JFK AirTrain and parking. Photo: Paul Thomas Curry / Shutterstock.com Travelers heading to JFK Airport are being urged to plan ahead, with parking in short supply and rideshare pickup procedures changing at two terminals due to ongoing redevelopment work.
Passengers traveling through New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport are being advised to prepare for significant transportation changes as construction work continues under the airport’s massive redevelopment project known as “A Whole New JFK.”
Airport officials have warned that parking availability is currently extremely limited and are encouraging travelers who need to drive to reserve parking spaces well in advance to guarantee a spot.
In addition to parking challenges, rideshare pickup procedures have changed for passengers arriving at Terminals 5 and 7. Due to ongoing construction, rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are no longer permitted to pick up passengers directly at the curb outside these terminals.
Instead, travelers must take the AirTrain JFK to the Howard Beach station, where a dedicated Ride App and Car Services pickup area has been established. Airport officials noted that AirTrain JFK remains free for travel within the airport system, including trips to Howard Beach for rideshare connections.
The changes are intended to ease congestion on terminal roadways while major infrastructure upgrades continue across the airport.
Passengers requiring ADA accessible rideshare services will still be able to access vehicles directly at terminal frontages.
For those looking to avoid delays altogether, JFK recommends using public transportation options such as the New York City Subway or the Long Island Rail Road, which provide direct connections to the airport and can help travelers bypass heavy traffic around the terminals.
The advisory comes as JFK continues work on its multibillion dollar transformation project, one of the largest airport redevelopment programs currently underway in the United States.