JetBlue's $875m project takes off at JFK airport.

On December 7, New York public officials and JetBlue Airways executives marked the start of construction for the airline's 26-gate passenger terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The new terminal will allow JetBlue to double its number of daily flights and add 2,500 jobs to its local workforce of about 5,000. In addition, the project will create 1,200 construction jobs.

The $875 million terminal is the largest construction job since the airline's inception. It is expected to be completed in early 2009.

"JetBlue's continued growth is further evidence that New York City is a prime location for airlines to locate and grow," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "The New York City-based airline began operations in 2000 with service from JFK to Ft. Lauderdale. Today, JetBlue flies to 32 cities and employs about 5,000 people in New York City. Diversifying the economy is one of our key economic development strategies, and JetBlue's expansion is the latest sign that the airline industry is a growth sector in New York City. The new, state-of the-art terminal, and increased service into and out of New York City, is the latest improvement to JFK, and will help secure the City's position as the world's greatest place to visit and do business."

"New York and JFK are the heart of our operation and with our new terminal, we will be able to offer more flights and low fares," said JetBlue CEO David Neeleman. "Our new terminal is designed around the great JetBlue experience customers have come to expect from us, especially efficient online and in-person check in, and friendly service. Our goal from the beginning was to bring humanity back to air travel and Terminal 5 will showcase the best of JetBlue.

JetBlue operates 127 flights daily out of JFK; the new terminal is designed to handle 250 flights a dat or up to 20 million passengers annually. Plans include a 635,000 s/f terminal building, parking facilities, roadways and a connection bridge to the AirTrain station. JetBlue has already begun construction on temporary seven-gate terminal on the Terminal 5 premises to accommodate its growth at Terminal 6. A key element of the new terminal is its sensitive design connection with the adjacent TWA terminal, designed by the renowned architect Eero Saarinen, with JetBlue customers being able to connect between the two through the historic building's famous flight wing tubes. Built in 1962, the TWA terminal is an architectural icon and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

The building team for the project is being lead by Arup as planners and design managers, supported by Gensler as terminal architects, DMJM Harris as airside/landside civil engineers, Rockwell Group as interior architects and Turner Construction as construction management.

In May 2005, Mayor Bloomberg joined JetBlue to open the airline's new $45 million maintenance hangar and technical support center at JFK Airport. The 100,000 s/f complex encompasses a maintenance hangar capable of accommodating three A320 aircraft and a two-story office facility that accommodates more than 250 airline employees.