)
How JFK's terminals connect to nearby hotels and the AirTrain — and which hotel shuttles serve which terminals.
Which terminals are open at JFK in 2026
JFK currently runs five passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 4, Terminal 5, Terminal 7 and Terminal 8. (The old Terminals 2 and 3 were demolished years ago.) Terminal 4 is the busiest and Delta's main hub; Terminal 5 is JetBlue's home; Terminal 8 hosts American Airlines and British Airways, which moved there at the end of 2022.
Terminal 7 is still operating but in a transitional state and is slated for closure and demolition as part of the airport's rebuild — reporting differs on the exact timing, so if you are flying from T7 confirm your terminal directly with your airline.
JFK is in the middle of a roughly $19 billion redevelopment. Two brand-new terminals — the New Terminal One and Terminal 6 — are scheduled to begin phased openings during 2026. Until they are fully open, always check your departure terminal on your boarding pass or with your airline, as gates can move.
Getting between terminals: the AirTrain
The free AirTrain connects all JFK terminals (plus the parking lots, rental-car centre and the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations). Riding it between terminals costs nothing; a fare applies only when you exit to the public-transit stations at Jamaica or Howard Beach. Confirm the current fare on the Port Authority AirTrain page before you travel.
Trains run 24 hours a day, roughly every 4–10 minutes, and a full loop of the airport takes about 15 minutes.
There are no airside connections — leave extra time
JFK has no secure-side (post-security) connections between terminals. Changing terminals means leaving security and re-clearing TSA at your next terminal. Give yourself generous time — a common guideline is about 25–40 minutes for a domestic-to-domestic change and 60–90 minutes when you also have to clear immigration on an international connection.
Hotels, shuttles and terminals
Most off-airport hotels do not drive into individual terminals. Their courtesy shuttles use the central Federal Circle pickup point, reached on the free AirTrain, so you may still need the AirTrain to get to your gate. The TWA Hotel is the exception — it is connected directly to Terminal 5, with other terminals a short AirTrain ride away.
When a connection or an early departure is tight, a private door-to-terminal transfer drops you at the right terminal entrance and skips the Federal Circle and AirTrain steps — useful when minutes matter.
FAQ
- How many terminals does JFK have?
- Five are in service in 2026 — Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 — with two new terminals (the New Terminal One and Terminal 6) opening in phases during 2026.
- Is the JFK AirTrain free between terminals?
- Yes. Riding the AirTrain between terminals is free; you only pay when you exit to the Jamaica or Howard Beach transit stations.
- Can I walk between JFK terminals?
- No. There are no airside walkways between terminals — you take the AirTrain and re-clear security at your destination terminal.
- How long should I leave to change terminals at JFK?
- Allow roughly 25–40 minutes for a domestic change and 60–90 minutes if you also need to clear immigration, since you must exit and re-clear security.