Qatar Airways will move to JFK's new Terminal One by 2026

The John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York is at the center of a maxi transformation from 19 billion dollars launched by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The goal is clear: to turn JFK into a Modern and globally competitive hub, with new terminals, renovated areas, a dedicated transportation center and a simplified internal road network.

It is one of the largest airport projects ever built in the United States and will affect the entire airport until 2030. It will be 2026, however, that will mark the turning point, with the opening of the two new terminals, although as mentioned it will still be years before everything is completed.

Those who have boarded from T1 in recent months, which I recall is the home of ITA Airways, Neos, as well as Air France and Lufthansa, have seen the new terminal rise day after day.

The new terminals

There are several projects that will reshape the travel experience at JFK, among them two are becoming a reality

New Terminal One: It will rise where the current Terminal 1 and the disused areas of the former Terminals 2 and 3 are located today. With an area of about 242,000 square meters, Will be the largest terminal at JFK and almost the same size as the two new terminals at LaGuardia combined.

Terminal 6: under construction on the north side of the airport, will be the new home of the entire Lufthansa Group, and probably ITA Airways as well. as well as JetBlue and its partners, facilitating connections between domestic and international flights.

Qatar Airways' first lounge in the U.S.

Qatar Airways, appointed "World's Best Airline 2025" from Skytrax for the ninth time, announced that Will transfer its operations to New Terminal One in 2026. At the same time, he will open his First dedicated lounge in the United States, a 1,400-square-meter space with VIP check-ins, relaxation areas, prayer rooms, family areas and premium food service.

I look forward to seeing it since the lounges "far" from Doha, as in Bangkok e Singapore have nothing to envy to Those in the layover at home.

Group CEO, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, he stated:

"We at Qatar Airways look forward to starting operations at JFK's New Terminal One and welcoming Business Class passengers to our first exclusive lounge in the United States. The new facility will offer an enhanced travel experience at every stage and complement our Business Class offering, recognized as the best in the world. From VIP check-in to enhanced shopping and dining, our premium passengers will enjoy service that lives up to the title of World's Best Airline."

This news is somewhat surprising given that QR flies today from T8, the home of American Airlines and British Airways and almost all other oneworld carriers. Instead moving to the New Tone will be an outpost in the most diverse terminal at the U.S. airport along with T4, also expanding, but primarily home to Delta.

Anticipated timing for new openings

The New Terminal One Will be opened in several stages:

2026: opening of the first section with the new arrivals and departures area and 14 gates. At this stage Qatar Airways will officially move out of Terminal 8.

2030: completion of the entire project with a total of 23 gates and a record area of 2.6 million square feet.

The expansion of the Terminal 4 is already underway and will enable Lufthansa and its partner companies to consolidate their operations in the second half of next year.

The CEO of New Terminal One, Jennifer Aument, he commented:

"We thank Qatar Airways for their confidence in this project. The choice of an airline synonymous with excellence to move to New Terminal One confirms the value of our offering for international carriers looking to grow in New York."

In conclusion

In late 2026, going to JFK will be decidedly different for large numbers of passengers. Lufthansa and the whole German group will move to the new T6, KLM and Qatar will leave T4 and T8 respectively to occupy spaces within the new T1. Now as the opening date approaches we will see many announcements, such as the new Air France KLM lounge that will take the place of the current one in the old T1.